Interview with David Chang Design Associates Intl
Form not only follows functions, but also should have a touch of sensibility derived from art and emerged from culture. This gives the design a human touch.
Designer of the Day Interview
19 March 2018
I was born in Taipei, Taiwan and studied Inteior Architecture in the U.S. and Canada obtaining degrees in Fine Art at El Camino College in Los Angeles, a honor degree at Kwantlen Polytech University in Vancouver Canada and studied Interior Architecture at the California State University in Long Beach, California. I have been a Registered Interior Designer in North America with NCIDQ (National Council for Interior Design Qualification) certified since1999. I started working with Traditional Interior Architectural practices on various projects from large bespoked private residential developments to hospitality and restaurant projects. In that period I discovered my passion for private residential projects and have made this my focus since early 1995. I was very fortunate to advance my career by working on many luxury homes in Vancouver, Canada which enhanced my reputation as one of the top residential interior architects in this city and then beyond. In 2003, I went to Guangzhou, China to design 2 display villas for a residential developer which lead to setting up a design firm in Guangzhou in 2004. In 2007, I expand my design practice to Beijing, China, and expanded our projects to include large scale residential, display apartments, villas and clubhouses.
I have over 20 years of experience in hospitality and residential interior design and management in North America and Asia Pacific. I was educated both in the United States and Canada. Majored and received bachelor degree of interior design at both California state university long beach and Kwantlen polytechnic university in Vancouver British Columbia, and studied "Green Building and Community Sustainability Professional Certificate" at Harvard University. Deeply influenced by eastern and western culture, I emphasize on attention to culture and history as source of inspiration thereby creating vitality and rich artistic essence for each project.
I believe that you could liken the role of an Interior Designer to that of a movie director. With our Clients as the producers, we take their personal vision, be it classical, modern, contemporary, art deco or neoclassic, and synthesize this with all the other actors, from artisans, suppliers and trades, to create a bespoke design that narrates their personal story. Designers should be like water, easily flowing and versatile enough to fit within any container. Bespoke designs cannot be mass produced if they are to be informed by the Clients’ individual tastes, needs and influences. This continuous dexterity of inspirations is the flame that keeps the passion for design burning.
sense of accomplishment and focus.
All design for me is inspired by the 5 senses and effectuated with 3 tools. Our living environments provide a cornucopia of stimulations that influence my designs. Smell, our first and strongest memory, can be aroused by a simple flower or a particular fruit. Vision is imprinted with the sand patterns on the dunes of the Sahara Desert, the dense forests of South America to oil settling in a rain puddle. The touch of a rock or metal sculpture can foster inpressions. Sounds such as hearing a particular classical musical score or a pop hit, can pique a feeling that can inspire a concept. And finally, taste, this influencer of cusines, can strike a cultural reference that can radiate through a design. The effectuating tools of design for me are Colour, Texture and Form, used in harmony to stimulate all our 5 senses.
My ultimate dream is to design a 100 meters plus Super Yacht.
Do not ever complains about the overtime and you have to love the design and living in different time zone from normal career. Mostly importantly you got to love what you do or else it will not last long for taste sweetness of endeavor. You need to have certain degree of insanity to pursuit perfection in every design.
I believe that you could liken the role of an Interior Designer to that of a movie director. With our Clients as the producers, we take their personal vision, be it classical, modern, contemporary, art deco or neoclassic, and synthesize this with all the other actors, from artisans, suppliers and trades, to create a bespoke design that narrates their personal story. Designers should be like water, easily flowing and versatile enough to fit within any container. Bespoke designs cannot be mass produced if they are to be informed by the Clients’ individual tastes, needs and influences. This continuous dexterity of inspirations is the flame that keeps the passion for design burning.
Good Breakfast with family members, Espresso, work hard, work smart and play hard.
Travel, and attend design exhibition like Mansion Object in Paris and Salone Mobile in Milano to obtain the newest trends.
form and material not only to be meticulously made but must serve the function well.
Design will never be ready since all design idea is always running like stream. You need to tell yourself its time to let go of your idea and meet the deadline.
