We, as the Designer Interviews ("DI") had the distinct pleasure and opportunity to interview award-winning, most creative and innovative Jingcheng Wu ("JW").
Richard Wu is a designer of jewelry, not only that, he was started as a jade carver, and then whom learnt goldsmith, stone setting, wax carving and etc. The brand Richard Wu Art Jewelry which he founded, is pursuing the most possibilities of jewelry, both design and Technic side. They have shown to the world that the boundaries jewelry is unlimited.
Jingcheng Wu Designs
We are pleased to share with you original and innovative design work by Jingcheng Wu.
Jingcheng Wu Design - Acacia Earring
Jingcheng Wu Design - Dandelion Ring
Jingcheng Wu Design - Tube Bracelet
Jingcheng Wu Design - Hug Wedding Rings
Jingcheng Wu Design - Silky Bracelet
Designer Interview of Jingcheng Wu:
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?
JW : I always loved to draw and paint. but I didn’t start art as profession, instead, i was a stone carver. carving traditional jade stone into flowers and animals and such. I got bored of only carving stones, but wanted to create something new, so I went to Italy to study more about jewelry, design and making. I haven’t been always wanted to be a designer, but I’m comfortable with this position now.
DI: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
JW : I created a lab in a villa in Shenzhen, China. Now is nearly 8 people, we make are jewelry totally in this lab, including design, goldsmith, stone-setting, casting, modeling and etc. It’s very rare with such a small space and few people could do such things all by ourself, but that’s how we do, and I myself do a lot types of work. Such as, design, casting, setting, engraving, modeling.
DI: What is "design" for you?
JW : I have to quote someone told me this word, that he says, design is what customer pays you to make your dream come true. I partly agree with that, I see design is an opportunity to make things that you’re not satisfied of what you see, into something you like.
DI: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
JW : i like challenging works, I always try to make every design of mine a challenge, cannot resist but thinking of trying some new stuff whenever theirs a new design.
DI: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
JW : most of the time is always the newest design is my favorite, for now is my newest design, <a broken leaf and a sun> brooch, it reflects of what i feel of this world and the people right now, and sun if for hope, I sure think all tough times will pass by, and sun will rise up the next day. Also I used a very old technic to realize the texture of leaf on gold too.
DI: What was the first thing you designed for a company?
JW : I do all designs for my own company.
DI: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
JW : right now I’m interested in Zirconia and titanium, and technology would be watch making machines and tools.
DI: When do you feel the most creative?
JW : when I'm alone. not talking. My thoughts just and imaginations comes in from everywhere, maybe is what I'm seen right now, or maybe some other things from somewhere else, or just illusions.
DI: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
JW : first of all, I would think does it interract with my feelings, doesn’t have to be beautiful, but most reflect of what I’m feeling. and secondly is what kind of technics do I need to use to make it come to life.
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
JW : many emotions, sometimes anger, or mysterious, or interest into something and see if it can combine with something else.
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
JW : well, mostly are two, excitement if it matches my design, or disappointed if it didn’t , and that means we have to do it again.
DI: What makes a design successful?
JW : a successful design to my industry I think must be unique, that’s the bottom, cannot be something similar, and even better if it can touch peoples feeling. but that in many cases is hard.
DI: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
JW : is it unique? is it properly done?
DI: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
JW : I think a designer should think of environmental friendly, and keep that in mind, do not design something that’s very soon gonna going to trash, or if so, should not harm our earth no more. For the society, i would think if it can make society better of course is best, but if not, it will not make our society worse.
DI: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
JW : I do see design is changing with technology is changing. I can imagine that the new generation, everybody is better or worse, a designer himself. just look at the 3D printing machines, and all the designing softwares is making designing more and more easy for non-professionals, and i think that’s exciting.
DI: When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
JW : I started my company in Dec 2019, Unfortunately, soon the COVID rushed into our life, and since then I haven’t had opportunity to attend to any exhibition, but I’m looking forward to the next coming year. Maybe I will exhibit in Hongkong or Las Vegas, if there’s still travel restrictions, I might just wait another year and try exhibition in Netherland.
DI: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
JW : sometime is from nature, and sometimes is just a impression of my mind mixing up things I have seen in the past and made into a whole new other thing.
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?
JW : i think my designs are a bit combination, it does have some orientation feelings inside, but also some modernism. as i took my education from the west but lived in an oriental culture. one special thing though, is i never use expense stones and trying to be environmental friendly.
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?
JW : I live in Shenzhen, China now. I do feel influenzas of a city to design. It comes in various ways. Shenzhen is a young city with many tech companies and factories. the pros are u have no trouble to find some high tech suppliers to satisfy your imagination, and seen all skyscrapers every day, makes your design is also tuned to that way too. the cons of course is the same, I studied in Milan, and seen all the artificial everyday gives me a mind-blowing creativity of arts and handcrafts. which you will find that customers here won’t prefer so much.
DI: How do you work with companies?
JW : i only work for my own company.
DI: What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
JW : I think is to check there past designs and the reality, see how much difference there are. of course the less the better. but sometimes you can ask the designer for reason and why, and see how they answer the question and then decide.
DI: Can you talk a little about your design process?
JW : i first get my inspirations by my own need, or by customer, and then visionaries in my mind, after I make a sketch, and then think of the measurements and technics to use. And then draw a technic drawing.
DI: What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?
JW : my iMac, MUJI bed sofa, a japanese brand cheese scrubber, MUJI pencil and sketchbook, DYSON vaccum.
DI: Can you describe a day in your life?
JW : wakeup, go to gym, work, lunch, work, dinner, sleep.
DI: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
JW : if you see many things unsatisfying , you gotta better idea to change it, you’re a designer material.
DI: From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
JW : positives are being paid to make your dream come true. negatives are, making a dream come true means u r never satisfied with the present.
DI: What is your "golden rule" in design?
JW : hardwork always pay off.
DI: What skills are most important for a designer?
JW : imagination. imagination needs training, and it’s very important to train your brain to be innovative.
DI: Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
JW : I use a pencil, a notebook, ruler and an eraser.
DI: Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
JW : I regulate my time into many sections, first, I go to the gym in the morning and start work at 10 with a cup of coffee, and taking lunch ,no brake until 9 or 10 o’clock evening. 1 day off every week.
DI: How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
JW : it depends not only on design but also on customer actually, normally a month, the longest took me three months.
DI: What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?
JW : what do you think?
DI: Who are some of your clients?
JW : designers, young couples, artists, founders or ceo’s of a company.
DI: What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
JW : i enjoy all my work. for those i don’t enjoy, I just turn them off.
DI: What are your future plans? What is next for you?
JW : in future i will do more designs around endangered spices, recycled materials. tryout new things I haven’t done in my designs before.
DI: Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
JW : I’ll keep that a secret right now.
DI: How can people contact you?
JW : they can contact me with my email. buy@Hupo.net
DI: Any other things you would like to cover that have not been covered in these questions?
JW : I think these questions are very comprehensive already.