We, as the Designer Interviews ("DI") had the distinct pleasure and opportunity to interview award-winning, most creative and innovative Au Jie Min ("AJM").
Jasmine Au Jie Min, Fashion Design Student from Raffles University, Malaysia. She would like to express her perspective on the society issues that been neglected or negatively affecting the human and nature world rapidly through her collections. Throughout the 3 years of Bachelor in Fashion Design, she had designed few collections which reflective different issues that should be concerned by the society and make betterment. Although that fashion design will constantly be neglected when it reflects about issues and awareness but Jasmine still wish to do something throughout the bachelor journey and make it happens on her favourite field, FASHION.
Au Jie Min Designs
We are pleased to share with you original and innovative design work by Au Jie Min.
Au Jie Min Design - Are We Womenswear Collection
Designer Interview of Au Jie Min:
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?
AJM : I love to play with different clothing, especially my mother's wardrobe. it is quite interesting to say that my mum used to ask me to help her match up the outfits for any event or gathering and her friends always praise on her looks, therefore I become her little stylist since primary school. I love to sketch randomly whenever I am free since I was child. It then become my dream to enter fashion world to design my own collection.
DI: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
AJM : My own label, Ja-Jmi is named according to my name, Jasmine Au Jie Min. It is actually my future plan for building own label that main focused on sustainability to make myself part of the green mover.
DI: What is "design" for you?
AJM : Design is a transformation of self-art and thoughts as well as expression through the designed artwork.
DI: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
AJM : Researching the inspiration and initial ideas of works and initial fast sketches with tons of random sketches.
DI: When do you feel the most creative?
AJM : Whenever I am fully relaxed, especially during vacation, I will be super productive on designing and full of inspirations.
DI: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
AJM : Inner meaning of the collection, that's why I love researching so much.
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
AJM : passionate and exciting
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
AJM : Exciting and self-confident gained!
DI: What makes a design successful?
AJM : Believe on yourself, express the thoughts and good researched included as well as try on challenging yourself.
DI: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
AJM : The uniqueness of technique used in the collection and its storyline that presenting the collection.
DI: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
AJM : A designer should always aware of the things happened surrounding to engage his/ her designs with the current issues and raise up certain awareness through the collection.
DI: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
AJM : Design field is moving towards sustainability that wish to contribute on moving green and preserve the Mother Earth as much as we can.
DI: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
AJM : My inspiration normally come from news and realtime issues articles. I am interested to read more on real time issues and tried to understand and realising the actual problem faced.
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?
AJM : My design style did not strictly stick to any style but it will always come up with some new developed or innovated techniques to include into the collection and become my uniqueness on the particular techniques.
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?
AJM : I live in Malaysia. Malaysia is not advance in fashion field and could be known as limited resources but I am thankful to my lecturer, Ms. Jennifer Kong who teaches me that how to broader the mindset and research as well as self-thought and ideas developments.
DI: Can you talk a little about your design process?
AJM : Research will be the first part to explore more on your initial ideas and inspiration. During the research, I will start to develop some sampling and then make those sampling with random matching or merging, then test on new techniques by try and error until it become the shape or outcome that I wish to.
DI: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
AJM : Don't afraid on trying hard things. Whenever you do it, you will realise that it is not as hard as you think before. Make your development process to accept challenges by trying things that you might not that familiar, things will make different later. You will then gained a uniqueness on your collection.
DI: What is your "golden rule" in design?
AJM : Do things that you might not good at, or you never been touched before. Don't afraid new things, it will be your uniqueness later.
DI: What skills are most important for a designer?
AJM : Accepting challenges.
DI: Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
AJM : Leave your social media during work time. Create to-do-list and manage a timetable with estimate start and complete date.
DI: How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
AJM : 2-3 months from design to actual outcomes.
DI: What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?
AJM : Do you know how to make up your collection or just drawing?
DI: What are your future plans? What is next for you?
AJM : Create my own label.
DI: How can people contact you?
AJM : email at jasmine.aujiemin@aufashion.group or WhatsApp/ call at +60167571160