We, as the Designer Interviews ("DI") had the distinct pleasure and opportunity to interview award-winning, most creative and innovative Jiang Wu ("JW").
Dr. Jiang Wu is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Mechanical, Materials and Manufacturing Engineering, University of Nottingham Ningbo China. He is a senior design practitioner and researcher in integrated innovations of technology, culture, and user experiences. He was a design researcher and received his PhD degree at the Intelligent Lighting Institute of the Eindhoven University of Technology; his work focuses on designing ambient lighting systems for information displays that help boost productivity, stress management, and create information decoration.
Jiang Wu Designs
We are pleased to share with you original and innovative design work by Jiang Wu.
Jiang Wu Design - Seniors Keeper Smart Door Lock
Designer Interview of Jiang 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 : The initial impression that the concept of design left on me, is during my early childhood when I watched the British children’s TV programme of ‘Art Attack’ regularly. Watching the host producing their works of art step by step, I perceived design as a fascinating process to make crafts then. Later in high school, I attended the national and international VEX Robotics Competition, and the experience of robot design guided my interest into industrial design.
DI: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
JW : I come from a small town in China. Undertaking the bachelor degree programme of BEng Hons Product Design and Manufacture, I have nurtured my design sense and engineering capabilities, accumulating the knowledge of how to transform creative ideas and thoughts into actual products.
DI: What is "design" for you?
JW : Personally, design is a transition process of absorbing inspiration from daily life and translating them to self-expressing.
DI: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
JW : Mostly products, but I am also interested in graphic design.
DI: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
JW : My favorite design is an ambient light project, in which I try to simulate the movement of water-drop, using mechanical methods to express nature makes the product shows a contradictory aesthetic.
DI: What was the first thing you designed for a company?
JW : I designed an earphone for a audio equipment company.
DI: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
JW : Metal and ceramic, represent completely different feelings of materials. Behance is my favorite platform for designers. Bio-technology is my favorite at present.
DI: When do you feel the most creative?
JW : During the travel and midnight.
DI: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
JW : The research and insights part mean the most to me, for those always lead directly to my final design.
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
JW : Surprised and delightful for sure.
DI: What makes a design successful?
JW : Rigorous logic, precise insights and creativity.
DI: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
JW : Whether it come out from persuasive research and whether it is useful.
DI: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
JW : Be honest with yourself, be useful and harmless to society, be friendly to the environment.
DI: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
JW : Design is the integration of all kinds of fields including business, technology and society.
DI: When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
JW : At goldsmiths, university of london.
DI: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
JW : From my life, by looking through exhibition, and constantly interaction with other.
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 : Flexible, from my own personality. I would not say that I have a certain style, my process during work are similar, however the results rarely show similarity.
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 : Now in London, I lived in south part of China for 20 years, the cultural habits indeed affect my design.
DI: How do you work with companies?
JW : Working as trainees, completing their tasks as assistant and designer.
DI: What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
JW : Better paying more attention to research part, by looking through their work and observing their style.
DI: Can you talk a little about your design process?
JW : Research, find insights, brainstorm, getting inspiration, design.
DI: What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?
JW : Poster, bed, perfume bottle, knitted carpet, car model.
DI: Can you describe a day in your life?
JW : I am currently a post-graduate student at goldsmiths, my day usually begin with busy morning and afternoon, then relax at night.
DI: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
JW : I am one of the young designers, thus my suggestion should be never stop thinking.
DI: From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
JW : It can be delightful when creating things, however painful when your mind is ran out.
DI: What is your "golden rule" in design?
JW : Be honest.
DI: Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
JW : Always do the important part in most effitient time.
DI: How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
JW : Insights.
DI: What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?
JW : Why do you choose to be a designer?
DI: What was your most important job experience?
JW : Once at a small company designing audio equipment, for it is a small studio, I've leant a lot under loads of work.
DI: Who are some of your clients?
JW : Brands, University department, factories.
DI: What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
JW : Creative design work
DI: What are your future plans? What is next for you?
JW : I plan to start my own brand, in order to achieve that I shall keep learning the skills from all kinds of fields.
DI: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
JW : Depends on the work.
DI: Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
JW : I am currently carrying out a project related to bio-material named 'ten weeks with fat', by observing and experimenting, we believe we can find a way to use fat as a new material.
DI: How can people contact you?
JW : By email or cell phone, jiayi_jiang17@163.com, 07536351761