Interviews with Jessica Zhengjia Hu

When I was a kid, my parents used to take me to various art events and exhibitions to cultivate my artistic culture and aesthetics. At the age of 7, my first art teacher in elementary school invited me to the school art group and trained me for different art competitions. The door of art has opened up for me since then.
I had always dreamed to work in the creative industry when I was a kid. However, I actually chose to study business and economics in college, because I realized that learning business and economics could help me understand the market and customer behaviors. I hoped to know people’s demands as well as their potential needs. After graduating from University of Michigan with a bachelor’s degree in economics, I moved on to study fashion design at Parsons in New York. From there, I learned how to work and think as a real designer. That was indeed the beginning of my design career. I had several internship and work experiences in some fashion brands in New York. Then I founded a womenswear fashion brand and launched my first collection in 2017. Now, I have moved back to China, I am still operating Jessture as well as my independent studio which focuses on mainly graphic, product and packaging design.
For me, art and design are important components of my life. Art is the way for me to sense, experience and communicate to the world, and design is the method for me to think and discover potential possibilities for the future. I have always wanted to choose something that can always bring passion and motivation to my life. I am so glad that I have chosen a field I truly love as my career.

Clarifying the core concept, defining practical functions and interpreting a thorough presentation are three aspects that I give most importance to when I work on a design project. Being a minimalist designer, I always follow the “less is more” principle when I design. I prefer using simple elements and clear outlines to make space for the creativity and imagination. As a Chinese designer with western education background and life experience, I am interested in blending the beauty of eastern and western culture together in my works. It could be a product with western styled structures and decorated with eastern patterns, or a traditional eastern appearance with abstract western details.
For product design, I enjoy using digital tools and latest technologies, like 3D software and tools, to do designs. I believe leading technologies and tools can largely improve our efficiency. With digital tools, it is easy and convenient for us to manipulate and modify our work in any process. We will even be able to see the rendering outcomes directly on the computer screen. Therefore, I prefer completing most of the design process in the computer using digital tools and relative software. If I need to make mock-ups, I will send the files to a 3D printing lab to print a sample model for me.
For fashion design on the other hand, the techniques will be more traditional with less involvement of digital technology. I usually draw sketches by hand and then create technical flats in the computer using Adobe Illustrator. Then I will bring the sketches and flats to pattern and sample makers to make sample garments. The samples may have to go through several rounds of fitting and modification before they can finally be finished up and get ready for presentation.

I feel passionate, energetic, and devoted when I design. I am most satisfied when I have solved a design problem or achieve the design goals successfully. Although I do enjoy the process of design for most of the time, my emotions may have ups and downs in different phases. The birth of new idea and inspiration evokes my passion and motivates me to make the first step. I sometimes feel stressed when I get stuck, but I will try to control my anxiousness to prevent being taken over by frustration. The best way to solve a problem is to take action. For all the problem I have met, I believe there is always going to be a way, if not, I will make my way. The finishing stage is probably the most exciting moment of a project, because at this point everything is ready to go. Seeing the complete outcome of all the previous efforts is the happiest thing for me. It is a big pleasure to successfully turn an abstract idea into tangible things in the reality. The satisfaction of such accomplishment is the most attractive part of design.

My economics degree and business background are very helpful to me on my way of becoming a successful designer. With these knowledge and skills, I can better sense the market demands and potential needs. I will be able to create more useful and practical designs by analyzing market trends and consumer behaviors. Therefore, other than my art and design teachers, my marketing professor was the person that gave me the biggest influence on my design career. Once she said to us in her lecture about market innovation, “Before the automobiles have been invented, if you ask a traveler what he wants, the answer may possibly be ‘a fast horse’.” That sentence kept influencing and inspiring me throughout the years. My professor taught us that a good innovator, the same role as a designer, should be able to create new demands in the market. With the help of quickly evolving technologies, I am looking for the potential needs all the time with the hope that I can bring some really innovative and beneficial designs to the world.

My father used to oppose my decision of becoming a designer when he realized that design was no longer just a hobby for me. It takes me so many years to convince him and prove myself with progresses and achievements I have earned in the design field. Recalling those memories, I want to thank myself for the courage, determination and persistence in the past few years, which have earned myself understanding and supports today.
In the future, I will keep getting ahead of myself. I will keep practicing and improving my skills, and I will always be on my way of becoming a more comprehensive designer who can bring happiness to people and make contributions to the world. Recently, I am planning to design new fashion collections using 3D technologies. With the leading 3D tools these years, many brands and companies have started to present their products with virtual characters in their campaign. Hopefully I will be able to present my fashion collections on really true-to-life virtual characters, and launch 3D fashion runway shows online in the upcoming future.

The first day of my orientation at Parsons, I was among thousands of new art and design major students in the auditorium. Yet, in the graduation commencement, only about a quarter of us finished our degrees, and the rest of us had either changed the major or transferred to other general universities. When I started my design career, I met a lot of young designer fellows. Throughout these years, many of them left this field and worked in some other industries one after another. It is quite common and understandable to see people leave the creative industries due to the increasingly fierce competition, high pressure and comparatively instable market, comparing to some traditional businesses. The creative industry is very subjective and unpredictable, that we will not always get paid for the input and efforts we have done. The thing is, what we are actually looking for. It is the intension that matters. If one only wants to earn quick money or seeks a stable job with high income and low pressure, I will not recommend entering the creative fields.
In fact, I do have had moments that I wanted to give up. Whenever I experience such difficult times, I ask myself, “What is design for me?” This was in fact the question I was asked in my first design class. For me, design is not a temporary interest. It is not just a job that I do for a living, but a lifelong career that I want to pursue and devote to. I believe design empowers us to create new changes to the world. It can help us solve existing problems in our life and generate more possibilities for our future. The creative industry may look tempting and fascinating from the outside, yet there will be so many difficulties and obstacles we need to face and overcome once we enter it. We cannot go far if we only care about the fame and gains. I did not choose design for a living but choose it for passion and love. I hope we can all remain true to our original aspirations no matter what we are up against in the future.

We are in a rapidly innovating and evolving era. Remaining in the safety zone can no longer avoid being washed out by the new waves. As designers, I believe we should walk in the front to become explorers and pioneers. Courage is a very important quality of a designer. No matter how great an idea is, if no one dares to take the first step and have a try, it will just remain as a fantasy, and we might still be riding horses on the street now. We should not be afraid of difficulties and mistakes, because they can teach us important lessons and experience. I have been through many flops and troughs, but I never stop trying and forging ahead. We must get up from where we fall. Keep learning, practicing and improving our capability and skills. Last but not least, we should also keep thinking and exploring the unknown potential. There are infinite possibilities in our mind, and design is a very powerful shovel.

