Interview with Chao Yang
Yang Chao, PhD, is a Professor and Doctoral Supervisor at Beihang University and a nominee of China’s Top Ten Outstanding Young Designers.
Design Legend Interview
25 October 2016
I obtained my Bachelor and Master degree in China. From May 2013 to October 2014, I studied in Braunschweig University of Art when I was granted the German DAAD artist scholarship funded by the German government. In 2016, I was admitted to the Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture as a Ph.D candidate, and continued my study and research of design. I have been working as a design teacher in a collage since I received my Bachelor degree in 2007.
I started to know about design as an undergraduate. I found that I loved designing and enjoyed the pleasure it brought to me. Through my design, I can solve problems for my customers or update the brand image. As a designer I feel proud of myself when my design can solve problems and reconstruct brand image of my clients.
Of course, it’s my own choice. I’m a college teacher and this job is gold-plated. But by comparison, the feeling of being a designer is better. So I chose to be a designer and a teacher at the same time.
I delicate myself to brand image design, poster design and book design. Of course, I also would like to combine my design with art. For example, I apply ceramic arts to hotel decoration.
I made those achievements in that I spent a lot of time and I also worked hard. I think that young designers should focus on their expertise. Because only when you make the most out of your expertise can you give birth to a good design. Of course, young designers should be insistent in improving their fundamental skills.
Maybe it’s talent. A good designer is able to solve problems and meet the customer’s demand through his design; But a great designer not only solves problems, he also affects many young designers and his works remain classic even hundred years later.
In my opinion, first a good design should solve the problem. Secondly, it should have aesthetic appeal. In addition, it has to take into consideration reducing the loss of resources, lowering production costs and the convenience to consumers when it is produced.
When I first start my design career, I had no choice. I accepted every offer from clients so as to accumulate my experience. But it’s not the case now. I specialize in brand design and try to combine my design with many other fields. I’ll do such design as long as I have time. At the same time, I will also create my favorite theme posters; It is a fun.
I’m fond of art, maybe one day I will be an artist, such as a ceramic artist. But for the time being, I should be a designer first when young.
I focus on international design with Chinese elements. So I would study on designing by taking it as a kind of culture. I would like to express my ideas with the latest design methods. Designing is a trying work, but I have been insisting on it and I feel happy with it.
I am going to learn from some award-winning works both domestic and abroad in order to inspire my creation.
I have a lot of design work I like very much. When I studied in Germany, I designed a book entitled “China Says”, which demonstrated pottery and porcelain culture of Jingdezhen in the form of creative images. I did it by hand, from designing to producing, and I enjoyed the process very much. The brand image “YI PU TI (A Bodhi)” I designed for a monastery in Beijing is also one of my favorites, which reflected the combination of Chinese Buddhist thoughts and arts, and it was expressed in a composition of modern styles. There is still a logo design that worthies mentioning. It is the silk brand HERGENE. In ancient time, silk from china was as valuable as gold, so I designed the logo in the form of a Chinese square-holed coin. There are a lot more works of designing that won over clients and audience.
I would be an artist.
There are two reasons. The first is my clients. They gave me opportunities to design. The second is designing contests. By taking part in these contests, I compete, communicate and improve.
I think it is only a matter of time. I’m exerting myself to be a great designer.
Designers can present their works not only by attending some designing contests or exhibitions, but also by giving speeches or communicating with others.
I have no idea yet. Because I don’t know who will be going to give me the chance.
To be an international designing master.
People would like to see him keep on innovating and works be created continuously. In addition, people may expect you to share with them your designing ideas.
Design can bring convenience to the society and our life, and can help to solve many problems. We can’t live without designing.
What I am doing now is a restaurant designing project that combines ceramic arts with space designing. Some parts of it are created by myself and the other parts are made by the workers according to my ideas. That’s very interesting. The project is currently under way and I intend to take it to Italian A Design Awards this year.
It depends on the size of the projects. But for some projects I am particularly interested in, I will spend more time.
First, I will gather some information about the background of this project as well as client’s requirements. That’s the starting point. In addition, I will do a lot of related researches, including domestic and foreign researches on similar projects. With thoses information, you can get it start.
I am always looking for designing.
Design should be developed in an international and simplistic way.
Technology can help me better achieve those designing ideas; It also make my design more practical and aesthetic.
Any software, no restriction. If there is software that I don’t know how to apply to my designing idea, and I will ask help from others. It’s not going to affect the progress.
All of them are important. When choosing those three factors, a designer shall take into account product’s function, human engineering, producing cost, and visual beauty.
I would wonder how the idea comes to designer’s mind. If I were the designer, how would I do? Would I have the same idea? What can I be inspired from the work?
Certainly,a lot of my works were done by a team. Sometimes the team is made up by students in the studio; other times designers from different fields or with friends in the designing field. The form of the team depends on the requirement of project.
Usual, I like to chat over a tea with people in different fields. I could be inspired by the communication with them. For instance, I designed a series of ceramic products with both traditional connotation and modern style, inspired by a talk with an artist engaged in imitating ancient ceramic arts.
I would be more interested in the books concerning design, culture, and fashion. But it is not limited to these categories. I read a book entitled "DESIGN OF DESIGN" by Kenyahara, a Japanese designer, which inspired me a lot in designing.
