We, as the Designer Interviews ("DI") had the distinct pleasure and opportunity to interview award-winning, most creative and innovative Do Thanh Xuan ("DTX").
Do Thanh Xuan is an award-winning designer that helps make the World a better place with their original and innovative creations and advanced design works.
Do Thanh Xuan Designs
We are pleased to share with you original and innovative design work by Do Thanh Xuan.
Designer Interview of Do Thanh Xuan:
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?
DTX : I have the dream to be successful in the fashion business, specifically for fashionable resort wear. I went to university to study fashion business and I find that I like to design and styling.
DI: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
DTX : Sea of Love is a new design and manufacturing business specializing in Womens' Resort Wear. The start up is located in Hoi An, Vietnam and market is for locals,tourists and for export. Design consultancy also available - design for sale and lease.
DI: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
DTX : Resort wear and evening wear for women. I am also interested in designing baby clothes.
DI: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
DTX : I don't have one favorite
DI: What was the first thing you designed for a company?
DTX : Uniforms for a real estate developers' staff and sales people.
DI: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
DTX : Silk, Chiffon, Organza, draping on mannequin, hand work.
DI: When do you feel the most creative?
DTX : When there is a short deadline
DI: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
DTX : That people can easily wear the clothes for many occasion - that the designs are something beautiful that people can really wear and not just for runway show.
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
DTX : I don't feel anything because I am so involved in the work.
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
DTX : I want to improve the design.
DI: What makes a design successful?
DTX : Working hard and concentrated on the work. Getting feedback from other professionals during the design process.
DI: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
DTX : How it fits on the real person and the quality of the product and workmanship.
DI: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
DTX : Creating long lasting products with timeless design so as not to create waste or waste natural resources.
DI: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
DTX : Not much new things are creative except for material. Fashion design trends tend to repeat over time.
DI: When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
DTX : The last exhibition was my university graduate exhibition and fashion show on 28th July 2012. My next exhibition could be in the fall of 2013 when my first retail shop opens - to be announced.
DI: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
DTX : From the life around me.
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?
DTX : Familiarity, purity, charm, trendy
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?
DTX : Hoi An Vietnam. Yes, the culture does affect my designs - I use it for inspiration. Pros are a lot of inspiration to draw on and flexibility to develop product designs. The cons are finding good staff to execute the work according to international standards.
DI: What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
DTX : The most important is that the designer remain responsible and execute the work on time.
DI: Can you talk a little about your design process?
DTX : First is trend research. Second is finding inspiration and then design.
DI: What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?
DTX : Ceramic vase made in the Bat Trang Ceramic village, Hanoi, Vietnam, Morano chandelier, one of a kind handmade sandals I purchased in Rome, hand carved teak make up table, my embroidered cat luggage.
DI: Can you describe a day in your life?
DTX : Wake up at 7:00 am, have breakfast and start working from 8:00 am to 7:00 pm in the studio with the staff, break for diner, continue design work or watch some film on television or go out with friends. Bed time between 11:00 pm and 2:00 am.
DI: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
DTX : I am the young designer!
DI: From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
DTX : Pros are feeling younger, having interesting and creative friends, many new experiences coming to me with each new project. Negatives are working hours are too long. And sometimes feel I don't get the good results I want.
DI: What is your "golden rule" in design?
DTX : Being professional in the work and the approach to the work, team work.
DI: What skills are most important for a designer?
DTX : Transferring the idea - communication - and making a successful real product.
DI: Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
DTX : Photoshop, technical drawing, illustrator, hand drawing, mannequins for draping, pattern making tools, hand sewing skill, international design trends: magazines, other product shops...
DI: Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
DTX : Make a schedule for all projects and do my best to follow it.
DI: How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
DTX : Approximately 4 weeks for complicated designs at the most and 1 week for simple designs at the least.
DI: What was your most important job experience?
DTX : Designing uniforms for the real estate developer and not getting paid (not because of quality - they just wanted it for free). Setting up my company while pregnant.
DI: What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
DTX : Getting inspiration and looking for materials to make the designs.
DI: What are your future plans? What is next for you?
DTX : To continue designing the collection, manufacturing it and opening my first retail shop. Also would like to look forward to having export business for my collections.
DI: Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
DTX : My new collection is in process now, but I won't talk too much about it here.
DI: How can people contact you?
DTX : email: xuandofsdesign@gmail.com Mobile: +84 987999763