Vickie Au Designer Interview

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

Designer Profile of Vickie Au

Vickie Au is an award-winning designer that helps make the World a better place with their original and innovative creations and advanced design works.

Vickie Au Designs

We are pleased to share with you original and innovative design work by Vickie Au.

Vickie Au Design - Sustainability Fashion Collection

Designer Interview of Vickie Au:

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?

VA : Experienced Fashion Designer with a demonstrated history of working in the apparel and fashion industry for twenty years. Skilled in Trend Analysis, Corporate's Branding and Imaging, Retail, Wholesale, Fashion Design and Education. Recently focus on the business about "FASHION for SOCIAL GOOD". Her first sustainable fashion brand was launched at 2019 and presented the show of collection of sustainability at Centerstage 2019, Hong Kong Conventional and Exhibition Center. Awarded the Design Funding by Hong Kong Design Center at the same year. In addition, with more than twenty years belt on volunteer organization as a senior management, Vickie extended her business not only in fashion but also be a social innovator, curator to demonstrate the new norm between Fashion, Business, Community, ECO-Conscious as "FASHION for SOCIAL GOOD" by Collaborative, Innovative and Sustainable to co-create any possibility among the Corporate Clients and Consumers. She is now with the support of "SIE FUND" as a 'Social Impact Incubator".

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

VA : V VISIONARY DESIGN STUDIO is managed by VICKIE AU, the Founder and Creative Director. With more than 19 years of experience under her belt, Vickie left her comfort zone and established her Fashion Design Consultancy Company, V VISIONARY on 2018 with the positioning of “Fashion for Social Good”, and the brand “V VISSI:revisit” in 2019 with sustainable and intelligent fashion for the global audience. Fashion is the second most polluting industry globally. We believe that sustainable initiatives are the key for make the better environment in the world. Guided by the concept of Sustainable , Innovative , Collaborative, we target to co-created with the experienced-profession, fashion & apparel stake holder to design and customise sustainable and ethical products. We are the one-stop solution that helps your business make socially and environmentally conscious choice. We are also assisting some NGO/social enterprise and corporate for the business matching and giving the opportunity to both them to co-create the product and service in a way of shared value and sustainability approach. Both the mission of “V VISIONARY” and “V VISSI:revisit” is doing with the products by re-examining and re-inventing from material to supply chain in the fashion industry, revisit what we dress, extend the learning process and influence the way of living, not only for the industry, but the public with a new and sustainable lifestyle.

DI: What is "design" for you?

VA : Design is essentially problem solving at its core. You see a problem in an object/situation, you analyze it and try and remove those flaws. The process you hence undertake to do so is design. Design is also how things work. It is the functionality, the coming-togetherness and the aesthetic appeal of something.

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

VA : Instead of designing clothes, I rather like to design a fashion business strategically with taking the balance between making profit, for social good with the high standard of aesthetic and quality of the products.

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

VA : I do like designing in smart and value for money way but still can achieve the high standard of aesthetic and quality of the products.

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

VA : I gave the design to an artist for his concert.

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

VA : Natural Material / Instagram / technology of improving material in more sustainable way.

DI: When do you feel the most creative?

VA : Creative things without boundary of material / media / system / people / districts etc...................

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

VA : Fabrics and Color

DI: What makes a design successful?

VA : Making your design strategically and finally connect with you customer and audient.

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

VA : High standard of aesthetic & quality, functional, user friendly and good to the planet.

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

VA : Designer should take the balance between the commercial, innovative, functional and marketable for the society and environment.

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

VA : As a fashion designer, I will equip myself to be as social innovator to give my design not only in the high standard of aesthetic & quality but also for social good.

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

VA : My last show was launched in Shanghai to present my collection of sustainability. I would like present my collection in coming October in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Vancouver, New York, Italy or Stockholm to explore the market of sustainable fashion in those country.

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

VA : I always get inspiration for the international architect. Went through their creative philosophy and integrated into my design through silhouette, fabric, textile and color to delivery my message and statement.

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?

VA : Simplicity, minimal with fashionable feature.

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?

VA : Hong Kong. Hong Kong is an international city. I always get inspiration from different modern art exhibition. The Pros is always easy to reach those modern stuff but lack of the chance to connect with heritage culture.

DI: How do you work with companies?

VA : Collaborative, Innovative and Co-create

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

VA : have to be sharing the same belief on design and asthetic.

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

VA : Mood and theme come first, color and material are the second, silhouette and the total look/ mix and match at last.

DI: What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?

VA : Home Decor Candle Flower/ Plants Sofa Bed

DI: Can you describe a day in your life?

VA : Very busy and full of fulfillment and happiness.

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

VA : stop think act

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

VA : cannot connect (Negative) with ordinary people sometimes because we are too creative (Positive).

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

VA : Failure is Essential. Trial and Error is Necessary.

DI: What skills are most important for a designer?

VA : Critical Thinking and Analytical Skill

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

VA : beautiful scene for the nature......

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

VA : reserve a cooking time to my family and myself.

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

VA : 1 months to 6 months

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

VA : What is the theme of your collection this season?

DI: What was your most important job experience?

VA : Design a collection from zero to show.

DI: Who are some of your clients?

VA : Music Band

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

VA : Strategic Planning

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

VA : My next project is about integrating community empowerment into my colllection

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

VA : I have a team from PD to Design to develop my collection

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