We, as the Designer Interviews ("DI") had the distinct pleasure and opportunity to interview award-winning, most creative and innovative Yuanyuan Wu ("YW").

Yuanyuan Wu is a Chinese Norwegian illustrator and designer. She was born in China and studied graphic design and illustration in the China Academy of Art before she moved to Scandinavia. She has been living and working in Sweden and Norway for over 12 years. Yuan has won several international design awards and her work has been exhibited in museums and galleries, and published in magazines throughout China and Norway. Yuan is very interested in intercultural communication and creating illustrations and designs with cultural diversity and heritage.

Yuanyuan Wu Designs

We are pleased to share with you original and innovative design work by Yuanyuan Wu.

Designer Interview of Yuanyuan 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?

YW : I studied graphic design in China Academy of Art and New Media Art at Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden. After that, I went to London and took Art Direction course at the University of the Arts London.I always want to be an artist or a designer, since I was a little girl. I like creating things.

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

YW : My company GoChina AS has offices in Norway and China. We help Nordic brands expand their businesses in China market by providing them with branding design and digital marketing solutions.We also create cultural and creative products which merge traditional Chinese elements and motifs with Nordic style and spirits.

DI: What is "design" for you?

YW : I think "design" is not simply about designing things, I think it's an important comprehansive ability of observing things, experiencing things and processing things to create something out of it. A good design must be unique and it is the personal understanding and experience from a designer: The inspiration could come from a cup of coffee, a movie, a delicious meal, an adventure or a relationship that the designer has had.

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

YW : Personal projects. Branding design from logo concept to final application. I like to work on projects that I can be more creative, not only the concept development but also work through the entire process to the final production.

DI: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?

YW : There are many. Product design like Apple products, and Elon Mask's Tesla, archtecture design such as Zaha Hadid's work, and Japanese packaging and graphic design, such as Kenya Hara's MUJI design.

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

YW : I don't remember, perhaps a poster or an illustration

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

YW : Space travel???

DI: When do you feel the most creative?

YW : When I feel relaxed and feel happy

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

YW : Creativity, a good idea and also through out the production phase, I emphasise on the craft part, what paper to choose from, what printing technique and so on.

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

YW : some times peaceful, some times exciting.

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

YW : Excited, definitely!

DI: What makes a design successful?

YW : Let the users and market decides.

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

YW : If the users like it or will it be accepted by the targeting market.

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

YW : Designers must have a social responsibility. We must think how to improve the society using the design power and we must thing how to make the world a better place by creating good designs to our life.

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

YW : Future of design will be brighter and more dynamic I think. Design will meet the needs from many niche markets.

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

YW : In a Chinese museum. Exhibited my Chinese Red Pockets design.

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

YW : It could come from a movie I watched, a meal I had, a book I read, a piece of music I listened, and a trip I experienced... from any aspects in my 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?

YW : I would rather let the audience to describe my design style, what do you feel about it? :)

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?

YW : I live in China currently, but I travel often. I have been living in Scandinavia for over 12 years.Yes, I do cultural heritage influence my design and creativity a lot. I like to mix and merge the different cultural elements together and express them out on my design work. I think difference cultural background and experience does expand my horizon, and made the design richer.

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

YW : Research- concept development - designing - showing to colleagues and clients - revision and improvement - production

DI: Can you describe a day in your life?

YW : 07:00 Morning exercise 08:00 breakfast 09:00 go to work 11:30 lunch break + music + talk 13:00 -17:30 working 18:00 back home making dinner 19:00 relax and take a walk after dinner 20:00 reading or surfing online23:00 go to bed

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

YW : Doing more personal projects, do things that you are passionate about.

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

YW : If I don't become a designer I may become a chef :)

DI: What skills are most important for a designer?

YW : Have a good taste :)

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

YW : Some times I forgot time, I can sit still for hours and hours, so being a designer is tough..

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

YW : It depends, what the scope of the project.

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

YW : What's the purpose of my life?

DI: Who are some of your clients?

YW : Internatonal, Chinese clients, and clients from Scandinavian.

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

YW : Creating more cultural and creative products.

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

YW : Some times alone by myself, some times with my colleagues as a team.

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

YW : Yes, the Chinese Zodiac design for the mouse year 2020 :)

DI: How can people contact you?

YW : through email: yuan@gochina.no or WeChat: am_yuan or through Linkedin: Yuan WuI am on Facebook and Instagram as well