Chiao-Yi, Tang

LEGENDARY INTERVIEW

Design Legends ("DL") had the distinct honour to interview legendary designer Chiao-Yi, Tang ("CT") 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?

CT : After graduating from the Department of Architecture, I have accumulated over 30 years of practical experience in both architectural and interior design. My professional journey includes working at architectural firms, interior design studios, RTD interior design projects, architectural façade design, and landscape planning, with a focus on creating visual continuity between interior and exterior spaces. During my career, I also pursued a Master’s degree in Architecture to further enhance the practical application of healthy interior environments.

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

CT : The motivation behind my design work stems from an imagination of a better life in the future. I enjoy experiencing the energy brought by artists and creators, and these experiences have inspired my studies and creativity in the field of architecture, becoming a driving force for my pursuit of becoming a designer.

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

CT : I am currently working in interior design, and I especially enjoy designing public spaces, where I can create connections between space and environment, extending the design concept much like cinematic transitions. This approach enhances the experience of the five senses and the six perceptions.

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

CT : The vision of a better future life has always been the soul of a designer. Find inspiration in stillness, feel life with intention, enrich the depth of your design, appreciate the beauty in everyday living, and always stay true to your original intention—let it guide your creativity and decisions.

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

CT : Simply put, one type of design solves problems, while another adds value. Good designers give people what they want, but great design solves people's problems in unexpected ways.

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

CT : A successful interior design outcome should encompass both the quality of the design work itself and the positive perception and satisfaction gained from the overall service process. Good design captures attention, solves problems, creates memorable impressions, reinforces brand identity and spirit, and most importantly, resonates with people. At the same time, it allows the client to achieve their goals through effective time management and cost control.

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

CT : The value of good design goes far beyond mere aesthetics. It is an investment in functionality, user experience, and communication, ultimately leading to a better quality of life and a more progressive society. Good design is not a luxury, but a fundamental element that helps create a better, more efficient, and more enjoyable world for everyone.

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

CT : Always stay true to your original intention, and let it guide your creativity and decisions.

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

CT : My design inspiration comes from Frank Lloyd Wright, Ieoh Ming Pei, and Zaha Hadid. Their approaches—connecting architecture with the environment, embracing clean and fluid forms, expressing poetic spatial qualities, and realizing the limitless imagination of organic architecture—have influenced me at every stage of my creative journey and continue to inspire me.

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

CT : Designed by the renowned Dutch architectural firm MVRDV, the Markthal in Rotterdam creates a space filled with a sense of everyday life. The interaction between people and the space vividly embodies a human-centered design philosophy.

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

CT : Participating in the design of the first Presidential Library has been the most meaningful project of my career. We conducted in-depth research on the head of state and the historical context of the time, referencing archives and materials provided by the foundation, as well as case studies from national libraries and cultural institutions. To create a space rich in historical significance and academic depth, we approached the design from a Sinological perspective. This inspired us to incorporate classical motifs, marble, and wood, along with contemporary architectural styles, to bridge the past and the present. The result is a new civic landmark that integrates culture, history, and leisure. This project deeply moved me and allowed me to truly experience the transformative power of humanistic values in spatial design.

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

CT : Stay true to your beliefs and break through the status quo.

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

CT : A conscious and purposeful act of creation aimed at solving problems, meeting needs, and achieving goals, involving planning, conceptualization, production, and evaluation.

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

CT : Aside from my supervisors and colleagues at the company, the most important support has come from my family, who have stood by me throughout the journey.

DL: What helped you to become a great designer?

CT : I’ve been very fortunate to have many people guiding, supporting, and caring for me along the way — including industry veterans, mentors, and clients. Without them, I would not have achieved anything.

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

CT : Designers should present their work through a multi-faceted and integrated approach, including professional portfolios, online platforms and social media, verbal communication and presentation skills, participation in industry events, client testimonials and reputation, as well as continuous learning and self-improvement. This approach not only showcases the outcomes but also conveys the designer’s thinking, capabilities, and passion.

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

CT : Human-centered, driven by creativity and professional skills, to create better, more efficient, and more inspiring living experiences and environments for people.

DL: How does design help create a better society?

CT : The cross-disciplinary collaboration involved integrating underprivileged and differently-abled artists to collectively interpret and express the space.

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

CT : When every project results in client satisfaction, that is the greatest affirmation.

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

CT : I believe the design industry is moving toward a future that is more technology-driven, sustainable, human-centered, and strategically oriented.

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

CT : Deep integration with technology: AI, AR/VR, generative design, and advanced manufacturing technologies will be more widely applied in the design process.

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

CT : The timeline varies depending on the scale of the project. For instance, in the case of office design competitions, it typically takes an average of 30 days to deliver a design proposal.

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

CT : I carefully study the tasks set by the client and communicate with them to understand their needs and preferences, thereby grasping the overall concept.

DL: What is your life motto as a designer?

CT : Good design enables sustainability.

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

CT : The relationship between design and trends is dynamic and reciprocal, rather than one-directional guidance. In short, design and trends influence each other and evolve together. A successful designer must possess both the ability to lead and adapt.

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

CT : Design Director.

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

CT : As an interior designer, my toolbox is filled with both tangible and intangible tools that help me transform concepts into reality. It includes a variety of software and applications, project management and collaboration tools, presentation software, and more. With the advancement of technology and the evolution of design philosophies, I continuously learn and adopt new tools. However, no matter how the tools change, the core remains a deep understanding of space, aesthetics, and human needs.

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

CT : In design, color influences emotion, spatial perception, function, and branding; material concerns touch, visuals, functionality, sustainability, and budget; environment involves light, spatial characteristics, surrounding landscape, climate, culture, and user needs. The three interact: light affects the appearance of color and material, material influences color adhesion and reflection, and the environmental atmosphere impacts color and material choices. Design requires a comprehensive consideration of these three elements to create spaces that are beautiful, practical, meet needs, and coexist harmoniously.

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

CT : I want to experience it and feel it.

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

CT : Partners with shared beliefs can design together.

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

CT : My bosses - Tsang-Jiunn Jean and Yu-Huang Lu.

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

CT : The modernist architectural dame, Zaha Hadid.

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

CT : Thank you for the recognition from judges in different countries. Thank you!

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

CT : For a residential project, designing customized mail pouches for each household was an interesting experience that incorporated spatial elements through cross-disciplinary integration.

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

CT : To keep the feeling of staying true to my original intentions, and to embrace its beauty. The core lies in creation, connection, growth, gratitude, and care, while continuously seeking passion and meaning.

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

CT : You can contact me via email:RT001780@mail.ruentex.com.tw