I take these designs made for customers to participate in the designing contests. It is where my interest in designing lies; it is also a good way of communication as to the ideas about designing. It encourages me to create more fine works. In recent years, I have been granted international awards several times. I take it as an approval on my work, a proof that I have been on the right way those years.
I usually wear clothes in black. But I prefer to see things in their original color because it’s more natural. As to place, I like Chinese traditional towns, quiet but full of humanistic elements; to food, I certainly like Chinese food the most. I also enjoy Italian cuisine. I love cooking myself. Once I believed that if I were not a designer, I could have been a chef.
I think it lies in my interest in designing and my love for life. Partially it is because of my love for culture and arts, I always want my ideas be expressed in designing.
Of course not. At that time I even didn’t know what a design is.
I don’t know. Maybe every family will be living on a separate planet. It’s only several seconds away from each planet.
I would like to say that it’s a tough job being a designer. People witnessed the spotlight and flowers when I won the awards but they missed the tears and sweats behind it. I suppose it is a common experience for every designer. However, designing can be enjoyable since it makes your life colorful and give you a sense of achievement. If you wish to become a good designer, please make innovations all the time and keep learning.
Designer Interview
18 April 2014
I studied design in my bachelor and master, because I like design and art. After graduation, I worked in Jingdezhen Ceramic Institute, as a design teacher. Jingdezhen is an art city because of ceramic. I also have a design studio in Jingdezhen. I like to use Chinese culture and art into my design works. I will always be the designer.
In my design studio, we have less than 10 people, it has some students, and my partner. There are a few members in different cities and countries now. But we can work together to complete the design works. Every year, we have projects from various cities in China.
Design is my job, Design is also a part of my life, design is my thoughts express.
poster design, Brand Design.
I prefer concept design and culture design, because it is self-expression designer ideas, the creative process is like an art work. It will not be bound by our customers and markets.
Logo Design.
Printed on handmade paper and the original ecological fabric or recycled paper craft.
In the evening
Cultural design
Sometimes very passionate, very inspired. Sometimes a lack of inspiration. Design need to accumulate, you need to stop to find and solve problems.
Very happy and excited, and I feel better.
First, you need to understand the market demand, understanding of customer needs.
Second, you need to find the problem, targeted to solve the problem.
Third, the need for good design work reflects the functionality and beauty.
Second, you need to find the problem, targeted to solve the problem.
Third, the need for good design work reflects the functionality and beauty.
First, the function. Check out this design does not solve the problem.
Second, the beauty. See if it looks better.
Second, the beauty. See if it looks better.
1. Designers have a responsibility to help enterprises to help develop and expand the brand.
2 creative designers should design work to improve people's lives.
2 creative designers should design work to improve people's lives.
Gradual integration of all areas of design similarities. Development of technology makes it easy to design implementation process, combined with each other in many design fields.
My last exhibition in Florence, Italy. Now I do not know where the next exhibition, as long as you can fit the time and place.
I am inspired by the traditional Chinese culture, I observe life, observe the market and generate design inspiration. I will continue to look at art exhibitions, the secondary market, antiques market, they give me a lot of creative inspiration.
My style of design practice in the years to form, it comes from a traditional Chinese art form. Simplicity and rich connotation is my design style features.
My design approach, first by chatting with the customers to understand their needs, and then through market research, the creation of the final design.
My design approach, first by chatting with the customers to understand their needs, and then through market research, the creation of the final design.
I now live in Germany. My country is China, there are many excellent traditional Chinese culture, they are a great influence on my design. Chinese culture can help me find a lot of inspiration.
Often, companies find that we do design services, in accordance with the contract and procedures need to be. Need to be prepaid deposit to us.
As a good designer, you need creative thinking and expression. There needs to be able to endure hardship spirit, able to observe carefully the needs of the market, to discover and solve problems. Designers also companies choose to judge this regard.
1. Understand my client's needs.
2. Observe the market, identify problems, to solve the problem targeted by design.
3 design works when it has a good sense of beauty.
2. Observe the market, identify problems, to solve the problem targeted by design.
3 design works when it has a good sense of beauty.
Teach design course, drink tea and chat, see works of art, creative design.
As a good designer, you need creative thinking and expression. There needs to be able to endure hardship spirit, able to observe carefully the needs of the market, to discover and solve problems. Designers also companies choose to judge this regard.
As a designer is very happy, but also very hard as a designer.
Able to solve problems with beauty. Customer satisfaction, market praise.
1.Communicate with customers
2. observable market
3. Ability aesthetic
4.The ability to design expression
2. observable market
3. Ability aesthetic
4.The ability to design expression
Sketchbooks, cameras, computers and computer software, printers, design gallery, books, etc.
Every day I would walk, eat, sleep when I wanted to design, but only in the last hands-on production.
Different projects have different time, to determine the process according to the customer's needs and my schedule.
If customers do not know the aesthetic, but not well designed, unwilling to communicate. These will be the most difficult as the designer.
Collection of design material is very important, it is every day in life.
Jingdezhen yuyao plant, Jingdezhen sanbao International Ceramic Institute, Beijing Yi Pu Ti Etc.
I like the design of cultural property, as it is able to represent the cultural and aesthetic which a nation.
Become an international designer, I will continue to design.
I like work as a team.
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