We, as the Designer Interviews ("DI") had the distinct pleasure and opportunity to interview award-winning, most creative and innovative Li Hui ("LH").
Li Hui, who has been engaged in the research of electric vehicles for more than 30 years, likes painting since childhood, making model airplanes, model cars and model ships. When he was in college, he chose the industrial design major combining technology and art, which eventually made him an industrial designer. His wish is to design green environmental protection products that are really used by human beings.
Li Hui Designs
We are pleased to share with you original and innovative design work by Li Hui.
Li Hui Design - Komi Electric Vehicle
Designer Interview of Li Hui:
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?
LH : My parents are both teachers. I have a good education since I was a child. When I was 5 years old, I liked painting, making model airplanes, model cars and model boats. Because these hobbies made me choose the industrial design major combining technology and art in college, and finally made me an industrial designer. I hope that the products designed by the combination of art and technology can be really used by human beings Yes, so I'm very happy to finally become an industrial designer, because this is my childhood dream.
DI: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
LH : At present, I am the boss of a company, can make my design into a product, get the market test. My company is mainly an electric vehicle research company. I have accumulated nearly 30 years of working experience in the field of motor, controller, battery and vehicle design, and fully understand the technical characteristics and secrets of this industry.
DI: What is "design" for you?
LH : In my understanding, design is the positioning of technology in the market, making it a commodity and meeting the market demand.
DI: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
LH : I especially like to design vehicles, and often make electric vehicles by myself.
DI: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
LH : My favorite design is a variety of different concept cars, because they are related to my work and can inspire me.
DI: What was the first thing you designed for a company?
LH : The first thing I designed for the company is the future of the company, so that our team can live in a happy life.
DI: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
LH : Lightweight and new materials are the focus of my research.
DI: When do you feel the most creative?
LH : When I find a new market space, I feel the most creative.
DI: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
LH : 1. Market positioning 2. Man machine and space 3. Cost performance 4. Future technology
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
LH : I feel more cautious when expressing design language.
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
LH : When I achieve a very satisfying design, I feel that my work has a soul.
DI: What makes a design successful?
LH : I think a deep understanding of the market, products and technology can make the design successful.
DI: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
LH : My first consideration is the recognition of the market and the achievement of design goals.
DI: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
LH : I think the designer's responsibility to society and environment is to promote the progress of social science and technology, make good use of various materials and technologies, and meet the protection and sustainability of the environment.
DI: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
LH : The development of design field should let more people understand design and understand why to design. The future of design will be the lifestyle that guides the future.
DI: When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
LH : There was no exhibition before that.
DI: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
LH : My inspiration came from my three-year-old son. He is lovely, lively, naive, like a spirit of forest. It is also because of the needs of the company's products. The company and products are like my another child, so as to design this green new energy small electric vehicle, which can freely walk through the urban construction forest. My inspiration comes from my love of life.
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?
LH : My design style is informal, using the most common language to let more people see the works have the feeling of approval and love.
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?
LH : I live in China. I don't think Chinese culture has more influence on me. I will absorb excellent design elements from all over the world and apply them to my works. I think the advantages and disadvantages in the design process have nothing to do with where I live, because it is the Internet society now.
DI: How do you work with companies?
LH : Because I am the boss of this company, my cooperation with the company is very close.
DI: What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
LH : Any company has its own professional service products, designers to meet these needs, to achieve mutual recognition between the product and the designer team, I think the company must focus on whether he understands the product he designed to meet the needs of the market, and has enough knowledge to complete his design product.
DI: Can you talk a little about your design process?
LH : The design process is first market research, then the positioning of the product, describing the product's function and market demand, and then making prototype renderings, making sludge, data, until the completion of the sample.
DI: Can you describe a day in your life?
LH : Deal with all kinds of affairs of the company, improve and improve every day around the company's problems.
DI: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
LH : As a designer, first of all, we must like this profession, have a favorite product, and have a lot of ideas and understanding of the product, and have enough knowledge to achieve product design.
DI: From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
LH : As a designer, you should be an expert in your field, and have a good understanding of market and technology, so that you can get more knowledge.
DI: What is your "golden rule" in design?
LH : More than 80% of people like this design, which shows that it is a good design.
DI: What skills are most important for a designer?
LH : Skills required for painting, aesthetics, and understanding of the designed product.
DI: Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
LH : I use the software PS, alias, CATIA
DI: Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
LH : I will make a design schedule and manage my time strictly according to the schedule.
DI: How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
LH : The design I'm working on takes about a year since the beginning.
DI: What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?
LH : What problems does this design solve? What is the positioning of the product?
DI: What was your most important job experience?
LH : I have done research on electric vehicles since 1996, and I know this kind of products very well.
DI: Who are some of your clients?
LH : People who need to buy electric cars.
DI: What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
LH : I like the design works of vehicle type because it is related to my work.
DI: What are your future plans? What is next for you?
LH : I plan to make two or three more products in the next two or three years, and then there will be a small electric super run.
DI: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
LH : I mainly come to determine the design objectives, complete the design scheme, and my team helps me to do detailed development.
DI: Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
LH : A product I'm designing is about to be completed and will be available to the market in 2021. This design will be loved by more people because it meets the needs of more people.
DI: How can people contact you?
LH : You can contact me through my email My email address is 87024653@qq.com