Interview with Lan Zhang

I begin with painting in my childhood, and select graphic design as my major in University. Design gives me an additional channel to communicate with myself and other people. All these steps of learning and study lead me to the path of a designer.

I become a designer based on my painting experience, I choose to become one naturally.

I do VI design the most, I wish to design more of logos, because a logo is like a condensed story, such small image can carry lots of information.

Every person have there specific path, they can all receive their reward by diligent work.

A good designer does what they are supposed to do, a great designer supply unexpected pleasant surprise.

A good design conveys effective communication form both mentally and visually. If the final design can match with the overall plan and works well in the market, it can be a good design with practical value.

A good design contains aesthetic and practical value in general. Good design can influence everyone in a positive way, people can obtain benefits from good design in various ways.

I would design commonweal items as everyone is equal, everyone has the right to experience the joys and benefits from design.

My dream project is relevant to mystery theme, which requires the cooperation of spaces, materials, lights etc. This project provide another dimension of our current world, it might be the same with, might be opposite to this world, it is different from but could be a reflection of our circumstance.

It is important to build up connections, which includes the connection of all the visual elements, and the connection between the design and the viewers. Keep the design effective, consider more for the clients in a reasonable way.

I get inspired from Alan Chan, Kohei Sugiura, Tashi mannox etc.

My most favorite designs are the maps from Sugiura Kohei. He based on the two dimensional platform whereas showcases unusual angle of perceiving some normal objects by twisting the times and dimensions.

My greatest design so far is a series of posters, featuring the theme of Tibetan five elements. The five elements is a general concept which may vary due to different contexts. I capture the fluctuate nature of the five elements, situate it in a Tibetan context, and reveal it in a way that can be widely accepted by contemporary public.

Be familiar with basic rules of design, and keep updated trend in mind, and unite these two facts logically in design.

Although my previous major gives me a clear concentration on graphic design, I always interested in jewellery design, I make some drafts and create accessories in my spare time.

Design is a process of “understanding and fulfillment” for me. Understanding the essence of the design topic, the methods, the materials, the target group, as well as how to achieve it in a reasonable way.

My biggest supporter is my parents, they arouse and encourage my interest on handcrafts, painting and designing in my childhood.

I still have long way to go toward a great designer. In my opinion, a great designer not only satisfied with the quality of a design itself, but also pays attention to the positive influence that a design can bring to the society.

I do not regard myself as a design master at the moment. My current position is lecture in a university, to fulfill my job obligations first could be some distracted factors of focusing on design.

I think designers should present their work in an objective professional and outgoing way.

My next design project is relevant to Tibetan Buddhism symbols and motifs. My rough idea is to experiment them with different materials, on different devices, and different ways of display them, then exhibit the final outcomes.

As a designer, I wish to create timeless work that can be widely accepted without limitation of time and space.

Most people tend to expect brilliant work that can totally match with their imagination, or stunning work that will be blown away. They also care about whether the design works well in the market.

A designer has the duty to maintain and enhance an appropriate order of our society and environment by means of the materials of design, to propose, advocate or guide the viewers, in order to form positive concepts, which can contribute to a harmony, peaceful, sustainable society and environment.

I am currently working on VI items of my brand, in which I can express more personal favourism.

So far, a series of posters gave me the most satisfaction, which featuring the theme of Tibetan five elements. The five elements is a general concept which may vary due to different contexts. I capture the fluctuate nature of the five elements, situate it in a Tibetan context, and reveal it in a way that can be widely accepted by contemporary public.

I would like to see more environmentally friendly design, the material, the method, the process of design can all be benefit to both human and nature.

I think the design field will continually headed towards a sustainable and interactive direction.

It mainly depends on the specific project, skill, quality, style etc. are all factors that influence the time to finalize a design project.

I start with collecting information, and relevant materials for the design project.

I never see what has been done; I only see what remains to be done.

I think the trends and the designs is interactional related, sometime trends influence more on the design, while sometimes design create new trends.

Technology can make the design process smooth, also assist in the design effects, it provides endless possibilities to design.

