Interview with Mingbo Hou

I definitely chose it. I have always enjoyed making things and exploring different ways of solving problems, so design naturally became the direction I wanted to pursue.

I work across furniture, product, and spatial design. In the future, I would like to design more furniture and spaces that connect people with nature and local culture.

Stay curious, observe carefully, and keep making things. I believe developing your own way of thinking is more important than trying to become someone else.

I would like to design furniture and living spaces for people who want a closer relationship with nature, especially in urban environments.

I like designs that look simple but reveal thoughtful ideas through use, materials, or details. I especially appreciate designs that become natural parts of people's everyday lives.

I might have worked in another creative field, perhaps something related to art, architecture, or visual communication.

I think design will become increasingly interdisciplinary, bringing together products, spaces, technology, environmental issues, and social needs.

I don't think I knew I would become a designer, but I always enjoyed making things, drawing, and being curious about how things worked.

I especially enjoy designing furniture and products that people can actually interact with and use in their everyday lives.

I particularly enjoy working with wood because of its warmth, texture, and natural character. I also use 3D modeling and rendering tools to explore ideas before making physical prototypes.

I feel most creative when I am observing everyday life and noticing small problems or interesting details that people normally overlook.

I focus on the relationship between function, form, and the user's experience. I also care about whether an idea can actually be realized.

I usually feel curious and excited, especially when I discover an unexpected solution during the process.

Seeing an idea become a real object is very satisfying. It gives me a sense that something that existed only in my imagination can become part of someone's everyday life.

I think a successful design should have a clear idea, solve a real problem, and create an emotional connection with people.

Designers should think beyond appearance and consider materials, production, durability, and the impact of their work on the environment and society.

I think design is becoming more interdisciplinary. Designers are increasingly working across products, spaces, technology, and social issues rather than staying within one category.

A lot of my inspiration comes from nature, everyday objects, local culture, and small observations from daily life. Living in Okinawa especially influenced the way I think about nature and people's relationship with their environment.

I am originally from China and have lived in Japan for several years. Experiencing both Chinese and Japanese cultures has made me more aware of how culture, lifestyle, materials, and environment influence design.

Stay curious and keep observing. Don't be afraid of making mistakes, because many good ideas come from trying something that does not work at first.

The best part is being able to turn an idea into something real. The difficult part is that design often requires a lot of time, communication, revisions, and compromise.

I mainly use Rhino, Fusion 360, KeyShot, Photoshop, and Illustrator. I also use physical models and prototypes whenever possible.

Working in Japan has been very important to me because it allowed me to experience how design works in a real commercial environment, from concept development to production and installation.

Email: mercyhou7@gmail.com