A normal work day of mine starts with a cup of coffee and a bagel or sometimes an egg. I do not usually wake up early because the most productive and efficient time for me starts in the afternoon. I usually process my tasks in order of priority. I will try to get those urgent projects done first, then move on to the less urgent ones. Dinner time is usually around 7. Then I usually spend 1 or 2 hours after dinner to play with my cat. If time is available, I will go through interesting news or video clips on the internet. Showering time is probably the most relaxing and pleasant time of the day. I like singing random songs or having random conversations with myself. It is the moment for my brain to get refreshed and my mind to be set free. Sometimes new thoughts, solutions or inspirations may pop up during my shower time, and that becomes the most exciting moment of the day. I am a real night person and I am used to staying up late. My bed time is usually between 2 to 4am depends on the progress of my work, but I have to admit that lying in bed is also the happiest moment of a day.

I do follow up the latest trends in the industry, but I will not stick to them strictly. In general, I prefer to follow my own style and take those hot trends as references. Trends are set by the market demands and consumer preferences. A design can become a trend if it is beneficial and attractive to the consumers. I usually get inspirations from my daily life. It can be any impression, sentiment, emotion or thoughts that comes up in my mind.

I believe a well-designed product should be both functional and practical. As designers, we cannot just focus on the artistic quality of the product appearance and forget about its functionality and practicality. We need to pay attention to the balance in between, otherwise the product will become a specious “eye candy” which looks fancy but useless. Another essential aspect is the main concept of the design. It shows the core value of the product. If function represents the body, then the concept will be the soul. A clear concept defines the unique quality of the product. It tells the consumers what the product is for, and why it is different from other products. Last but not least, a thorough and lively presentation can boost the product to a higher level by catching people’s attention and interest. A good presentation is the key to introducing and promoting a new product successfully. Consumers are willing to have a try only if the product has left good impressions on them. In conclusion, these are the factors that I think are critical to the success of a design.

For me, I usually keep modifying and improving a project till the last minute of its deadline. I will save all my design records carefully, especially for my own design projects, and I will keep an open tab in my mind to make those previous designs better once I have acquired better techniques. If the customer or the client is satisfied with the outcome, then it can be seen as a successful project to some extent. If regardless of time and deadlines, I do believe there will always be ways to improve a product or an idea, because the technology, our society, human beings and even the whole universe is evolving all the time.

The Spring & Summer 2019 womenswear collection of my brand Jessture is the project that I am most proud of for now. It was my first collection presented on the runway of New York Fashion Week. The collection was named “Light”. The word “light” has many definitions. It can be a noun. It can also be an adjective to describe the weight, color, taste, sense and even the emotion. The collection transformed the idea of “light” in both physical and psychological aspects. Light fabrics were used to provide gentle and comfortable feelings. Creative structures such as detachable pockets, lapels, and adjustable strapped corset, allowed the looks to be more variable. Color selection was a big challenge in this collection. In order to see the light, we need to put ourselves in the darkness first. In this project, the “highlight” of the looks did not show directly by applying bright shades. The quality of brightness is emphasized by manipulating contrast of different low saturated tones and colors. Shades of blue were mixed with neutral and earth tones to help cooling down the overall emotions. Garments can reflect the interactions between the wearer’s psychological emotions and their physical environment. The goal is to encourage the wearers to choose their own styles and express their own aesthetics bravely.
Recently, I have just finished a 3D virtual project of submarine detector. It was a big satisfaction because it was my first time to complete a 3D scene for a mechanical model. I get more satisfied each time when I make a new progress in design. These days I am trying to design garments using a very efficient and powerful 3D software called “Marvelous Designer”, with the hope that I will be able to present my collections using 3D technologies in the coming future.

I would wish to have a conversation with Alexander McQueen if I had a chance, but I guess it will be really difficult even if he is still alive. McQueen hated interviews, he did not like talking to people. That made his mind even more mysterious to the world. McQueen is one of the most iconic fashion designers in the past decades. I am a big fan of his works. One of my favorite quotes from him said, “I think there is beauty in everything. What normal people would perceive as ugly, I can usually see something of beauty in it.” He liked using wild, fierce and savage ways to tell the stories. He was good at using exaggerated structures and crazy shapes to show the conflicts in humanity, race, religion, culture, society and nature. Therefore, his works were usually full of strong emotional strength and visual tension.
As designers, it is not hard for us to find the beauty in our life. The key is how to use our works to move the audience and users, so they can feel and appreciate the things we wish to share with them. The thing I admire most is that his works make people think. All of them have rich contents and connotations to be discussed and remembered even after so many years. “You can only go forward by making mistake.” “As a designer, you’ve always got to push yourself forward, you’ve always got to keep up with the trends or make your own trends.” McQueen’s quotes are the mentors that impress, inspire and motivate me all the time.

Shenzhen and New York are two of my favorite cities. They are both very significant to me. I grew up in Shenzhen, one of the four “first-tier cities” of China. It is a beautiful modern coastal city with highly open and diverse cultures. It is also known as the “city of design”. This rapidly developing city of design has attracted many artists, designers as well as companies, institutes and organizations to join the local creative industry. Unlike traditional inland cities with inherited cultural deposits, Shenzhen is more like a young folk who is more flexible and curious about new stuff. The open environment brings new blood into the society constantly.
New York is where my design career starts. Despite the difference between eastern and western culture values, the two cities are similar in terms of the quick life pace and the adaption and co-existence of diverse cultures. My life experiences in both cities allow me to see things from more diverse angles. A more flexible and adaptive mind can help me understand the market and the society better.
Good designs are like bridges and tunnels. They help us get through mountains or across rivers faster and easier. Besides physical advantages, good designs can also benefit our psychological well-being. A well-designed living space can largely improve the efficiency and quality of life. I like to collect recyclable waste and turn it into decorations or articles for daily use. For example, I once turned empty coffee capsules into Christmas tree ornaments, and they looked just fine. I like surrounding myself with my designs and art works. They remind me of the satisfactions I have got in the process of design. These satisfactions are the motivation of my life.

For most of the time, I prefer working alone on a single project. Subjective disagreement and misunderstanding may happen in a co-design project and they waste a lot of time. I do accept working with partners on big collaborative programs, as long as the division of work is clear to everybody. In general, I prefer to work with people who share the same value and interest with me. It is important for all members in a corporation to be on the same page in order to move together as a whole.
I used to be an advocator in my previous job. I liked sharing my thoughts and opinions with the team. It worked well at the beginning and solved some problems effectively for the team. However, as various opinions accumulated, it became even more difficult for the team to reach an agreement. Since then, I have learned to reserve my own opinions no matter how right I think it is, and give in to whatever decision that is preferred by most of the members. Willing to make a concession when necessary is a sophisticated skill in workplace and business. It is fine to insist on our own mind when working on our personal projects. For projects of client, sometimes we need to make concession to the client’s interests as long as they are not against the principles.

