We, as the Designer Interviews ("DI") had the distinct pleasure and opportunity to interview award-winning, most creative and innovative Steven KH Choi ("SKC").

An emerging illustrator and graphic designer is born and raised in Hong Kong. Founder of Syncircle Design Company, Steven has engaged with design since teenage. Illustration series “Zu & Pi” was first exhibited and in Frankfurt bookfair 2012. His simple, Scandinavian illustration style is recognized in local and global awards.

Steven KH Choi Designs

We are pleased to share with you original and innovative design work by Steven KH Choi.

Designer Interview of Steven KH Choi:

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?

SKC : I have engaged with design since teenage. After graduated from high school, I started to work as a graphic designer soon for nearly 2 decades . In 2012, my illustration series "Zu & Pi" was first exhibited and in Frankfurt bookfair. Now I am the member of Japan Illustrators' Association(JIA) and Associtation of Illustrators(AOI).

DI: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?

SKC : Syncircle design company ([陋室五月]in Chinese) is founded by me in 2007. In terms of 24 solar terms in Chinese Calendar, May is " Grain slightly full ". It expresses our philosophy to take the journey of life as practice and to maintain low profile.

DI: What is "design" for you?

SKC : Design is a way to create a story. It helps others to understand the product as how it is presented .

DI: What kinds of works do you like designing most?

SKC : I like graphic design and illustration.

DI: What was the first thing you designed for a company?

SKC : Logo, cooperate identity, which is the soul of a company

DI: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?

SKC : My favorite material is paper. Different texture of paper can add realism to the design and make the visual design unique.

DI: When do you feel the most creative?

SKC : I feel most creative when I am listening music.

DI: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?

SKC : I focus on the aesthetics of a design.

DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?

SKC : I fell calm and peaceful.

DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?

SKC : I fell challenged. I have no idea about the reaction of public yet when it realized.

DI: What makes a design successful?

SKC : My friends' and family’s support. Without them, it is hard to move forward.

DI: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?

SKC : The aesthetics of artwork.

DI: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?

SKC : Our design should always be environmental friendly and meaningful. It could then raise the public awareness of the issue around us.

DI: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?

SKC : I realised that there are getting more ways to share our design and many young designers are coming into the design field. The future of design will be more challenging and exciting.

DI: When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?

SKC : Our last exhibition [The Lost Poem - Girl and the Sea] was held at Adelaide Fringe Festival (Australia) in February. We are now preparing for the complete series under the same theme in Taiwan at the end of 2017.

DI: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?

SKC : My inspiration comes from my daily life. Watching movies, reading and listening music, all feed my creativity and make me think deeply.

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?

SKC : My style is simple and mature. Keep the details subtle. I guess that it somehow just reflects my personality and my objective to persist the creativity leads the design. Same as my company ‘Syncircle’ that I just explain above, slightly full is enough and keep practicing.

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?

SKC : I live in Hong Kong which was the former British colonial and now becoming a city-state. Hong Kong's culture is East meets West, antique meets post-modern. Public values variates a lot and nothing really long lasting. Still this beautiful city raises me up and it's a source of my nutrition and inspiration come from.

DI: How do you work with companies?

SKC : I usually listen to the direction of companies, try to understand their needs first. During the design process,I would keep communicate with my client and modify my work according.

DI: What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?

SKC : Companies should understand the designer’s idea and aesthetics. Companies can select those designer who are listeners and have ideas to make their design real.

DI: Can you talk a little about your design process?

SKC : I usually just sketch the artwork then finish them in computer.

DI: Can you describe a day in your life?

SKC : Work and work harder.

DI: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?

SKC : Do the right thing and work hard.

DI: From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?

SKC : Being a designer means having a lot of chances to express your creativity, but it does not always mean that we could make the final decision of a design.

DI: What is your "golden rule" in design?

SKC : Keep it simple.

DI: What skills are most important for a designer?

SKC : Stay Focus!

DI: Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?

SKC : I use computer mouse to work on my design. My toolbox is always filled with all kinds of books or interesting stuff from daily life. I often inspired by books.

DI: Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?

SKC : Always arrange my time according the schedule.Take a break to ensure I am able to refresh my body and mind.

DI: How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?

SKC : It depends on the complicated degree of the design. It often takes 1-2 weeks for the idea and structure.

DI: What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?

SKC : Is my design able to solve the problem?

DI: Who are some of your clients?

SKC : Those who love our brand and the those whom we have not yet meet.

DI: What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?

SKC : I enjoy graphic design most. It is simply like a magic box. We can design everything we want.

DI: What are your future plans? What is next for you?

SKC : We hope more people can slow down their pace of life and enjoy the beautiful things around us, same as the illustration story of our brand. We would also put more interesting and meaningful happenings in our design and share with the public.

DI: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?

SKC : I work as a team. I concentrate on drawing and my wife writes the texts.

DI: Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?

SKC : I am preparing a calendar 2018 of the exhibition [The Lost Poem - Girl and the Sea]. I hope that more people could get to know the story behind the exhibition and share it with their friends.

DI: How can people contact you?

SKC : Email: sc@syncircle.com Facebook: Zu and Pi