We, as the Designer Interviews ("DI") had the distinct pleasure and opportunity to interview award-winning, most creative and innovative Wang Zhi ("WZ").
Wang Zhi is a designer living and working in Beijing. He is an art editor at Foreign Languages Press. He believes that a distinctive design can bring people a better life experience and sense of happiness. China's economy and the "Created in China" strategy require designers to have an international vision. Design is also a process of self-cultivation, which is sometimes painful, but happiness always comes along.
Wang Zhi Designs
We are pleased to share with you original and innovative design work by Wang Zhi.
Wang Zhi Design - Chadao Book
Designer Interview of Wang Zhi:
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?
WZ : I saw a movie about painters when I was young and I liked it very much. Since then, I started to learn painting, fell in love with art, drew a lot of oil paintings and sketches, and entered the School of Design. After graduating from university, I worked as an art editor for publishing houses related to art and design.
DI: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
WZ : I graduated from university and worked in the design and creative editorial department of China Foreign Languages Publishing House, mainly engaged in the editing and design of foreign books, and designed a lot of award-winning book works in China.
DI: What is "design" for you?
WZ : Design is a kind of creativity that changes the way of life.
DI: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
WZ : I like design works that make people shine and have futuristic colors.
DI: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
WZ : I like the design work of artists' albums.
DI: What was the first thing you designed for a company?
WZ : It is an English novel "Daughter".
DI: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
WZ : I like internet platform
DI: When do you feel the most creative?
WZ : I think architectural design can better reflect creativity
DI: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
WZ : Pay attention to the world's design development trends
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
WZ : Quite excited
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
WZ : Very happy, I know that the design was accepted, I have made progress in the design.
DI: What makes a design successful?
WZ : To have creative thinking, overturn the usual design concept, three-dimensional and multi-level view of design, design inspiration comes from your experience and sensitivity to new things.
DI: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
WZ : First, be different, make people happy and happy. Secondly, it is just right, convenient to use, reflect the function. But also environmental protection, with low cost to create elegant design products.
DI: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
WZ : Change the way of a better social life,
DI: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
WZ : Design will become more and more important
DI: When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
WZ : Because of the epidemic, there is no exhibition plan yet
DI: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
WZ : It is a reverse thinking mode, and the bits and pieces in life are the source of creativity
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?
WZ : nternational concise style, simple but not simple design style has always been my pursuit
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?
WZ : I live in Beijing, China. There are a lot of traditional cultural heritages here. The design I pursue is a design with Chinese characteristics but an international design.
DI: How do you work with companies?
WZ : Will choose some long-term good relationship companies to cooperate
DI: What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
WZ : Trust each other and have a good personal relationship is very important
DI: Can you talk a little about your design process?
WZ : Design is a painful and happy process
DI: What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?
WZ : Sofas, coffee machines, toasters, computers, cabinets, many of them are design award-winning designs
DI: Can you describe a day in your life?
WZ : Squeeze the subway to the publishing house, design on the computer, drink coffee, have lunch at the company, walk with friends, continue to work in the afternoon, go shopping around after work, and buy some good things.
DI: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
WZ : Young designers should have more contact with the world's excellent design, learn from the world's top designers, participate in professional international design competitions like Italy A 'design, get inspiration from different fields of design, to believe in yourself, also do not doubt: you are the best designer.
DI: From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
WZ : Sometimes, young designers may not have enough experience
DI: What is your "golden rule" in design?
WZ : The golden ratio is the rule of layout design
DI: What skills are most important for a designer?
WZ : Artistic vision and practical experience in international society are very important
DI: Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
WZ : PS indesign etc.
DI: Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
WZ : This is a difficult question to answer
DI: How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
WZ : Each work has a different time
DI: What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?
WZ : Studying for a master's degree at the Central Academy of Fine Arts and working and studying in Japan
DI: What was your most important job experience?
WZ : Having studied in Japan for three years, I have learned a lot of excellent international designs in Japan. Working with Japanese designers also taught me how serious they are about design. Studying video media art in The Central Academy of Fine Arts also expanded my design field.
DI: Who are some of your clients?
WZ : There are some tasks of the company and the publisher
DI: What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
WZ : Like challenging design projects, there are more economic returns
DI: What are your future plans? What is next for you?
WZ : Promote some cultural and creative designs
DI: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
WZ : Is self-developed and designed
DI: Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
WZ : Is considering the design of the publishing house’s 70th anniversary celebration next year
DI: How can people contact you?
WZ : WeChat and email