As a designer, I wish to use the power of design to benefit the society by solving existing problems and issues, reducing conflicts, increasing social efficiency and improving our happiness and wellbeing. The mission is hard as it is a heavy responsibility that needs collective inputs and efforts from many other designers. I have done some pro bono collaborative design works. Most of them are about existing social or environmental issues. I admire designers, artists and architects who have taken part in the humanitarian projects. I see them as heroes. If I have time and chances, I will join in some design conferences and share my thoughts and opinions with other designers, artists, architects and whoever wish to make a contribution to this world.

Attending the A’ Design Award competition has been a very precious experience for me. It was my honor to compete with excellent and talented designers from different countries with different interests and cultural backgrounds. It was a great opportunity to learn from their ideas, skills and techniques. By competing with other designers, I would be able to see my weakness and strength. The competition is like a transcript that tells me what to be improved. It is my great pleasure and honor to be the Designer of the Day. It is a valuable feedback and positive evaluation for my previous efforts. It will be a big motivation for me to keep improving and forging ahead.

The project intends to capture the beauty of fluid by simulating random movements of liquid flows. When two liquids run into each other, the collision on the surface creates irregular crown splashes which then melt into the ripples. These random abstract shapes add interesting features to the tableware and makes the food more attractive. The solid structures allow the saucers to hold more food as well. Porcelain material provides minimalist aesthetics with senses of cleanness and ease. Smooth and clean appearance can deliver a psychological feeling of hygienic, which can improve people’s appetite to some extent.

I have applied design and appearance patent for this design. In the future I plan to expand this “fluid and splash” concept into some other product categories such as lighting, furniture and some other articles for daily use. Maybe even create a “splashy lifestyle” collection.

The idea came up almost in a flash, but it took me about 2 weeks to turn it into a mature concept.

The idea popped up and I just decided to pursuit this inspiration.

I plan to produce and sell them myself. They have not been produced yet, but they will become a part of my new household goods product line which will be launched hopefully in the short future.

Designing functional and creative products is always my biggest interest. For all my designs, my goal is to make them multifunctional and interesting. I want my customers feel free to use these products creatively and have fun and pleasure while using them.

I made a design mood board with pictures of some fluid art paintings and some abstract fluid designs. They helped me build up the full concept.

People who like minimalist style or people who are curious about interesting ideas and creative things.

These sets of cups and saucers can be used as multifunctional tableware. The cups can serve drinks, while the saucers can be used as dessert, pastry or fruit plates. The food looks like being soaked in fresh milk when it is placed in the middle of the saucer which has a unique splash shape with a ripple base. The smooth porcelain appearance provides a sense of cleanness. These features increase people’s appetite by making the food looks more attractive and hygienic. The saucers can be used as home decors as well, so they may even be “useful” when they are not being used.

The project aims to reflect the beauty of liquid flows by capturing the moments when the collision on the surface creates irregular splashes in the shape of crowns and blended into the ripples. Therefore, the name “Splashy” not only stands for the main concept of the design but also reflects the fluid beauty driven by the randomness of natural power.

The products were designed with 3D modeling software Cinema 4D. 3D dynamic function was used to simulate the liquid flows as well as manipulate the shapes of liquid splashes and drips. Mockup samples were made by 3D printing.

The abstract fluid and splashes shapes of the appearance.

This project is solely done by myself.

3D technology is the major method of design in this project. The liquid states and structures were simulated and built by Cinema 4D. All mockup samples were done by 3D printer.

In order to find the most suitable shapes for the splashes and drips, I used 3D software to test and simulate the dynamic movements of liquid. There were so many factors that could affect the condition of the splashes and drips, for example the density of liquid, the speed of flow, the impact area, the impact angle and so on. I had to run dynamic tests with different variables to simulate the actual fluid conditions before I could finally come up with satisfying configuration for the products.

The biggest challenge of this project is defining the product shapes, especially for those irregular splashes, drips and ripples. The goal is to preserve the randomness of liquid states. In order to do so, I used 3D software to simulate and modify the dynamic liquid movements, so that the appearance will look more natural in terms of the liquid features.

It is my third year participating in A Design Award competition. Being able to take part in such a big and famous international design competition was a very precious experience for me. It was my honor to compete with so many excellent and talented designers from different countries with different backgrounds. It was a great opportunity to learn and share new ideas and techniques. It is always a great chance to widen my vision and improve my skills as well.

This was my first time designing something with abstract fluid shapes. The Cinema 4D dynamic simulation functions helped me a lot in generating those shapes. My 3D modeling skills became more sophisticated during the project.

This is a technology boosting era. We are facing challenges from new technologies and emerging artificial intelligence. However, as designers, we are the group of people that are used to changes and challenges. I will keep improve myself and arming myself with updated knowledge and skills. My dream is to bring more good designs to this world and hopefully make it a better place.

Less is more, the key idea of minimalist design, is the main principle of this collection. The main idea is to keep everything simple by taking advantage of clear silhouettes and clean garment outlines. Simple silhouettes generate fresh and cool visual appearance. Slightly exaggerated and asymmetric structures add highlights to the looks. Colors are selected from low saturated greyish tomes which can neutralize color temperatures to provide more gentle feeling for the looks.

I want to modify and update these garments with 3D tools. Hopefully I can present this collection on virtual characters in the coming future.

It took me couple days to determine the concept thesis, then couple weeks to finish the design.

I have heard people around me complaining about the winter season. They thought it was cold, bored and had less vitality. However, I found the spirit of winter matching with the minimalist idea quite well. It may seem bored when the grounds are covered with snow, but if we watch closely, we will find beautiful patterns hidden inside the tiny snowflakes. In terms of clothing, thick clothes are not always necessary to be bulky and clumsy. They can be simple, easy and yet creative and interesting. Therefore, I decided to make a collection to show the attractiveness of winter by applying the minimalist concept “less is more”.

The collection is designed for my own womenswear brand “Jessture”.

As a designer, I wish all wearers can feel comfortable to express their own aesthetics and feel good about themselves when wearing these products. Oversized structures and asymmetric details add interesting highlights to the garments. Morandi tonal colors make the garments easier to match and therefore offering more flexibility to the looks.

The art works of Giorgio Morandi, and his color scheme.

Women who have minimalist aesthetics and want to be creative on personal styles.

The highlights of this collection are the asymmetric structures and oversized details such as big sized buttons, enlarged Velcro loop closures, and hems with extra length. These structures and details help create visual tension to the garments.

I named it “Rebirth” because I believe winter should not be associated with decline. It is lively with beautiful hidden surprises. I see it as the rebirth of a new year.

I used Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator to draft sketches and technical flats.

