We, as the Designer Interviews ("DI") had the distinct pleasure and opportunity to interview award-winning, most creative and innovative Shengtao Ma ("SM").
Ma Shengtao is a young product designer studying at Qingdao University of technology in China. He has done research in product design and computer illustration, and has done many designs for schools, local shopping centers and associations. His product design projects and illustrations have also won national competition awards in relevant aspects for many times, and he hopes to continue his efforts and development on the road of product design in the future.
Shengtao Ma Designs
We are pleased to share with you original and innovative design work by Shengtao Ma.
Shengtao Ma Design - Sirocco Speaker
Shengtao Ma Design - Explorer Scientific Research Vehicle
Shengtao Ma Design - W-3E Mask Expressive Emotion
Designer Interview of Shengtao Ma:
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?
SM : When I was a child, I loved drawing on paper and expressing my inner thoughts on paper. I was fascinated by the sense of freedom. At that time, I didn’t know the concept of design, and I just created whatever I wanted. Gradually, I moved from paper creation to three-dimensional creation on the computer, expressing the thoughts in my heart and mind in a three-dimensional way. It is this feeling of freedom that allows me to constantly think and create that makes me gradually fall in love with it. design.
DI: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
SM : Different design studios are committed to not sticking to tradition in every project, boldly exploring innovative design ideas, striving to break through conventions and bring unique design solutions to customers. At the same time, we have strict quality control. From the first draft of the design to the final product, every link has been repeatedly polished and carefully crafted to ensure that what is delivered to customers is high-quality work that can withstand the test of time. Different design studio businesses include the fields of product design and graphic design, injecting a unique soul into each project, transforming customer needs into stunning visual and functional design works, and never fearing challenges from all aspects.
DI: What is "design" for you?
SM : When I was in college, I thought design was about innovating functions or appearances based on original products. But after I entered this industry for many years, my ideas slowly began to change. Good design cannot be blindly rigid. For original products, innovation in thinking is more important. Gorgeous functions and appearances sometimes do not satisfy users. It is often the small details that are difficult to find that can move the user's heart more. It is only by digging out these touching details that It's a design I want to pursue.
DI: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
SM : There is no specific style limit for the type of work I like. Rather than a specific style, I prefer to accept ever-changing forms.
DI: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
SM : Among many designs, I prefer unconscious design. Works that are not designed for the sake of design are even more rare and valuable.
DI: What was the first thing you designed for a company?
SM : When I founded my own design company, it was when the global epidemic broke out. A famous product I designed for patients was named "W-3E Mask Expressive Emotion". This is the first design work I completed independently, and I was fortunate to win the futuristic award of the Italian A Design Award.
DI: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
SM : I like wooden materials, which give people a return to nature feeling. I have no particular preferences regarding platforms and technologies.
DI: When do you feel the most creative?
SM : I think quiet nights are the best for brainstorming, so that your wild ideas won’t be disrupted by outside sounds or events. At the same time, maintaining a high level of excitement also helps me create and design.
DI: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
SM : I think function is as important as form. I will make the best form while meeting the functional requirements. At the same time, I will make the function more perfect and humane without sacrificing form.
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
SM : I am always in a state of excitement when designing, and the joy of expressing my inner thoughts fascinates me.
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
SM : I will unabashedly show my joy and excitement, but when I am excited, I will also re-examine my design, hoping to further improve and improve it.
DI: What makes a design successful?
SM : I believe that daring to think and imagine is the key to successful design. At the same time, daily accumulation of knowledge and understanding of design are also particularly important.
DI: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
SM : I will judge the basic quality of a design from the perspective of combining function and form. Designs that are eye-catching and resonate with people are the best.
DI: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
SM : I think it is necessary to have a deep understanding of users' needs, expectations and behavioral habits. In addition, it is also necessary to promote exchanges between different cultures, be able to guide social values, and enhance social aesthetics by creating beautiful works.
DI: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
SM : Design will be cross-integrated with more disciplines, such as biology, medicine, psychology, sociology, etc. The boundaries between design and other fields will be further blurred, and cross-border cooperation will become the norm. Designers need to have interdisciplinary knowledge and abilities and be able to work with professionals in different fields to create innovative products and services that incorporate multiple elements and functions.
DI: When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
SM : The last exhibition of my works was in Yantai Design Town, Shandong, China. I have no clear plans for the next exhibition.
DI: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
SM : My design inspiration comes from life and every moment that makes me feel special. I think that tiring work cannot inspire my creative inspiration. Appropriate relaxation of my brain is a good way to burst out inspiration.
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?
SM : I think my design style is not a fixed style. At different stages or for different situations, I will find a suitable design language to convey my design ideas.
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?
SM : I now live in Qingdao, Shandong Province, China. The life here is relatively comfortable and the people I come into contact with are more easy-going. This has laid a certain foundation for me to devote myself to design.
DI: How do you work with companies?
SM : I am not responsible for this aspect, and negotiations with other companies are handled by others in the studio.
DI: What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
SM : I think designers who have sharp minds, dare to imagine, and treat every project with care are what most companies need.
DI: Can you talk a little about your design process?
SM : I think finding problems is the most difficult part of the design process. After I have specific ideas, I will start with market research, then appearance sketches, and finally three-dimensional modeling and rendering.
DI: What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?
SM : Barcelona Chair,Egg Chair,Tulip Side Chair,Eames Lounge Chair,PH-lampe
DI: Can you describe a day in your life?
SM : I like to stay up late. Night time can stimulate my creative desire.
DI: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
SM : Before rushing to design, I think you should read more and think more, and be brave enough to overturn your own ideas. Only continuous improvement can produce good works.
DI: From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
SM : My thinking is not limited by age. I like bold creation and imagination. Compared with the current top designers in the world, my aesthetic needs to continue to improve, and my design thinking also needs further training.
DI: What is your "golden rule" in design?
SM : Know its whiteness and guard its blackness.
DI: What skills are most important for a designer?
SM : There is a pair of glasses that discover beauty, a brain that can be active at any time, and a heart that is always enthusiastic.
DI: Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
SM : Rhino，Keysho，Photoshop，Grasshopper
DI: Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
SM : I will try my best to divert time from doing other things and put all my energy into design.
DI: How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
SM : There is no fixed time, sometimes a month, sometimes half a year.
DI: What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?
SM : How did you come up with this design?
DI: What was your most important job experience?
SM : No special work experience.
DI: Who are some of your clients?
SM : It is more oriented to young people, including Chinese students taking postgraduate entrance examinations and Chinese postgraduate students.
DI: What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
SM : In product design and graphic design, I can create freely and express my inner thoughts to my heart's content.
DI: What are your future plans? What is next for you?
SM : I will continue to work on design and hope to go higher and further on the road of design. My next step will be to research lighting products, which is a new challenge for me. I will take this opportunity to improve my aesthetic and design abilities.
DI: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
SM : My designs are all my own creations, and the division of labor in the studio is clear. I am responsible for the design, and other business is left to my partners.
DI: Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
SM : It is currently in the learning and improvement stage, and no new designs have been carried out.
DI: How can people contact you?
SM : Google email: senheilinbaimuhui@gmail.com
DI: Any other things you would like to cover that have not been covered in these questions?
SM : The issues covered above are very comprehensive and there are no other issues I would like to discuss.