I normally use Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop, sometimes I also use handwriting pad.

The color, materials and ambient works as a whole in design. The color can easily catch the viewers’ eyes, and leave an early impression on the viewers, different colors possess different meanings. The materials not only affect on the viewers’ eyes but also affect on the sense of touch. The ambient can set the design off, it could be regard as part of the entire design.

I wish people to ask whether the design convey or develop the original idea of the design

How does the designer come up with this new idea, where the inspiration comes from?

I do not have a design partner, I believe in co-design.

My master had the most influence on my design. He enlightened me to reflect on an object from multiple angles, which enriched the depth and width of my design.

“Life and modeling” had the most effect on my design. I pay more attention on the expression of imperceptibility in my design after reading this book.

Keep on accumulating experience is an unavoidable process. Always keep an open mind absorb good ideas and develop own idea is also important.

I would want to meet with Sakyamuni, the founder of Buddhism. I wonder how do the Buddhism wisdom reflects the design, and how to transmit these wisdom to the public effectively through design?

extant. Famous is constructed with many factors, I focused on my study in previous years, and now I start create some works. I wish my work in the future can communicate well with viewers.

Sometimes my favorite color my vary due to different reasons, I like bright and light color generally. I like place that did not been over exploit, where I can experience the time flow from past to current by means of historical remains. I like spring, it is full of vitalities, I sow my wishes and the following seasons I work towards these goals. I like Chinese food, the species of Chinese food is very rich, and every region has particular tastes. I like vintage, they are full of characteristics of the associated age. My favorite brand is Issey Miyake, it based on traditional spirit whereas been well actualized by contemporary process.

I design a business card and make mistake of the name of that client. His surname should be “Whiting”，but I typed “Whitehead” instead. This mistake makes him laugh, he said, I do have whitehead, the spelling of my name is wrong but the description of this word is quite suit on me.

As a designer, I always keep in mind is come up with new ideas, discovery new possibilities of existing items, which enhances the quality of life. I make plan for a design project to ensure a certain direction, and set staged targets, then achieve each target one by one to accumulate achievability.

When I was a child, I am interested in painting and handcrafts, they forms a base for me develop my way towards a designer.

Future is full of possibilities, I believe intelligent systems will cover lots of areas. The world is connected in various ways like a net, which blurred many boundaries like regional boundaries, time boundaries, race boundaries and so on.

I wish my fans to know designer is one of my roles, as everyone has more than one role in one’s life, and I am glad to know new friends in the role of designer for a start.

I work in a university as a lecture at the moment, I have no design studio.

Design is a process of “understanding and fulfillment” for me. Understanding the essence of the design topic, the methods, the materials, the target group, as well as how to achieve it in a reasonable way.

I found traditional mystery themes are very attractive, I like to play with graphics and transform the mystery elements in a way that can be smoothly adopted to the contemporary acceptance.

My most favorite design is the design of maps from Sugiura Kohei. He showcases unusual angle of perceiving some normal objects by twisting the times and dimensions.

The first thing I designed for a company is a logo.

My favorite material is handmade paper, which contains uneven fiber of plants, the paper got natural texture itself, and the effect of painting can be influenced by the proportion of water or other materials, it not only shows various interactions between paper and pigments for Chinese painting, but also opens more possibilities for the painting.

I feel the most creative when my subconscious is more active than my consciousness.

I focus more about how the visual elements can convey the invisible design ideas as accurate as possible.

The process is somehow like a dhyana practice, I feel relax when I work on my design, as long as there is no deadline.

I feel very delight that someone are out there who share the same or similar experience with me, we may never met but we have things in common.

Effectively conveys the core message can make a design successful. The visual aspect of the design is a viechle which carries and match with the core message.

I firstly consider whether the design can convey the main idea in a clear and accurate way.

A designer has the duty to maintain and enhance an appropriate order of our society and environment by means of the materials of design, to propose, advocate or guide the viewers, in order to form positive concepts, which can contribute to a harmony, peaceful, sustainable society and environment.

