We, as the Designer Interviews ("DI") had the distinct pleasure and opportunity to interview award-winning, most creative and innovative Vincent Hsieh ("VH").
"HOAH!" this Chinese pronunciation means: Sure! It sounds like an effortless casual resply, is the most sincere promise HOAH Design make to their clients. By exploring the possibility of composition in design and space, each work is a pleasant surprise created by different elements and forms. We want users to be relaxed and find happiness in every space we created, even a little surprise to brighten up their life.
Vincent Hsieh Designs
We are pleased to share with you original and innovative design work by Vincent Hsieh.
Vincent Hsieh Design - Gumgum Garden Restaurant Pub
Designer Interview of Vincent Hsieh:
DI: Could you please tell us more about your art and design background? What made you become an artist/designer? Have you always wanted to be a designer?
VH : Since I starting work, mostly engaged in residential interior design. I began to design commercial spaces five years ago. My boss was from the United States, where the culture is very different from that of Taiwan, years of experience working with my American boss inspires me a lot of original ideas. Feeling the aesthetic in space, I hope I can be a designer and create amazing works. Yes, I've been attracted to anything that has to do with aesthetic in my life since high school, especially architecture and interior design.
DI: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
VH : HOAH Design Limited established in the Year 2020, founded by Vincent Hsieh and Muria Wu. "HOAH!" this Chinese pronunciation means: Sure! It sounds like an effortless casual reply, is the most sincere promise HOAH Design make to their clients. By exploring the possibility of composition in design and space, each work is a pleasant surprise created by different elements and forms. We want users to be relaxed and find happiness in every space we created, even a little surprise to brighten up their life.
DI: What is "design" for you?
VH : Without design and designers, the world would be monotonous and out of order.
DI: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
VH : I want users to feel happy and relaxed when they enter the space I create. If there is a little surprise, it would be even better.
DI: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
VH : Fallingwater is a house designed by the architect Frank Lloyd Wright in 1935 in the Laurel Highlands of southwest Pennsylvania, about 70 miles southeast of Pittsburgh. It is built partly over a waterfall. I admire the architect’s passion in the importance of interpenetrating exterior and interior spaces and the strong emphasis placed on harmony between man and nature. The boulders and trees of the original terrain are still preserved inside the building. From the appearance of the house, the interior design to all furnitures and even tablewares, all completed by the architect - incredible comprehensive design ability.
DI: What was the first thing you designed for a company?
VH : HOAH Design Limited's company logo, was designed by me and the other founder, Muria Wu.
DI: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
VH : Natural materials, metal wood cement. My most commonly used platform is Pinterest.
DI: When do you feel the most creative?
VH : When encountering composition in design: A finished product that combines different elements and shapes to take on a new look, it always amazes me every time.
DI: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
VH : The use of materials and the recreation of space.
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
VH : enjoyment, I think being forced to design can be a very hard thing, both physically and psychologically: I think design is my instinct, and I'm lucky to be able to use my instinct as a profession and enjoy it.
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
VH : A finished product that combines different elements and shapes to take on a new look, it always amazes me every time.
DI: What makes a design successful?
VH : 3 elements makes a design successful: Attentive, patient, persistent. Attentive: Carefully attending to every detail; Patient: Think patiently and deal with everything that feels impossible; Persistent: Stick to the first two elements on every aspect.
DI: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
VH : The coordination of material and space attributes, the control of shaping proportion, and the uniqueness of design style.
DI: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
VH : To create order in chaos while inspire imagination in an aesthetic way.
DI: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
VH : Environmental protection and material sustainability will be increasingly emphasised in the future of design.
DI: When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
VH : I haven't held any exhibition yet.
DI: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
VH : Accumulated experience in life. When interacting with clients, you will naturally feel the aura presented by them. It’s amazing. I have no idea when I start having this ability, to naturally capture the material and atmosphere suitable for my clients. Surprisingly, I have the same feeling when choosing building materials, I also feel that the materials are also interacting with me their preferred way to be presented.
DI: How would you describe your design style? What made you explore more this style and what are the main characteristics of your style? What's your approach to design?
VH : The use of materials and the recreation of space.
DI: Where do you live? Do you feel the cultural heritage of your country affects your designs? What are the pros and cons during designing as a result of living in your country?
VH : I live in Taiwan. Our cultural heritage not so affected to nowadays interior design. The salary ratio of construction personnel in the field of interior design in Taiwan is not that high, while the technology is very professional, therefore, most of the design ideas has the opportunity to be implemented, which is a good thing for both designers and owners. However, because of this, most designs rely too much on construction workers, and resources of furniture and hardware accessories supply will be relatively lacking.
DI: How do you work with companies?
VH : I often encourage companies to speak their minds boldly and trust
DI: What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
VH : Companies can speak their minds boldly when cooperating with designers. Companies should select designers who are careful and patient, willing to listen, patiently communicate, and willing to try.
DI: Can you talk a little about your design process?
VH : 1. Measure the site and create a floorplan of it. 2. Communicate with the site-owner about the desired direction. 3. Refer to the information given by the owner, as well as your own understanding and imagination of the site after walking through the site, and try to implement it on the drawing. This stage will be repeated many times. 4. Find building materials to confirm the space for building materials to play in this design, it is possible to adjust the design according to the building materials; 5. Confirm with the owner. 6. After construction start, go through each stage on site to confirm the construction progress, and simultaneously confirm whether there are any details that have not been noticed in the design, and whether there are any areas that need to be improved until completion.
DI: What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?
VH : Sofa, bed, balcony bar, cabinet and the bathroom
DI: Can you describe a day in your life?
VH : Think > decision making > empty myself > go to bed
DI: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
VH : I am the young, up and coming designer XD
DI: From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
VH : The positives are we need to be curious about a lot of things, especially the everlasting passion and execution; the negatives is that being everlasting positive can sometimes be tiring
DI: What is your "golden rule" in design?
VH : 3 elements makes a design successful: Attentive, patient, persistent. Attentive: Carefully attending to every detail; Patient: Think patiently and deal with everything that feels impossible; Persistent: Stick to the first two elements on every aspect.
DI: What skills are most important for a designer?
VH : Start every design process by thinking and observing.
DI: Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
VH : i am not using any special tools, mostly my brain and experience.
DI: Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
VH : Design is indeed a very time-consuming work, so it can only be integrated into life.
DI: How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
VH : It depends.
DI: What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?
VH : What is your inspiration.
DI: What was your most important job experience?
VH : Working with my American boss for five years. he was from the United States, where the culture is very different from that of Taiwan, years of experience working with my American boss inspires me a lot of original ideas.
DI: Who are some of your clients?
VH : Gum gum green garden is one of my client.
DI: What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
VH : When encountering composition in design: A finished product that combines different elements and shapes to take on a new look, it always amazes me every time.
DI: What are your future plans? What is next for you?
VH : Expand our company's business scope to include architectural and visual design, to achieve complete brand building, which help to develop a complete talent cultivation mechanism within the company. Our next step is talent development and cultivation.
DI: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
VH : I enjoy working as a team or develop the design by myself.
DI: Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
VH : not for now.
DI: How can people contact you?
VH : Please contact me through email: hoah.design@gmail.com or through instagram id: hoah.design
DI: Any other things you would like to cover that have not been covered in these questions?
VH : I think that's all, thank you.