Neo Classical Chinoiserie style show villa and new Chinoiserie style show villa in Beijing.
Frank Gehry, Frank L. Wright, Alexander McQueen
Taipei, Los Angeles, London, Vancouver, Beijing,
Deeply influenced by eastern and western culture, I emphasize on attention to culture and history as source of inspiration thereby creating vitality and rich artistic essence for each project. Moreover, my insistence of functionality creates soul in design, emphasize on the comfort of Interior space.
I always admire those designers who has the time and the extra financial power to involve themselves with humanitarian projects. Thus, each year I sponsor a none profitable company who specializing in making documentary films about the Chinese culture and society.
Feeling that each individual project is recognized, respected and judged independently within itself for its merit in design for function and aesthetic.
Design Legend Interview
20 October 2018
I was born in Taipei, Taiwan and studied Inteior Architecture in the U.S. and Canada obtaining degrees in Fine Art at El Camino College in Los Angeles, a honor degree at Kwantlen Polytech University in Vancouver Canada and studied Interior Architecture at the California State University in Long Beach, California. I have been a Registered Interior Designer in North America with NCIDQ (National Council for Interior Design Qualification) certified since1999. I started working with Traditional Interior Architectural practices on various projects from large bespoked private residential developments to hospitality and restaurant projects. In that period I discovered my passion for private residential projects and have made this my focus since early 1995. I was very fortunate to advance my career by working on many luxury homes in Vancouver, Canada which enhanced my reputation as one of the top residential interior architects in this city and then beyond. In 2003, I went to Guangzhou, China to design 2 display villas for a residential developer which lead to setting up a design firm in Guangzhou in 2004. In 2007, I expand my design practice to Beijing, China, and expanded our projects to include large scale residential, display apartments, villas and clubhouses.
Motivation comes from my artistically talented grandfather.
Of course I chose to become a designer. My parents have always want me to become a dentist since I was in high school. In fact, I was accepted by University of Southern California as biochemistry major/pre-dentistry major when I was in senior year at high school. But I declined the acceptance, then I went to California State University Long Beach to major in Interior Architecture. I was a run away Pre-Dentistry student who wanted to be a designer.
I design mostly residential projects for developers, wish do design more restaurants and bar.
Do not ever complains about the overtime and you have to love the design and living in different time zone from normal career. Mostly importantly you got to love what you do or else it will not last long for taste sweetness of endeavor. You need to have certain degree of insanity to pursuit perfection in every design.
Good designer satisfy people's needs or requests whereas a great one not only satisfy people's needs or requests but also lead people to another horizon and exceed people's expectation.
function, usability, environmental, artistic and with historical cultural detailing in the space.
Good design is part of human civilization. By investing in good design, designers are encourage to create better design for mankind as well as for the environment.
I would design furniture, lighting, anything is product related which can be mass produced.
Super mega yacht over 100 meters.
You need to have certain degree of insanity to pursuit perfection regardless of time.
Alexander Mcqueen, Frank Lloyd Wright, Andrea Palladio, Arthur Gensler
Gensler. Because they don't do just one style of design. There is no individualistic signature on every design they do.
A design not only satisfy the function and facilitate the traffic flow but also never forget about the artistic and historical side of the design.
Go travel globally when you have time. Ideally work and live in a city no less than 3 years while you travel. Practice, patience, and passion, with these 3 will never let you down in whatever you do.
I would want to be a Pianist, Cellist, Michelin-starred chef if I had the time to develop my talent well enough to do them professionally.
I believe that you could liken the role of an Interior Designer to that of a movie director. With our Clients as the producers, we take their personal vision, be it classical, modern, contemporary, art deco or neoclassic, and synthesize this with all the other actors, from artisans, suppliers and trades, to create a bespoke design that narrates their personal story. Designers should be like water, easily flowing and versatile enough to fit within any container. Bespoke designs cannot be mass produced if they are to be informed by the Clients’ individual tastes, needs and influences. This continuous dexterity of inspirations is the flame that keeps the passion for design burning.
The biggest supporter is my wife Rita and my brother Clyde followed by all those staff who has been with my company for over 10 years.
Practice, patience, and passion
To win the trust from client who has a good and unique project.
