Wei Hu

LEGENDARY INTERVIEW

Design Legends ("DL") had the distinct honour to interview legendary designer Wei Hu ("WH") 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?

WH : My early training was in fine arts, where I initially focused solely on painting—back then, I had no real concept of “space.” It was only when I discovered interior design that I essentially stepped out of the canvas and into physical space. I completed my specialized design education domestically, then honed my skills through hands-on practice.

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

WH : Creative passion drives my design work. I strive to craft spaces that resonate emotionally, much like a masterful painting or moving melody. Through design, I seek to transform lives—both in public realms and within my own home. This relentless pursuit of meaningful change is precisely why design is my perfect vocation.

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

WH : From reluctant designer to passionate creator—my journey began when painting studies led me to design by necessity, only to discover it was my true calling all along.

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

WH : Specializing in medical aesthetic spaces, I aspire to create more transformative environments where individuals rediscover confidence through design.

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

WH : Passion for design comes first—only through genuine love for the craft can one devote full commitment to every project, delivering works that satisfy both creator and client. With such consistent dedication, success follows as naturally as water flows downhill.

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

WH : Good designers follow trends; great ones create them, transforming how people live.

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

WH : Great design harmonizes all technical elements—lighting, materials, scent, temperature—to evoke emotional resonance with space. Any creation that achieves this spatial empathy qualifies as good design. My criteria? Whether it solves the intended problems, and whether it moves its audience emotionally.

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

WH : Exceptional design creates spaces that move people, orchestrating emotions with the healing power of a masterpiece painting or symphony. In homes, it manifests as quality of life; in commercial settings, it operates as invisible productivity. Investing in design isn't about aesthetics—it's about elevating how we live and work.

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

WH : Given the opportunity, I would design a bespoke home for my family—one that transcends mass-market real estate, where each space embodies its occupant's unique aspirations.

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

WH : My dream project is to personally build a home for my family—one that fulfills each member's unique vision of dwelling. Yet without access to suitable land, this remains suspended in the realm of dreams.

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

WH : The secret to design success lies in relentless focus, treating each project with meticulous care, accumulating hard-won expertise, mastering details, and ultimately crafting spaces that resonate emotionally.

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

WH : I.M. Pei revolutionized architecture through geometric precision and masterful light manipulation—innovating with space, materials, and illumination to redefine the dialogue between art and human experience.

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

WH : Among I.M. Pei's masterpieces, the East Building of the National Gallery stands as my favorite—where his virtuosic deployment of triangular geometry not only achieved architectural perfection but also pioneered innovative design approaches that influenced generations to come.

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

WH : None of my works qualify as “great” in my eyes—though some are decent, they fall far short of greatness. One particular project revitalized a derelict old house: while preserving original materials, we adapted its functions for contemporary needs, creating new cultural connections

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

WH : Travel extensively—immerse yourself in diverse cultures, landscapes and environments. Let alternative ways of living become your wellspring of design inspiration.

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

WH : Had I not become a designer, I would likely have pursued a career as a financial advisor—after all, I currently dedicate time to strategic investments, which has grown into a genuine passion.

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

WH : To me, design is about crafting emotional spaces—experiences that stir the soul like a haunting melody. It's a visual language that articulates the beauty born where spatial forms and human emotions collide.

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

WH : One of my clients, a chain business owner, entrusted me with a series of projects—from new constructions to heritage renovations. It's precisely this demand for continuous innovation within similar typologies that has driven my creative evolution and shaped my professional achievements.

DL: What helped you to become a great designer?

WH : While I don't consider myself a great designer, my continuous growth stems from: rigorously analyzing successes and failures from past projects, approaching each commission with meticulous care, mastering details, maintaining proactive client communication, and ultimately delivering satisfying realized works.

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

WH : Translating design into reality is an intricate dance—a complex interplay of budgeting, multidisciplinary coordination, and even client preferences. Like dancing in shackles at first, each successful project loosens constraints as trust accumulates with clients

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

WH : Design isn't created in isolation—it thrives through engaging with peers, experiencing exhibitions, exposing work to broader audiences, and most crucially, listening to diverse perspectives.

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

WH : My upcoming project focuses on a medical aesthetics center primarily for women. The challenge lies in creating a “fashion-forward yet tech-integrated, warm and comfortable” space for beauty-seeking clients—a holistic test of emotional resonance, functionality, and meticulous detailing. I'm determined to innovate beyond conventions.

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

WH : Ultimately, I aspire to become the most trusted and liberated designer—one who is entrusted with meaningful projects offering full creative freedom, allowing maximal realization of my design vision.

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

WH : People expect a competent designer to handle diverse projects while prioritizing energy efficiency and sustainability—making tangible, albeit modest, contributions to society.

DL: How does design help create a better society?