Nowadays, design becomes an important part of our society, the future of design will be influenced by the developments of many fields, which opens great opportunities and possibilities of design, and the continuing developments of design can also influence other fields too.

My last exhibition was in my city, which held in last year. I would like to hold my next exhibition in this year.

The design inspiration for my work comes from multiple channels. My creativity could be feed by visual, verbal, musical materials or other elements. Normally, my sources of inspirations come from ancient patterns, traditional symbols and mystery motifs.

My design style integrates traditional elements as skeleton, and contemporary elements as skin and flesh. I interested in discover different aspects of this world rather than ordinary perspective. My style bases on a secular acceptance whereas explores the invisible dimensions of multiple times and spaces. The structure, perspective, organization and other visual elements in my design embodied such style.

I live in China, the cultural heritage of my country affects a lot in my designs. There is rich heritage of traditional Chinese culture and art for me to employ in my design, but typical Chinese style may cause geographical limitations, I try to reduce such limitations, find out universalities between different cultures and make my design more widely accepted.

I seldom work with companies, I focus more on academic topics nowadays and I work by myself.

Companies need to let the designer know what they want to achieve through the design work, and the designer will figure out how to achieve the goal. More communication and close relation always lead to a better understanding. A good designer not only possess good skills, but also maintain a good motivation, these qualities work together can create suitable design, and produce good effects for the companies.

Firstly understand the design topic, and collect relevant materials, then conceive a plan, create drafts, amend the draft till it close to the final status, make some modifications at last.

Ice-tray, the ice be formed in the shape of ship, when they melt, they sink in water gradually.Astronaut Mini-light, a small USB light for laptop. Luminous astronaut looks like suspend in the air, he can distribute soft ray at night.Stone cushion, big size cushions in the shape of natural stones, which have different sizes and different types of grey color. Water drop lamp, a water drop sits in the middle of a ripples base, when the drop connect with the base, the lamp is on, the light of lamp slightly changes like the breath of human, u can even hear the low voice of water dropping. When take the drop away from the base, the lamp will turn off.Incense holder, this holder can hold many types of incense, such as coil, cones and joss-stick. It is also easy to carry with, which can be used anywhere. This incense holder is designed by myself.

An ideal day in my life is wake up follow the first sunlight, stretch myself outdoors, pick up some plants from a small garden for making breakfast, water flowers after breakfast. Check emails. Do some painting and design, or make some handcrafts, then prepare lunch. Have a nap after lunch. Get up and take a walk in garden, then continue with painting or design till dinner. Have some light organic food and then read a book, go to bed.

Focus more on the needs of customers, create designs to serve others rather than showoff oneself is more important in practical design.

Being a designer has many chances to get in touch with interesting design works. However, the outcome may not always follow the original intention of designer, negotiate with client is part of the design process, and finally come up with the best solution of all the issues.

Build up connections, it includes the connection of all the visual elements, and the connection between the design and the viewers.

Understanding the design topic, and be familiar of how to transfer the idea into design accurately.

I normally use Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop, sometimes I also use handwriting pad.

Set up a goal and separate it into several sections, make a plan to accomplish each small target time by time.

It mainly depends on the specific object, skill, quality, style etc. are all factors that influence the time.

Many clients have certain ideas of their brand or products, they ask me if I can design in the way as they wanted.

My most important job experience is to keep the design effective, consider more for the clients in a reasonable way.

Gold Coast City Council of Australia, Gold Coast Chinatown Association Inc., Gold Coast Chinese Club, Zhonghua International Net TV, IAUTV Confucius News, Shandong University of Arts.

Currently I enjoy experimental design rather than commercial design, because it concentrates on a more focused goal, which I can manage to realize some of my original ideas that may be limited in commercial cases.

My future plan is to create design and artworks by experimenting them with different materials, on different devices, and different ways of display them, then exhibit my outcomes.

I develop the designs by myself most of the time.

I do not have any works-in-progress at the moment.

People are very welcome to contact me by my email.

I do not have any other things I would like to cover at the moment.