Present by story telling.
perhaps Mega Yacht and personal aircraft.
To make my firm to become another Gensler.
Accountability.
Design is part of human civilization and it serves as an alleviator in a pressured society.
Two nearly 2000 square meters show villas in Chinoiserie style. One is simple and modern whereas the other is magnificent and classical.
Those projects with function, usability, environmental, artistic and with historical cultural detailing in the space.
would like to see more different style of design, not just most of designs are modern or super clean look style.
It depends on the size and complexity of the project. Usually between 2 months to 2 years.
I start with space planning first.
Only with the touch of referencing in culture, art, and history, design can become a timeless soul, other than being just a space with its mere function and decoration.
Trends set the designs. Designs carry the trends forward.
The role to achieve the possibility of making different materials work together.
Auto Cad, 3D Max, Photoshop, Sketch up, Vectorworks
Color is visual which determines 70% of the ambient in design whereas materials is tactile which determines 30% of the ambient in design.
How to take design not only professionally but also seriously.
Inspiration beside wanting to own one of them.
I always believe in team work. An ideal design partner works and communicate constantly with me without any reluctance.
Practice, patience, and passion
Alexander Mcqueen. Discuss with the application of different material to create his fashion design.
If you and your team have practice, patience, and passion, you would suddenly find that being famous is not hard afterall.
black and white, Vancouver, Japanese Food, Autumn, watch, Porsche.
Client questioned my former employer my age and qualification when I was assigned to take on their project at the age of 25.
successful completion of a project.
When I was a child, I used to love art and science, but never dream to become a great designer since my parents have always wanted me to be a doctor especially a dentist.
Encounter with alien spices is inevitable just matter of time.
I am open to any questions. Please email me @ david.chang@dcida.com. I would make may best effort to reply.
Designer Interview
1 May 2017
I was born in Taipei, Taiwan and studied Inteior Architecture in the U.S. and Canada obtaining degrees in Fine Art at El Camino College in Los Angeles, a honor degree at Kwantlen Polytech University in Vancouver Canada and studied Interior Architecture at the California State University in Long Beach, California. I have been a Registered Interior Designer in North America with NCIDQ (National Council for Interior Design Qualification) certified since1999. I started working with Traditional Interior Architectural practices on various projects from large bespoked private residential developments to hospitality and restaurant projects. In that period I discovered my passion for private residential projects and have made this my focus since early 1995. I was very fortunate to advance my career by working on many luxury homes in Vancouver, Canada which enhanced my reputation as one of the top residential interior architects in this city and then beyond. In 2003, I went to Guangzhou, China to design 2 display villas for a residential developer which lead to setting up a design firm in Guangzhou in 2004. In 2007, I expand my design practice to Beijing, China, and expanded our projects to include large scale residential, display apartments, villas and clubhouses.
The firm was originated as a small design studio in Vancouver, Canada in 1998, later incorporated in 2004, and established offices in Guangzhou in 2006 and Beijing in 2009 to provide space planning, interior design and soft furnishings services for major real estate developers in China. Completed real estate projects in Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Chongqing, Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Shenyang, Kunshan, Dalian, etc. are well received by the industry and has been setting as the design standards for development and design collection. DCDA has a design team of more than 90 professional designers and an experienced project management team. Type of projects encompasses villa, apartments, sales centers, clubhouses, and hotels for developers as well as private client projects, etc. Locations of projects are spread out throughout North America and Asia. Innovative designs have won numerous honorary awards from Canadian design associations and other perspective areas. DCDA’ s team of passionate and inspired professional design team consistently adheres to a system of quality, consistently discovering the significance of the practicality of space and revelation of details, and with the same enthusiasm for arts creating the ideal living space.
I believe that you could liken the role of an Interior Designer to that of a movie director. With our Clients as the producers, we take their personal vision, be it classical, modern, contemporary, art deco or neoclassic, and synthesize this with all the other actors, from artisans, suppliers and trades, to create a bespoke design that narrates their personal story. Designers should be like water, easily flowing and versatile enough to fit within any container. Bespoke designs cannot be mass produced if they are to be informed by the Clients’ individual tastes, needs and influences. This continuous dexterity of inspirations is the flame that keeps the passion for design burning.
