YINPING YAO

LEGENDARY INTERVIEW

Design Legends ("DL") had the distinct honour to interview legendary designer YINPING YAO ("YY") for their original perspective and innovative approach to design as well as their creative lifestyle, we are very pleased to share our interview with our distinguished readers.

DL: Could you please tell us a bit about your design background and education?

YY : I studied architecture for 5 years during my undergraduate studies. During my studies in architecture, I systematically studied courses such as painting, spatial organization, and architectural structure at school, which laid the foundation for my career.

DL: What motivates you to design in general, why did you become a designer?

YY : When I was very young, I was interested in painting and hoped to become an artist. And my parents hope that I can pursue a career in engineering. Later on, I discovered that architecture is a discipline that perfectly combines art and technology, and I was filled with curiosity about it.

DL: Did you choose to become a designer, or you were forced to become one?

YY : I have been very determined since high school to major in architecture in college and aspire to become an excellent architect after graduation.

DL: What do you design, what type of designs do you wish to design more of?

YY : In my past 15 years of career, the types of buildings I have designed, such as schools, museums, residences, industrial parks, etc., have all been completed. In the future, I hope to do more urban renewal projects like Hangzhou Wulin Star, and I will apply more sustainable building concepts to them.

DL: What should young designers do to become a design legend like you?

YY : Architecture is a highly comprehensive discipline. I believe that in order to design a good architectural work, one needs to have a deep understanding of the local history, culture, and lifestyle habits. Art originates from life.

DL: What distinguishes between a good designer and a great designer?

YY : A good designer balances various needs well, but a great designer creates a new design philosophy for an era.

DL: What makes a good design a really good design, how do you evaluate good design?

YY : A good design balances various needs, including cost, environmental impact, social impact, etc.

DL: What is the value of good design? Why should everyone invest in good design?

YY : Good design can change a place's economy, reputation, etc., such as the great design works of the Sydney Opera House in the world, which have a profound impact on the local area.

DL: What would you design and who would you design for if you had the time?

YY : If I have time, I will design interesting architectural spaces for the children in those welfare homes.

DL: What is the dream project you haven’t yet had time to realize?

YY : My dream is to realize my design works in more countries around the world.

DL: What is your secret recipe of success in design, what is your secret ingredient?

YY : I don't think my current achievements have achieved my goals. If I were to share some past experiences, it would be to make design my own interest, not my job

DL: Who are some other design masters and legends you get inspired from?

YY : Bao Zan Buck, I.M. Pei, Piano.

DL: What are your favorite designs by other designers, why do you like them?

YY : I really like the works of masters such as Bao Zanba, Piano, and I.M. Pei. Their spaces are very logical, and they combine the practicality of architectural space with the artistry of architecture very well.

DL: What is your greatest design, which aspects of that design makes you think it is great?

YY : The award-winning work this time, Hangzhou Wulin Star Expo Center, is the one that I am satisfied with.As the factory building is a historical structure, the primary principle of internal renovation is to preserve the original spatial appearance and details of the factory building to the greatest extent possible. On the basis of not damaging the original structure, industrial style devices such as large corrugated aluminum plate revolving doors and large LED folding screens have been designed. In addition, we have reorganized the intricate pipelines, interweaving and integrating customized large mechanical devices, orderly arranged pipelines, and the spatial characteristics of the old factory building, transforming the idle space inside the old factory building into a positive and dynamic space.

DL: How could people improve themselves to be better designers, what did you do?

YY : Visit various excellent works and delve into books on human history and culture.

DL: If you hadn’t become a designer, what would you have done?

YY : Financial Analyst.

DL: How do you define design, what is design for you?

YY : Design is about helping people solve various needs while creating artistic value.

DL: Who helped you to reach these heights, who was your biggest supporter?

YY : My father and mother have always been very supportive of me pursuing a career as an architect. Every time I make progress, they warmly encourage me.

DL: What helped you to become a great designer?

YY : The systematic learning in school helped me lay the foundation for being an architect. In addition, during the rapid development period of urban construction in China, architects have many opportunities to realize their design works.

DL: What were the obstacles you faced before becoming a design master?

YY : The design cycle of projects in China is very short. It is a great challenge for architects to complete mature works in a short period of time.

DL: How do you think designers should present their work?

YY : Can participate in exhibitions, international competitions, etc

DL: What’s your next design project, what should we expect from you in future?

YY : My next upcoming project is in the national park of Quzhou City, China, where we will build an environmental education center that applies sustainable concepts. We greatly reduce the impact of the environment through the deep integration of architecture and the environment.

DL: What’s your ultimate goal as a designer?

YY : My design brings more benefits to the local community

DL: What people expect from an esteemed designer such as yourself?

YY : Perhaps we hope to have more innovation.

