Qian Zhen

LEGENDARY INTERVIEW

Design Legends ("DL") had the distinct honour to interview legendary designer Qian Zhen ("QZ") 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?

QZ : I graduated with a very high score, which allowed me to choose any design major, and I selected the field I’m currently studying.

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

QZ : My love for art and my admiration for beautiful, structurally appealing things drove me to become a designer.

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

QZ : It was a natural outcome of the major I studied.

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

QZ : I design spatial layouts, and I’m interested in exploring more spatial exhibition designs.

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

QZ : They should develop their own sense of aesthetics.

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

QZ : A good designer focuses on the work, while a great designer constructs ideas and concepts.

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

QZ : A good design is one that brings pleasure, and I evaluate it based on how enjoyable and impactful it is.

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

QZ : Good design serves society. Investing in good design drives social progress, development, and change, reflecting a personal sense of responsibility and accountability for one’s own life.

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

QZ : I would design home goods to address flaws I notice in daily life and create better solutions for future needs.

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

QZ : I have many dream projects; I’d love to expand my designs into a larger-scale endeavor.

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

QZ : My success comes from my pursuit of art and my relentless dedication to beautiful things.

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

QZ : During my university years, I was greatly inspired by Mies van der Rohe’s works.

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

QZ : I love Junya Ishigami’s conceptual designs because of their innovative and thought-provoking nature.

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

QZ : My greatest design is the award-winning piece from this competition. Its depth comes from the research into philosophical questions and thoughtful design process.

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

QZ : By focusing with precision and attention to detail, which is what I’ve practiced in my own work.

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

QZ : I might have become an artist, which I’m working toward now, or a curator.

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

QZ : To me, design is a subjective act of creation and transformation, encompassing both functionality and form.

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

QZ : During my high school years, my specialty teacher supported me, and my university mentor, along with my family, provided a strong backbone that allowed me to pursue what I love.

DL: What helped you to become a great designer?

QZ : Every aspect of my life has become the foundation of my design.

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

QZ : Mental chaos—often I have diverse ideas for a design but struggle to express them all.

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

QZ : Showcasing it among people, especially the audience who inspires my current design, and listening to their thoughts.

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

QZ : I would gradually shift toward art to reconnect with my original intuition.

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

QZ : I’m still a young designer, and my current goal is to surpass myself.

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

QZ : I’m still a young designer, and my current goal is to surpass myself.

DL: How does design help create a better society?

QZ : This is a very broad question that requires deep consideration.

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

QZ : I’m currently working on projects that support me on social media.

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

QZ : I’m very satisfied with my current design projects because they reflect my growth and vision.

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

QZ : I value originality more, ensuring my designs stand out with unique perspectives.

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

QZ : The emergence of AI has enabled more ideas to come to fruition.

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

QZ : About a year or so.

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

QZ : Inspiration strikes, and I gain more ideas through hand-drawing.

DL: What is your life motto as a designer?

QZ : Not at the moment.

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

QZ : Good design leads trends, and Steve Jobs is a product and interface designer I greatly admire.

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

QZ : Seeing more details helps me refine and perfect my designs.

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

QZ : I use SketchUp as a rendering software to bring my designs to life.

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

QZ : Color, materials, and the environment are all indispensable, playing a key role in visual impact and creating atmosphere.

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

QZ : I hope to express the feelings I encounter in everyday life through my designs.

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

QZ : I would be very excited and delighted to see such outstanding work from my peers.

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

QZ : My ideal design partner shouldn’t be like me; I need someone complementary. Many projects are collaborative, but what matters most is alignment in our thinking.

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

QZ : no,i didnt remind it

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

QZ : I saw a design in the school library that was 150 years old, or maybe 50, I can’t quite remember, as I haven’t encountered it again since.

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

QZ : Persistence is key to overcoming challenges in design.

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

QZ : I’d like to connect with the post-World War II period or a specific economic era, as I believe the designs from that time greatly contributed to rebuilding life.

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

QZ : I used to think I only enjoyed creative work, but I’ve discovered that explaining my designs to others also brings me insights and prompts me to rethink, even leading to recognition.

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

QZ : . Green, nature, spring, and rainy days inspire my work.

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

QZ : The difficulty of this design led me to question my abilities entirely.

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

QZ : Discovering fresh and interesting ideas, making decisions I wouldn’t normally make.

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

QZ : When I was a child, I didn’t have a clear sense of what I liked or disliked.

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

QZ : Whether the future will involve immortals or different dimensions.

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

QZ : This design is merely my university graduation project.