Contrasts between simple silhouettes and oversized details.

I design the collection all by myself. And I collaborate with pattern and sewing studios for sample making.

In this design, the biggest effect of technology applied during the fabric sourcing process. Innovated woolen and cashmere fabrics with improved weaving and finishing techniques increased the softness of the textiles. Coats and sweaters made of these woolen and cashmere knits were less stiff and thus providing better hand feeling.

Color theory and color psychology are important techniques for fashion design. In this collection, color scheme was carefully studied and selected based on my research about Morandi’s art works and his color palette. Low saturated colors could fit in the winter atmosphere well. And the quality of high compatibility allowed Morandi colors to blend with each other easily. Applying tonal shades increased layer depth and stereovision of the pieces. In this way, the garments could have simple and neat silhouettes, while those tonal shades and colors provided visual tension for the entire looks at the same time.

The challenge in this project was to keep everything as simple as possible without diminishing the aesthetic properties of the garments.

I joined A Design Award competition last year, and it was a very precious experience for me. It was my honor to compete with excellent and talented designers from different countries with different interests and cultural backgrounds. It was a great opportunity to learn from their ideas, techniques and presentation skills. I widened my vision and learned a lot from other fellow designers and their works in this competition.

I had a chance to review the whole design process of this project while preparing materials for this competition. My previous presentation of this collection was too brief and simple, focusing mostly on the appearance of the design. When I typed up the project descriptions for the A Design Award competition, I spent more time thinking deeper in terms of the concepts, the connections between each process, as well as the interaction between products and wearers.

I hope we all have the courage to choose what we like and be who we are.

Designing practical, functional, and artistic tea packaging is my basic purpose. But I am also seeking answers for these questions, “How to blend modern elements into traditional cultures smoothly? How to interpret traditional styles in more creative and appealing ways? How to build up relationships and connections between the past and the future? And finally how to transform these ideas into reality so people can get the essence and beauty of the tea, porcelain, ink wash painting, and modern graphic design from the products at the same time.”

I hope there could be chances to launch these products into the market.

About one and a half month.

As native Cantonese, tea drinking is a daily routine of my family. One day I saw a small Blue-and-white porcelain cup while I was trying to make some tea. The inspiration popped up and I thought it would be a good idea to design tea cans which had a Blue-and-white porcelain-liked appearance. They would still be tin cans, but using only blue and white colors and somehow resembling Chinese ink wash painting styles. The purpose is to mimic the look of Blue-and-white porcelain, so the cans can be used as decorative containers or art pieces as well.

This design is an in-house project for my own design studio. It has not been produced or used yet. However, I do wish there could be opportunities to launch them into the market, maybe by leasing the production rights or collaborations.

As a native Cantonese, I grew up under deep influence of the Cantonese Kongfu Tea. Tea drinking is a daily routine of my family. Chinese Tea Culture has a history of thousands of years. As a young generation tea drinker, I want to inherit this tea culture and interpret it in new innovative ways.

I am inspired and deeply impressed by Chinese ancient traditional blue-and-white porcelains and ink wash paintings.

Tea drinkers and art lovers.

How to draw customer attention when there are so many selections of the same type of tea products in the market? A classy and attractive package may help a lot in this way. Imitating a Blue-and-white porcelain-liked surface adds deluxe features to the external appearance of the tin cans. In addition, the landscape figures and traditional pattern decorations on the sides emphasize the artistic value of the cans. And the highlight is the traditional “Xiaozhuan” calligraphy embossed seal on top of the lid handle. This style of seal is frequently used in actual Chinese ink wash paintings and artworks by many traditional artists. Therefore the embossed seals make these tin cans more like real artworks when presenting to the customers. In China, tea is usually associated with art events and cultures. And I hope people can enjoy the beauty within all these Chinese traditional art cultures while relishing the mellow taste of Chinese tea.

Yuchuan is an alternative name of tea originated from the Song Dynasty in Chinese history. It is said that a scholar in Song Dynasty once compared tea to a friend called “Mr Yuchuan” in his book. The name “Yuchuan” has passed on since then. And the word “Ming” means tea as well. So I combined the two words and came up with the project name.

I used Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop to design the graphic images and patterns. I built the 3D product models with Solidworks. For retouching and rendering, I use 3D Max or Cinema 4D.

In this project, the major designs are tin cans with blue and white colors and features resembling the Chinese traditional ink wash painting of landscapes. On top of the lid handles are embossed seals of the name of each tea. These seals are made of “Xiaozhuan”, a traditional calligraphy style from the Qin Dynasty. The major landscape images on the sides are mountains and clouds. With the ideas that tea grows in the mountains, and clouds express the peaceful and relaxing feelings that tea brings us. Traditional Chinese patterns and modern graphic elements are blended into the concept of ink wash painting. With abstract lines and geometric shapes, modern elements combine with traditional Chinese art styles, providing refreshing features for the packaging works. In addition to the tin cans, hexagonal outer boxes are designed under the same concept features and methods. The outer boxes are a set of external packages for the tin cans as well.

I design them myself.

The 3D modeling software and technology largely improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the design and mockup testing process.

My researches are mostly about historical and cultural backgrounds. I went through category of different types of Chinese tea and selected four popular ones as representatives for my projects: the “West Lake Longjing”, “Tie Guanyin” which is a type of Oolong tea, the “Biluochun” and the “Puer Tea”. Then I had to associate their origin, tastes and qualities with the shapes and features of ink wash landscape paintings. In addition, I also looked for interesting tea traditions and stories in Chinese history for inspirations.

The challenge of this project is the interaction between traditional art forms and modern creative styles. Combining different forms of traditional cultures is my first attempt. The important part is to make balance between all these art cultures so they will not be separated or taking over each other.

Instead of working for a company or being a freelance designer, I finally founded my own design studio in China this year. The “Yuchuan Ming” project is the first official project of my new No.72 Design Studio. I believed taking the advantage of this great opportunity to challenge the A Design competition would be a good starting point for the studio and a big breakthrough for myself as a designer.

After making several mistakes, my 3D modeling skill got practiced and improved during the product developing progress. And I kept learning new skills and techniques in each projects.

If we want to improve, we should never be afraid of exploring new methods or making mistakes.

This collection transforms the idea of Light in both physical and psychological aspects. The quality of brightness is emphasized by manipulating contrast of different low saturated tones and colors. Light fabrics are used to provide gentle and comfortable feelings. Creative structures and detachable pockets, lapels, and strapped corset, allow the looks to be more variable. Garments can reflect the interactions between the wearer’s psychological emotions and their physical environment. The goal is to encourage the wearers to express their own aesthetics and styles bravely.

Hopefully they can attract more buyers and new business opportunities.

About 3 months from gathering inspirations to finishing the final presentation.