DL: How does design help create a better society?

YY : I think the great design works in the world have already given the answer to this question

DL: What are you currently working on that you are especially excited about?

YY : My 4-year-old daughter has shown a strong interest in design. Building a castle with her using magnetic tiles is a very interesting thing.

DL: Which design projects gave you the most satisfaction, why?

YY : I appreciate projects that embrace sustainable concepts. These projects utilize numerous passive green building techniques to minimize environmental impact and control energy consumption, while simultaneously providing comfortable and healthy spaces for people.

DL: What would you like to see changed in design industry in the coming years?

YY : I hope there will be more and more opportunities for designers from various countries to interact and exchange ideas in the industry.

DL: Where do you think the design field is headed next?

YY : In the future, AI technology will bring about significant changes in the field of design, potentially altering the working and thinking methods of designers.

DL: How long does it take you to finalize a design project?

YY : In the future, AI technology will bring about great changes in the field of design, potentially transforming the way designers work and think.AI is not a replacement for design, but rather a catalyst for evolution. It eliminates mechanical labor, but amplifies the irreplaceability of humans in terms of strategy, emotion, and cultural insight. Future designers will be more like "creative commanders" - harnessing AI tools to focus on defining problems, understanding human nature, and constructing meaning.’

DL: When you have a new design project, where do you start?

YY : Generally speaking, I will conduct detailed research on-site for the project, gaining a thorough understanding of the land characteristics of the site, as well as the local people's lifestyle, history, culture, and so on.

DL: What is your life motto as a designer?

YY : Live happily and work happily.

DL: Do you think design sets the trends or trends set the designs?

YY : The relationship between design and fashion is akin to the philosophical conundrum of "chicken and egg" - both are essentially dynamic systems that coexist and mutually shape each other. There is no absolute unidirectional dominance, but there is a shift in dominance across different temporal and spatial dimensions.

DL: What is the role of technology when you design?

YY : Technology as a "Creativity Catalyst": Imagination that Breaks Through Physical Laws; Technology as a "Philosopher of Structure": Reconstructing the Essential Logic of Architecture; Technology as a "sustainable driver": the solution to the ecological crisis.

DL: What kind of design software and equipment do you use in your work?

YY : sketch up、autocad、photoshop、ID、powerpoint

DL: What is the role of the color, materials and ambient in design?

YY : Color: The emotional grammar of space; Material: The skin and bones of architecture; Environmental atmosphere: immersive drama intertwined with the five senses.

DL: What do you wish people to ask about your design?

YY : Philosophical thinking in design and challenges encountered during the design process.

DL: When you see a new great design or product what comes into your mind?

YY : What was the fascinating process behind the design of this work?

DL: Who is your ideal design partner? Do you believe in co-design?

YY : My team boasts excellent engineers. Through our collective efforts, we have accomplished numerous excellent works. Architectural design projects are complex undertakings that require close collaboration between architects, equipment engineers, structural engineers, and landscape engineers

DL: Which people you interacted had the most influence on your design?

YY : Excellent peers, masters in the industry.

DL: Which books you read had the most effect on your design?

YY : During my college years, I delved deeply into the works of Richard Meier.

DL: How did you develop your skills as a master designer?

YY : Through extensive practice.

DL: Irrelative of time and space, who you would want to meet, talk and discuss with?

YY : Le Corbusier

DL: How do you feel about all the awards and recognition you had, is it hard to be famous?

YY : I have been in the industry for 15 years, and through extensive practice and accumulation over this period, I have gradually forged my own design philosophy. Simultaneously, an increasing number of my works have been constructed. Receiving these awards signifies the recognition of my philosophy. This is truly a joyful experience.

DL: What is your favorite color, place, food, season, thing and brand?

YY : My favorite color is red; my favorite place is New Zealand; my favorite food is pineapple; and my favorite brand is Apple.

DL: Please tell us a little memoir, a funny thing you had experienced as a designer?

YY : We are currently working on a renovation project for an ancient village, and we need to conduct research there. This ancient village has no regular roads, only winding mountain paths. When we finished our research and were heading down the mountain, it was getting dark. To quickly descend, we used a slide on the mountain. This was not a children's slide, but a type of slide that local villagers had built to overcome the challenges of the rugged mountain paths. It was really interesting.

DL: What makes your day great as a designer, how do you motivate yourself?

YY : Exercise can help us stay energetic; besides, I often visit some excellent works, which can constantly inspire me.

DL: When you were a little child, was it obvious that you would become a great designer?

YY : No, I just liked painting when I was young.

DL: What do you think about future; what do you see will happen in thousand years from now?

YY : The era of AI is coming soon, and I will embrace this change.

DL: Please tell us anything you wish your fans to know about you, your design and anything else?

YY : not have.