Restaurant, Show Flat, Show Villa, or Clubhouse
Hard to tell which is my favorite since I love any style that is beautiful from ultra modern to traditional classical. But for my own personal living, North European style will be my choice since its functional as well as super clean and mostly beautiful.
A 650 square meters private residence.
In the middle of the night
Focusing more on space planning, detailing, and artistic concept development.
sense of focusing.
sense of accomplishment.
function, usability, environmental, artistic and with historical cultural detailing in the space.
Function always comes first.
Good design is part of human civilization. Designers should create better design for mankind as well as for the environment and every living species on mother nature.
Design is moving towards an environmental conscious approach through the use of recycled materials, renewable products and a concerned populace. The second true motivator and influencer is technology both in how we interact with our “smart homes” and the products being evolved and invented. Classical design from all eras, as well as eclectic style, will continue to be valid as they allow us to express our love for different cultural objects, our passion to explore our world beyond our personal spaces and the touchstones that ground us to our histories.
All design for me is inspired by the 5 senses and effectuated with 3 tools. Our living environments provide a cornucopia of stimulations that influence my designs. Smell, our first and strongest memory, can be aroused by a simple flower or a particular fruit. Vision is imprinted with the sand patterns on the dunes of the Sahara Desert, the dense forests of South America to oil settling in a rain puddle. The touch of a rock or metal sculpture can foster inpressions. Sounds such as hearing a particular classical musical score or a pop hit, can pique a feeling that can inspire a concept. And finally, taste, this influencer of cusines, can strike a cultural reference that can radiate through a design. The effectuating tools of design for me are Colour, Texture and Form, used in harmony to stimulate all our 5 senses.
I believe that you could liken the role of an Interior Designer to that of a movie director. With our Clients as the producers, we take their personal vision, be it classical, modern, contemporary, art deco or neoclassic, and synthesize this with all the other actors, from artisans, suppliers and trades, to create a bespoke design that narrates their personal story. Designers should be like water, easily flowing and versatile enough to fit within any container. Bespoke designs cannot be mass produced if they are to be informed by the Clients’ individual tastes, needs and influences. This continuous dexterity of inspirations is the flame that keeps the passion for design burning.
I live in Taiwan, Canada, and Mainland China almost similar amount of time in my life.
on Contract
Respect and value designer's service. Due diligence such as previous projects visits and client interviews are essential.
Function, Concept Development, Design Development, Contract Documentation, Site Follow Up.
Watch, Car, Faucet, Lighting Fixture and Kitchen.
Do not ever complains about the overtime and you have to love the design and living in different time zone from normal career. Mostly importantly you got to love what you do or else it will not last long for taste sweetness of endeavor. You need to have certain degree of insanity to pursuit perfection in every design.
Positive of being a good designer is fortune and fame.
Negative of being a good designers is irregular hours of sleep.
Negative of being a good designers is irregular hours of sleep.
Good designer satisfy people's needs or requests whereas a great one not only satisfy people's needs or requests but also lead people to another horizon and exceed people's expectation.
Sensitivity towards experiencing life.
Auto Cad, 3D Max, Photoshop, Sketch up, Vectorworks
Try hard to turn off the phone during weekend.
It depends on the size and complexity of the project. Usually between 2 months to 2 years.
Can a designer make lots of money?
working in a design firm which is only targeted to rich and famous private residence.
Classified.
Restaurant and Bar. Quick turnover rate but also playful.
To do more projects internationally.
I always work as a team. Interior Design shares many aspects and needs different expertise from all talents. Interior Design is not just a one single sculpture or a painting. It involves different materials, wide range of color pallet, various techniques, and multiple level of coordination.
Two nearly 2000 square meters show villas in Chinoiserie style. One is simple and modern whereas the other is magnificent and classical.
People can either email me @ david.chang@dcida.com or contact me @ our company address or phone numbers listed on our company web site @ www.dcida.com
I am open to any questions. Please email me @ david.chang@dcida.com. I would make may best effort to reply.