The decision of designing this collection came from my own inspiration of light. There was a very emotional feeling about the word “light” flashed by in my mind, and I wanted to seize it.

This collection is for my own fashion brand “Jessture”. So I prefer to produce them myself.

As designer, my goal is to create possibilities and choices for the customers and help them define their own styles. Therefore I wanted to design a collection with more flexibility and creativity by applying detachable details, multiple layers and interesting structures. I hope the customers can have fun and find their own fashion styles.

“The Starry Night” painting of my favorite artist Vincent van Gogh.

Any woman who is confident and creative to express her own style and the true self.

The collection shows emotional changes by shifting colors from dark neutral tones to slightly brighter and lighter colors. All colors are in low saturation with little greyish tone to indicate the inevitable pressure, darkness and difficult moments in our life. Then as the light moves on, it gradually shows the colors of natural environment such as the ground and the sky. In addition to the meaning of brightness in visual sight, light can also refer to the weight. In this case, it eliminates our pressure and depression psychologically. In order to express these qualities, light fabrics are selected as major materials. Detachable details, such as removable suspender lapels, detachable pockets and asymmetric strapped corset are designed to attract interests and increase diversity in dressing looks. All these flexible details can be removed or attached to different outfits, giving more space and freedom to the wearer preferences and personal styles.

The artist San Solo has a song called “Light”. There is a lyrics, “Even if it makes me blind, I just wanna see the light.” My inspiration is not the exact lyrics or the word light, but the spirit and determination of chasing the light. There could be countless unknown difficulties, pressure and depression in our life. We may be stuck somewhere, getting lost, and suffering in the darkness. But when we look up to the sky, we will find the shining stars as our guides. The darker the environment is, the brighter the light shines.

I use Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator for making design drafts, sketches and technical flats.

In this collection, different low saturated colors are used to create a gloomy psychological environment. Then I manipulate tones with different brightness and contrast to emphasize the layers of shades and shadows, so they can improve the three-dimensional effect on the garments. The collection use mainly light fabrics such as cotton, polyester and jacquard, to provide gentle and comfortable feelings for the wearers. Combinations of creative structures and detachable details generate more possibilities for the looks. In this way, the garments may become mirrors reflecting interactions between the psychological emotions of the wearer and the physical environment. I hope the wearers feel free to express and define their own styles with more satisfaction.

I design the garments all by myself. Then I work with the pattern maker and sewer to make the actual garment samples.

New environmental friendly fabrics with better air permeability and elasticity are applied to increase the comfort level and reduce wrinkles. Innovative textile processing technology help improve the user experience of the garments in very efficient ways.

Not exactly data research but I did some background and inspirational researches in order to interpret and transmit the core concept clearly to the viewers and customers.

Color selection is very crucial to this collection. In order to see the light, we need to put ourselves in the darkness first. In this project, the brightness of the looks does not come directly from using bright colors. Instead, the brightness and lights are contrasted by the shades and tones. Low saturated colors are carefully selected within ranges of neutral, earth tones. Shades of blue are then blended into the earth tones, because blue is a cool tone which usually associates with something “light”, for example the air and the sky. In addition, blue also help cooling down emotions. It sets our mind free from anger, anxiety and stress. Making balance between the brightness and contrast are important as well. Otherwise the whole collection will be either too dull or too faded. Designing appealing garment details is another big challenge. Detachable lapels, pockets and corset increase three-dimensional effect of the garments. They make the looks more variable. These details are the highlights of the collection which give the wearers more space to show their creativities and their unique preferences.

I have learned about A Design Award for couple years, but I was just a new graduate at the time, and was not confident and prepared for such a big international design competition. Throughout these years, I have started up my own fashion brand and been to couple big fashion events and exhibitions. This year, I opened my own design studio in China as well. It is a new milestone in my design career. I can feel my growth and progress, and I think I am ready for some new challenges and breakthrough now.

The transformation from abstract concepts of “light” to the actual garments is the hardest part of this project. I need to pay more attention to details and relationships between structural elements, fabrics and color palettes. I am a short temper person in life, but developing a full collection is time consuming. So the first thing I need to learn during the project is to slow down and be more patient. Good designs should never be born in a rush.

I hope all designer fellows can truly do what we love and love what we do.

Art is an important way for me to sense, experience and communicate to the world. And design is the method for me to think and discover potential possibilities for the future. I have always wanted to choose something that can always bring passion and motivation to my life. I am so glad that I have chosen a field I truly love as my career.

I made my own choice.

I am a fashion and product designer. For most of the time I work on fashion, graphic and product design. At the same time, I also keep learning, improving and challenging myself on some other design categories, especially those fields related to new technologies. My recent interests are some light industrial designs and 3D modeling projects. I love to work on different creative projects with ideas and inspirations from my daily life. I believe different design categories are somehow connected with each other. With the constant improvement of technology, we are now able to design things that can be useful and functional for multiple occasions in different scenarios.

We are in a rapidly innovating and evolving era. Remaining in the safety zone can no longer avoid being washed out by the new waves. As young designers, I believe we should walk in the front and become explorers and pioneers. We should not be afraid of difficulties and mistakes, because they can teach us important lessons and experience. Keep thinking, and forging ahead. Keep practicing and improving our capability and skills. Keep exploring the unknown potential. There are infinite possibilities in our mind, and design is a very powerful shovel.

When I was in college, my marketing professor once said, “Before the automobiles have been invented, if you ask a traveler what he wants, the answer may possibly be ‘a fast horse’.” Decades ago, people would not realize their demand of smartphones until the first one was launched and introduced to the market. I think a good designer knows how to fulfill the existing needs, and a great designer is someone who can foresee and fulfill the potential needs. In other words, a good designer gives people what they need, and a great designer tells people what they need.

I think a good design should be both functional and practical. And a really good design should be able to transmit its core concept and value clearly to its audience and user.

I believe good designs can make our life better by solving existing problems, increasing efficiency, as well as providing physically and mentally positive feelings to people.

I want to design products that can bring satisfaction and happiness to people who need them.

I want to design and present a 3D fashion runway online using 3D software.

Passion, courage, curiosity, and imagination.

My favorite fashion designer Alexander McQueen said, “You can only go forward by making mistake.” “As a designer, you’ve always got to push yourself forward, you’ve always got to keep up with the trends or make your own trends.” These quotes impress, inspire and motivate me all the time.

I am a big fan of Alexander McQueen. One of my favorite quotes from him said, “I think there is beauty in everything. What normal people would perceive as ugly, I can usually see something of beauty in it.” He liked using wild, fierce and savage ways to tell the stories. He was good at using exaggerated structures and crazy shapes to show the conflicts in humanity, race, religion, culture, society and nature. Therefore, his works were usually full of strong emotional strength and visual tension. As designers, it is not hard for us to find the beauty in our life. The key is how to use works to move the audience and users so they can feel and appreciate the things we wish to share with them.