WH : Design holds the power to heal our relationship with the world—whether by humanizing medical spaces into warmer, more comforting environments, enhancing urban charm through thoughtful color interventions, or seamlessly blending structures into nature via eco-conscious materials and planning.

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

WH : A medical aesthetic project primarily targeting women. Designing a "fashionable, technology-integrated, warm, and comfortable" space for individuals with beauty aspirations presents a comprehensive challenge encompassing emotion, functionality, and meticulous details.

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

WH : The sales space designed for a chain jewelry store faced significant challenges: a small and difficult-to-utilize area within a shopping mall, while still needing to maximize revenue per square meter. The final design not only provided customers with a fresh and comfortable shopping experience but also contributed to a substantial increase in the company's sales performance.

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

WH : Hope that design will no longer indulge in superficial extravagance, but instead focus on solving real problems; hope that designers will no longer be obsessed with self-promotion, but rather become more down-to-earth, dedicating themselves to the essence of design.

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

WH : The design field will embrace cutting-edge technologies and materials, leveraging innovative tools to liberate designers from labor-intensive tasks. Just as AI integration allows designers to focus more on exploring creative possibilities, this evolution mirrors the paradigm shift from hand-drawn blueprints to computer-aided design.

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

WH : The process from concept to execution typically takes 45 days to six months, depending on the project scale and collaboration model. More complex projects require more detailed preliminary information, which directly impacts the overall project timeline.

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

WH : The process begins with understanding the preliminary design requirements, project location, and the spatial characteristics of the site itself.

DL: What is your life motto as a designer?

WH : Design transforms lives, and we approach every project with meticulous dedication

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

WH : I believe trends shape design, because good design harnesses trends – leveraging their momentum to create solutions that truly resonate with contemporary needs, rather than forcibly altering people's lifestyles and habits.

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

WH : I believe technology serves as an essential foundation for design execution, while distinctive designs establish one's signature creative identity.

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

WH : Software: AutoCAD, SketchUp, D5 Render Hardware: iPad, Computer Inspiration Tools: Pinterest

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

WH : Color shapes emotions, materials define spatial comfort, and environment sets the overall ambiance – their synergy creates an immersive space that resonates emotionally.

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

WH : I hope they ask: "How do you integrate technical solutions to achieve the desired spatial experience?" rather than inquiring about specific forms, materials, or design techniques.

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

WH : Seeing it is like hearing a moving song that touches my soul. I find myself wondering: What resonates so deeply? What spatial elements compose this emotional experience? And how might these principles inform my next design?

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

WH : An ideal design partner should complement my skills and compensate for mutual weaknesses. I believe in co-creation - recognizing that individual capacity and expertise are inherently limited. Only through teamwork can we achieve designs that are faster, better, and more elevated.

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

WH : I believe I.M. Pei has influenced my design philosophy the most. His mastery of geometric articulation and light manipulation creates architecture that not only dialogues with history but also redefines the relationship between art and humanity through innovative spatial configurations, material selections, and lighting techniques.

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

WH : Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind traces the evolution of human habitats and architectural styles from primitive to modern times, examining how different communities developed distinct requirements for their living environments throughout history.

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

WH : Maintain perpetual reverence for every project, dedicating full commitment to each endeavor. Fuse client needs with design flexibility, all while upholding uncompromising standards for your own work.

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

WH : I want to meet Li Bai and ask him: "What inspired your boundless poetic imagination? How did you transcend the ideological constraints of your era?"

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

WH : First, I must thank the client. Though the design fee was modest, it was their substantial subsequent investment that brought my visionary work to life. As the saying goes, "Fine wine needs no bush" — exceptional work inevitably garners recognition.

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

WH : Blue is my soul's hue, Tibet's pristine skies haunt my dreams, and sashimi offers gustatory nirvana. Summer sunlight ignites my creativity, while a Range Rover isn't merely a vehicle—it's a mobile observatory that unveils the plateau's wonders. Each passion embodies my yearning for freedom and uncharted horizons.

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

WH : Years ago, I designed a chair that couldn't be sat upon – an absurd, whimsical creation that brought me immeasurable joy

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

WH : Nothing jumpstarts my day like a simple cup of coffee—and when that's not enough, a fine cigar does the trick, its swirling smoke conjuring inspiration. Then, upon completing a project, nothing beats hitting the road in my beloved car toward dream destinations. This is my personal reward system, where every fulfilled aspiration makes life sparkle.

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

WH : Not at all. As a kid, I thought I had zero artistic talent. It wasn't until I discovered painting that everything changed—the vast world within those canvases finally ignited my creative desire.

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

WH : Frankly, I'm rather pessimistic about the future. A thousand years from now, humanity may be unrecognizable—technology will have radically transformed our living environments and ways of inhabiting space beyond imagination.

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

WH : To me, it's enough that fans understand my work and are moved by my designs. As for my private life—I have absolutely no desire to share any of it with the world.