Interview with Li Yu Chen

I love DESIGN. I have a passion to bring something good in our daily life.

I decided to be a designer when I was a young boy.

My academic research focuses on cultural creativity, narrative design, and universal design. With the focus on the above-mentioned field, I always have a passion for architectural and interior design with cultural significance.

Explore the world.

A good designer delivers good design. A great designer fulfills the void of space with aesthetics, functionality, and cultural significance, providing environmentally friendly materials are applied.

A good design should reveal the aesthetics, reflect perceptuality, provide culture
reflection, and pay attention to environmental sustainability.

A good design creates resonance with human life and leads to a better future for human
society.

Dare to envision and be patient to listen.

Ieoh Ming Pei

I like the works of Ieoh Ming Pei. I like the Grand Louvre, Paris, NCAR, and the new Mesa Laboratory for the National Center for Atmospheric Research outside Boulder, Colorado. He challenged himself to make the buildings exist in harmony with their natural surroundings.

“New Age Transformation” is a great design in 2019. The design took care of the cultural significance of the abandoned factory. The design technique “architecture within architecture” enriches the original space while its beauty derived from time is kept.

A teacher.

Design is about the reflection of perceptuality. I wish my design can tell a story by itself through the plan and layout which bring in natural and enlightening interaction with people.

“New Age Transformation” is one of the projects that I am very satisfied with. The design offers a cultural significance for the abandoned space and takes care of the issue of environmental sustainability.

I expect designers in the industry to pay more attention to materials and the issue of sustainability. We all need to do that in the critical time of our world.

In a world of 5G and 6G, I see that the design industry will continue to grow, expand its influence on other industries and fields of life, and cooperate with different new technology.

Depending on how big the project is. I would say that 6 months minimum is required.

I start with research on the project.

Autocad, Sketchup.

It is a design with outstanding modeling, functionality, and environmentally friendly materials.

The company, Creative Design Center, CYCU, integrates design professionals and takes a full range of design services as the guide to perform various design project entrusted tasks. It aims at a full range of design services, executing project commissioned tasks, integrating professional teams of teachers from architecture, interior, commercial design, etc., to provide creative professional design services. The scope of services includes architectural design, landscape design, interior design, product design, Integrated services such as cultural and creative products, and visual design.

Design is about aesthetics and the reflection of perceptuality. Designers should be able to reflect on creativity in practice.

My research focuses on spatial culture, cultural creativity, design thinking, etc. Most of the themes of my creation are from a cultural perspective to different interpretations of the space, to explore the environmental changes caused by the mixed culture.

New Age Transformation is a project we completed in 2019 in Beijing China. It is originally an abandoned plant that was built almost decades ago. The abandoned factory has its own beauty of time and historical value. When discussing with the property developer, knowing that is space will be used as a business incubation for technology, cultural industry, our first suggestion was to keep the building and its structure as it was originally. Luckily, the developer accepted our proposal. The process of communication was smooth. The outcome is well received.

A residential project for a small house.

Steel piece.

I feel creative both when I am alone by myself and when I am with my team.

In the process of design, I pay more attention to the cultural significance of a project. I like to interpret space from multiple perspectives, exploring the cultural meaning behind the place from different aspects, and using narrative design methods to interpret space. In 2017, I started to create the "Zi-Hui Taiwan" series, published the book "Zi-Hui Taiwan ", and continues to create the "Zi-Hui Taoyuan" series.

Energetic, focused, and calm.

I feel touched emotionally when I see a completed project.

It is the integration of functionality, aesthetics, and cultural significance/historical background of a space that makes the design succeed.

The design thinking behind the design project is crucial. It is the soul of a design.

Living space is a reflection of human society. Designers are responsible to lead people and discover and present the world in a unique way to bring a better society and a better environment for our world. It is all about the mindset behind a design. It is all related to a philosophy and value system. Your thinking about the world and life has a great impact on your design.

The design industry will be closely connected with culture and society.
Design power is and will continue to be the force that shapes and curves human society.

2020, "The Method of Reading the City-Special Exhibition of Zhongli Calligraphy Painting", Zhongli No. 5 Warehouse Art Base, Taoyuan, Taiwan.

We come from nature. Our desire for the perfect space and building will echo those elements in mother nature which support our life. When I don't work, I try to spend as much time as possible in nature, which is a luxury in our modern city life. I immerse myself in nature to stimulate and open up my senses.

I believe that designers should start a design through perceptuality and reflect on creativity in practice. I see space as a living container for users, not just a performance stage for designers. From conceptualization to execution, I engage multiple perspectives, explore the cultural signification of space from different aspects, and use narrative design to interpret the space.

Taiwan (Asia). The dominant local culture in Taiwan originates from China and is influenced by Japan. The diverse thinking derived from these inheritances riches and diversifies my designs which are without any restriction in any form.

Through in-depth meetings before and during the co-operation.

You should always try to get to know your partner before starting a business co-operation. What is the philosophy they truly believe both as a designer and as a human being?

I like to use narrative methods to express my ideas. Through the comprehensive thinking of roles, plots, and scenes, I initiate arrangements of functionality and spatial allocation.

Designer chair. Crystal chandelier. Bed, Imitation classic solid wood bookcase.

I work over 15 hours almost every day. Usually, I start my day early at 6 am and finish by 9 pm. I balance my personal life with my work at university as well as my design projects. I keep weekends available for my family.

Read as much as you can. Travel and visit as many cities and cultural sites as possible. Learn to be your own guidance. Learn from nature. Try to listen to other people and know their needs.

There will be plenty of communication for different design projects. For someone who does not like communication, this will be a challenge for you. You need to envision and lead your clients to “see” your vision. You learn from each communication. If you can do your design work for over a decade, you will become patient and mature in your life.

Functionality with reason, outstanding modeling, and environmentally friendly materials.

To be a designer, the ability to envision and communication skills are crucial.

Autocad, Novice.Sketchup, Novice.

Before we start a new project, we spend a lot of time in in-depth discussions and meetings. Discussing the needs of the project is crucial.

Minimum 6 months.

I frequently ask “Why?”.

I have been teaching and conducting research in architecture and interior design for more than 30 years. I believe the role is important as a practical scholar who seeks research topics in the profession and uses research to improve teaching and research.

Jijiamiao Double Creation Industrial Park, Crowne Plaza Edison Hotel, New Jersey, Marriott Courtyard, California, Taoyuan Children's Art Museum, Pentium Network, Wiseworks Co., Ltd, Unity Opto Technology co., Ltd., Coretek Opto Corporation, KYE Systems Corp.,

The design presents a spatial equilibrium and shows material characteristics.

Through the integrated design power in Creative Design Center, CYCU, I expect me and my team members to work on more exciting design projects.

I work as a leader in Creative Design Center, CYCU.

liyuchen@cycu.org.tw