I like the Spring & Summer 2019 womenswear collection of my brand Jessture a lot. It was my first collection presented on the runway of New York Fashion Week. The collection had many detachable structures such as pockets, lapels, belts and straps. All the pieces could mix and match with each other easily. Those creative funny details offered more freedom and flexibility to the wearers to express their own styles.

The industry is like a big mirror. We can the reflections of ourselves by looking at products and works from other designers. When I compare my design with works from the others, I can see my weakness and strength. Besides, sometimes asking comments and suggestions from the others can be a good way to improve as well.

Doing art or design related business, I guess. Anyway, it has to be something in the creative industry, either from the business side or from the creative side.

I believe design is a bridge connecting art and our daily life. It improves our living utility and happiness by transforming amazing thoughts and ideas into reality. By taking the advantage of experience and knowledge from the past, as well as the capability and potential from the present, we will be able to discover more of the beauty and infinite possibilities of the future.

My family is my biggest supporter. I am very grateful to my parents. I also have many supportive relatives and friends. I will not become an eligible designer without the knowledge and skills taught by my teachers, and I will not be who I am today without the experience I have learned from my previous companies.

Supports from my family, relatives and friends. Knowledge and skills taught by my teachers. Influence and inspirations from other artists and designers. Curiosity, enthusiasm and passion in design. Courage to explore the unknown and determination to keep improving.

My father used to oppose my decision of becoming a designer. After I got my bachelor’s degree in economics, he wanted me to continue a master degree in business. He wanted me to work in the financial or business field, for those fields were relatively more familiar and stable in his traditional mind. However, I had been so clear and determined to pursue a design major and become a designer. Therefore, instead of applying for a business school, I applied for fashion design major in Parsons without informing my parents. Because of that, my father and I had countless arguments and fights during the years. Recalling those memories, I am gratified that my father has gradually accepted and approved my choices after seeing all the progress I have achieved in the design field. I want to thank myself for the courage, determination and persistence in the past few years, which have earned myself understanding and supportive parents today.

A good storyteller knows how to make a strong statement. We need to show the essence of our designs clearly in the presentations. Show the audience and customers the strength of the designs, and tell them how these designs may benefit their life.

I am trying to design new fashion collections using 3D tools. With the leading 3D technology these years, many brands and companies have started to present their products with virtual characters in their campaign. Hopefully I will be able to present my fashion collections on really true to life fiction characters and launch my 3D fashion runway shows online in the future.

Keep moving and getting ahead of myself. Keep practicing and improving my skills. Keep exploring new fields. Always on my way of becoming a more comprehensive designer who will be able to bring happiness to people and make contributions to the world.

Use the power of design to solve some existing problems and issues. Share beautiful things and thought, and bring welfare to people’s life.

By solving existing problems, reducing conflicts, increasing social efficiency and improving our happiness and wellbeing.

I am practicing and trying to design garments using a very efficient and powerful 3D software called “Marvelous Designer”.

I have just finished a 3D virtual project of submarine detector. It is my biggest satisfaction for now because it is my first time to complete a 3D scene for a mechanical model. I get more satisfied each time when I make a new progress in design.

I am looking forward to more opportunities for new designers, more diversity in thoughts and styles, as well as more methods and platforms for designers to present and share their works to the world. I wish there could be less conflicts and unfairness, and I hope the world of art can always be filled with love and peace.

It is glad to see the design field has become more diverse and inclusive these years. Rapidly developing science and technology have given us more flexibility in forms, methods, and platforms. In the future, I think “Metaverse” concept may become more popular and we may expect more relevant art and design works appear in different fields. Another trending technology is the Artificial Intelligence. I have seen art works created by AI robots on the news. Those AI robots were surprisingly creative and productive. They might become strong competitors of human being not only in producing and manufacturing but also in creative industry. The good thing is this pressure of competition can transform into motivation that urges us to keep thinking, improving and moving forward.

In general, it takes couple weeks to design a fashion collection, couple days to make a graphic work or a 3D model. It takes much longer for motional projects. Designing time varies a lot for different projects though.

Make a “moodboard” or a “mind map”.

Nothing is impossible.

It could be both, but mostly I agree that an initial design comes before a trend. Usually there will be someone who comes up with a new idea first. When this new idea is achieved and being recognized, it starts a new trend. As the trend gets more popular, more new designs will pop up accordingly.

Technologies, especially computer technologies are very efficient and powerful tools. I use 3D software to do product and packaging designs. And I will use 3D printing to mock up my samples. In fact, 3D technology has been applied in various fields these years including industrial, product, packaging, architectural, interior and even fashion apparels and accessories designs. Technology is a powerful booster for design.

I use Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator to do fashion and graphic design. I use C4D and Solidworks for product and packaging design. Sometimes I may use Maya for some motional projects.

If comparing a design to a human, the materials are the cells and tissues, the color is the personality and ambient will be the living environment which affects the mind and behaviors.

“Where can we buy it?”

What are the skills and techniques that make it so special?

Although I prefer working alone by myself, I do have collaborations sometimes. I believe a co-design project can work well if all the fellow designers agree on a unified goal and the division of work is clear enough to everyone.

My professors at Parsons.

“My Dear Bomb” by Yohji Yamamoto. “Critical Fashion Practice-From Westwood to van Beirendonck” by Adam Geczy and Vicki Karaminas. “Method of Brand Design” by Shi Xu.

Never stop learning and practicing. The more I practice the more sophisticated I become.

I wish to discuss art with Vincent Van Gogh and discuss fashion with Alexander McQueen.

It is never easy to be famous. Fame usually comes along with a lot of pressure. I never see myself as a famous person though. The awards and achievements I have got are just transcripts of my works. They help me perceive where I was and how well I have done.

I prefer neutral colors. I like staying at home and do my own stuff. My favorite food varies depending on my mood and appetite of the day. I like summer because I like wearing t-shirts. I like fall because we can enjoy the most colorful nature of a year. I cannot pick a favorite brand though, there are too many choices. My preferences are changing over time.

I was mistaken for a model at the backstage of a fashion week because I looked taller than my models. The staff even asked me to attend the runway rehearsal on time.

Being a designer, my sensitivity allows me to catch fragments of inspirations easily from my daily life. These inspirations light up my passion for design. Curiosity about the unknown motivates me to think and create. It keeps the freshness and excitement in my life.

I joined many art competitions and won many prizes when I was a child. But I guess my parents, teachers and most people around me might only consider art as one of my hobbies at the time.

Maybe there will a cyberpunk world. Or maybe humans have moved to another planet in space like the movie “Interstellar”.

For me, design is not just a job for living. It is a career and a dream that I wish to pursue for my entire life.

[Jessture, LLC]
Founded in New York, Jessture is a contemporary casual womenswear brand pioneered by Chinese entrepreneur and independent designer Jessica Hu. The motivation behind the brand was sparked by a desire to introduce simple, comfortable and chic clothing to the modern day women.
Massimo Vignelli, an Italian designer once said, “Minimalism is not a style, it is an attitude, a way of being. It's fundamental reaction against noise, visual noise, disorder, vulgarity. Minimalism is the pursuit of the essence of things not the appearance.” With the idea of minimalism, we want our products to have simple elements and minimalist appearance, giving wearers enough freedom to show their own attitude and their innate beauty. We believe clothing is a type of "media" for people to express their true selves. “Less is more”, by offering simple products with attitude and essence, our goal is to provide a "media" for our customers to create their own unique fashion styles.
You are the person who defines your own personalities and styles. It doesn’t matter what you wear, all that matters is who you are. Please join us to celebrate your true beauty, and define your own fashion styles.

[No.72 Design Studio]
Based in Shenzhen China, No. 72 Design Studio is a multiform design studio specialized in general graphic design, fashion design, product design, packaging design, layout design, business visual identity design, webpage design, and design related consulting services. By experimenting different design methods and keeping up with up-to-date market trends, the studio mission is to provide solutions that can maximize people’s life utility and satisfaction. Monkey King, one of the most powerful Chinese mythical figures, can do 72 metamorphoses. Yet, we believe the human intelligence, creativity and hidden potential generated from design, can be way more powerful than this mythical hero.

I believe design is a bridge connecting art and our daily life. It improves our living utility and happiness by transforming amazing thoughts and ideas into reality. By taking the advantage of both the experience and knowledge from the past, and the capability and potential from the present, we will be able to discover more of the beauty and infinite possibilities of this world.

I like working on fashion, graphic and product design because they are all closely related to my daily life. At the same time, I also keep learning, improving and challenging myself on some other design categories, especially those related to new technologies. My recent interests are some light industrial designs and 3D modeling projects. I love to work on different creative projects with ideas and inspirations from the daily life. I believe different design categories are somehow connected with each other. With the constant improvement of technology, we are now able to design things that could be useful and functional for multiple occasions and different scenarios.

I wanted to share my award-winning womenswear collection “Rebirth”. This winter collection was inspired by Shelley’s famous poet “Ode to the West Wind”. Winter is usually considered as a dull and faded period. Plants wither and decompose during the season. Unlike other seasons, winter might be a boring period with less vigor and vitality. However, I believe there is power of life and energy hidden behind the winter season, inside the branches, or beneath the ice and snow. In this collection I wanted to share the lively spirit of winter with abstract details and stylish tones. I wish to show that winter should not be associated with decline. It may be the hope of dawn and rebirth of a year.

Some graphic prints on the footwear products for a footwear and accessory company in New York.

I used to work with Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator a lot for fashion design, graphic and packaging projects. Now I work with 3D software quite often these days such as C4D and Solidworks. I use them to create 3D product models.

When I am alone at night.

Make sure the design is functional and achievable. Make sure the core ideas and concepts are transmitted clearly enough.

Devoted, delighted, dedicated.

Pleased and satisfied.

A good design should be able to transmit its core concept clearly. It should be functional and practical. I believe a successful design can bring satisfaction and happiness to people.

A clear interpretation of its concept and value can usually leave a good impression at the beginning.

As a designer, my intention is to become a pioneer and pathfinder. For me, design is the outcome of critical thinking and exploring. By taking advantage of the power of design, I believe we can find better solutions to the existing problems in our society and environment.

I am glad to see the design field has become more diverse and inclusive these years. Rapidly developing science and technology give us more flexibility in forms, methods, and platforms. In the future, I think “Metaverse” concept may become more popular and we may expect more relevant art and design works appear in the field. Another trending technology is the Artificial Intelligence. I have seen art works created by AI robots on the news. The AI robots were surprisingly creative and productive. They might become strong competitors of human being not only in production but also in creative industry. The good thing is this pressure of competition can transform into motivation that urges us to keep thinking, exploring and moving forward.

The last exhibition I attend was the Fall/Winter 2019 Vancouver Fashion Week, held in Vancouver Canada. Hopefully I can have my next exhibition in Milan or Paris or some other places that I haven't been to in Europe in the future.

I usually find inspirations in my daily life. Things I have come across or people I have met. My brain is most productive at night. I like staying alone, letting thoughts and ideas flash by. Traveling to new places and experiencing new things are good ways to look for inspirations and feed creativity as well.

I have a motto for my brand, “Your gesture is your own style.” It means the same as “be yourself”. For me, my design style derives from my personality and my life style. I love freedom, ease and simplicity, like a minimalist.

I grew up in Shenzhen, a beautiful modern coastal city in China. Then I went to college and lived in US for 7 years. I have a Chinese root but foreign experience and western culture also impressed me a lot on my thoughts and values. I love the cultural heritage of my country, but I believe art should not have any limit or boundary. It should be more diverse and inclusive. I am always trying to blend eastern and western cultures together in my designs. With experiences from both eastern and western cultures, my mind is more flexible and opened up. These different experiences allow me to look at things from various angles. However, sometimes some mainstream values in my country might be very sensitive and different from the western values. In this case, contradictory concerns may happen in the process of creation.

For my fashion brand Jessture, I design all the garments independently, and send them to factories for production. Then we sell them to buyer stores and retailers. For No.72 Design Studio, I offer graphic, product, packaging and 3D modeling design services to my client companies as well as individuals.

It is very important to clarify and transmit the demands clearly to the designers. If the demands and requirements are not clear, it lowers the efficiency and may take the designer much more time to modify the works later. In addition, effective communication between company representative and designer is also a key to successful projects.

When I have a new inspiration, I will do researches to look for useful data and information. Then I will start to prepare materials. Create drafts and modify them until they reach my satisfaction. Then finally, finish up the design and get ready to present them to the customers and clients.

Jessture outerwear, 3D printed vase, 3D printed transparent lotus plate, graphic poster set, inspirational calendar

A normal day of mine starts with a cup of coffee and a bagel or sometimes an egg. I do not usually wake up early because the most productive and efficient time for me starts in the afternoon. Dinner time is around 7. I usually spend 1 or 2 hours after dinner to play with my cat and surf the internet. Then back to work at around 9 or 10 pm. I am a real night person. My bed time is usually between 2 to 4 am depends on the progress of my work. And that will be a random work day for me.

My favorite artist Vincent Van Gogh said, “What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything?” My favorite designer Alexander McQueen said, “You can only go forward by making mistake.” “As a designer, you’ve always got to push yourself forward, you’ve always got to keep up with the trends or make your own trends.” These quotes impress, inspire and motivate me all the time. We are in a rapidly innovating and evolving era. Remaining in the safety zone can no longer avoid being washed out by the new waves. As a designer, I believe we should walk in the front and become explorers and pioneers. We should not be afraid of difficulties and mistakes, because they teach us important lessons and experience. Keep thinking, and forging ahead. Keep practicing and improving our capability and skills. Keep exploring the unknown potential. There are infinite possibilities in our mind, and design is a very powerful shovel.

Working with art and design makes me more sensitive. I become more sentimental and emotional. However, being more sensitive is helpful in some ways. It enhances my feeling of empathy and brings me more inspirations in life.

Follow my heart, be brave, keep faith.

Being able to transform thoughts into reality and fulfill needs.

I use Photoshop and Illustrator a lot. I also use 3D software quite often, such as C4D, Solidworks and sometimes Maya for motional projects.

My suggestion is to figure out the most productive and efficient period of the day, then staying focus on the work during this period. For example, I am more productive at night, so I will push back my schedule and start working in the afternoon till 2 am. Then the rest of the time I will make sure I get a good rest for my body and my brain.

In general, it takes couple weeks to design a fashion collection and couple days to create a graphic work or a 3D model. Designing time varies for different projects though.

How and where do I get inspirations?

My internship experience in Donna Karan and Michael Kors. And my first paid job as a freelance CAD designer at a footwear and accessory company Elis, LLC in New York. These experiences got me prepared for my later career in the fashion industry.

For Jessture womenswear, my clients are some local buyer stores and sometimes online retailers. For No.72 Design Studio, my clients are companies, organizations and individuals who have needs and demands in 3D modeling, graphic design and product design.

I am a fashion and product designer. I love designing garments because clothing is one of the basic needs in our life. I also love 3D modeling because it allows me to create anything using relevant 3D software. My recent new interest is to do fashion designs using 3D software. “Marvelous Designer” is a very powerful tool. It allows us to design, create, fit and present garments in the computer. With the leading 3D technology, we can create and test any styles, materials and structures without spending a lot of time and money on material searching and sample making. It also avoids wasting any fabric and material and therefore very environmentally friendly way to do fashion design.

Keep moving and getting ahead of myself. Keep learning new skills, practicing and challenging new projects in different categories. Always on my way of becoming a more comprehensive designer.

I am an independent designer. Sometimes I may do collaborative projects with other designers as well.

I am trying to design new fashion collections using 3D tools. With the help of leading 3D technologies, many big brands and companies have started to present their products on very true-to-life virtual characters in their campaign. Hopefully I can create my own 3D virtual characters to present my designs or even do a 3D fashion runway for my collection in the coming future.

Sending emails to my personal mailbox huzhengjia@126.com

For me, design is not just a job, and designer is never just a job title. Design is my lifelong career, and designer will be my lifelong identity.

The coffee and milk with distinct colors and textures, from the fierce collision to the eventual fusion into a fragrant milk coffee, reminded me of the collision and fusion of some cultural and ideological elements in life. What I aim to express is that sometimes apparently disparate ideas and cultures can also give rise to splendid new entities through communication and accommodation. Cultural collisions are not necessarily offensive.

Due to the high randomness of the dynamics of liquids, numerous simulations are needed to obtain optimal shapes for the products. Additionally, considering the final production and application scenarios, the shape of the product should not be overly abstract. It is necessary to guarantee the functionality of the product while making the liquid shape more vivid and natural. Adjustments to the details of the structure and size are also indispensable. To ensure the feasibility of the products, I used 3D printing to create physical mock ups after each major adjustments until I was satisfied with the outcomes.

Less is more. Using stiff porcelain materials to express the fluidity of liquid itself already contains a strong visual effect. Those intriguing shapes can enliven a dull tabletop. As "tableware" products, I think smooth surfaces and minimalist color scheme can bring a sense of cleanliness and tidiness. In addition, simple colors may also accentuate the rich hues of food and boost people’s appetite. The main goal is to employ the minimum number of design elements to accentuate the richest satisfaction for the users.

By employing 3D software, I was able of adjusting the volume of the liquid, the height of its fall, the angle of impact, and the speed of the flow. Through repeated simulations and adjustments, I could find appropriate ranges for the data and then modified the details. There was no particular trick, just keep trying until the desired outcome is achieved.

A typical saucer is usually flat and is merely used as a saucer plate for cups or for holding solid food. Nevertheless, the splash-shaped design of the liquid spray elevates the height of the saucer, enabling it to hold more food and even liquids. If the user wants. it may even be utilized as a bowl. Apart from being capable of holding more food and even liquids, the splash shape also presents a visual effect of soaking food in the liquid, endowing the solid tableware with certain dynamic effects. All I did was merely increase the height of the plate by taking advantage of the shape and structure of the water splashes.

The overall size of the product is based on general dimensions of common tableware in the market. The scale of its main functional parts, such as the size of the cup, are closer to the dimension of regular coffee cups, so that they can be compatible with most coffee machines, dish washers, and other common daily household instruments. For the saucer, its water splash shape in the center need to match the size of the cup to be able to hold them. In addition to those major functional parts, the rest are mostly decorative parts which are designed with more flexibility in scale and dimension. For example, the bottom of the saucer is designed slightly larger in proportion to show the water ripple details on the surface of the plate.

Porcelain is one of the most prevalent materials used for making tableware products, and China has long been renowned for its porcelain production. Therefore, using porcelain as the major material has significant advantages in terms of material acquisition and product manufacturing techniques. As I mentioned previously, the smooth and clean surface of porcelain, in combination with simple color schemes, makes the dining environment look tidier and more organized. Furthermore, the reflection and refraction of light by porcelain may enhance the texture of food, stimulating people's appetite. These properties of porcelain may provide users with better dining experience to some extent.

Traditional tableware in the market was mainly focused on functional practicality, with little variation in shape and design. However, in recent years, some new and innovative tableware has entered the market and has gained popularity among some consumers especially those young generations. This trend shows that consumers now not only value usability, but also have increased their demand for design and aesthetics. I hope this design can inspire more creative tableware design that may satisfy people's practical needs while also providing more emotional value to daily life.

I believe that the “decorative function” is also an important part of "practical function" for the products, as it can bring people psychological satisfaction and pleasure other than fulfilling basic functional needs. I wish to design tableware that is both functionally usable and aesthetically attractive, and thereby transforming dining into an interesting experience rather than just a monotonous daily routine. In order to maximize the versatility of this set of tableware, I decided to separate its "practical function" from its "decorative function". When people don't need to use its "practical function", for instance serving coffee or tea, its "decorative function" can come into play, using its creative and interesting feature as a decorative piece on the table or in the cabinet. In this way, whether people are actually using this tableware or not, they will not be completely useless as idle items.