We, as the Designer Interviews ("DI") had the distinct pleasure and opportunity to interview award-winning, most creative and innovative Ming-Li Chang ("MC").
I have a deep respect for my culture’s rich heritage and craftsmanship and I see product design as a way to change the narrative. As a designer, I am a divergent thinker who approaches the decision making process through trial and error, finding value in every idea. Whether I’m designing lifestyle, home goods, lighting or furniture, I create objects that are oddly purposeful. Decisions are based on taking insights to ideate concepts that have a clean, approachable aesthetic without being overcomplicated. By illustrating convincing narratives, I want to bring ideas to life in a way that others might say “I could’ve done that”.
Ming-Li Chang Designs
We are pleased to share with you original and innovative design work by Ming-Li Chang.
Ming-Li Chang Design - Lotus Guest Chair
Designer Interview of Ming-Li Chang:
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?
MC : Hi, my name is Ming Li Chang and you can call me Ming. Growing up in a culturally diverse community, I have always wondered what a young Chinese designer could do to redefine what “made in china” symbolizes. I have a deep respect for my culture’s rich heritage and craftsmanship and I see design as a way to change the narrative. As a designer, I am a divergent thinker who approaches the decision making process through trial and error, finding value in every idea. Decisions are based on taking insights to ideate concepts that have a clean, approachable aesthetic without being overcomplicated. By illustrating convincing narratives, I want to bring ideas to life in a way that others might say “I could’ve done that”. I am Ming, whose purpose is to take diversity of thinking to craft designs that people love.
DI: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
MC : Based in Los Angeles and Shanghai with an upbringing in Taiwan and Yunnan, Ming-Li looks to bring diversity of thought and cultural interpretation to push the definition of new Chinese design. From designing furniture, fixtures, lighting, to spaces, Ming-Li creates objects and experiences that are oddly purposeful. Each decision is based on taking insights to ideate concepts that have a clean, approachable aesthetic without being overcomplicated. By illustrating convincing narratives through details in design choices, Ming wishes to craft approachable experiences in a way that others might say “I could’ve done that”.
DI: What is "design" for you?
MC : Design to me is a way bridge gaps and bring people together. Through approachable ideas and forms that spark conversations, design is a way to communicate beyond languages and cultural barriers.
DI: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
MC : I like design works that are related to my culture and works that can help translate my cultural understanding for the masses to see and appreciate.
DI: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
MC : A moment of design that stuck with me as a young child is Neri and Hu's Waterhouse project located near the Bund in Shanghai. The project was able to turn a cruel piece of history to something open and warm for people to meet friends and family. They were also able to do this while maintaining so many historical details and artifacts. The emotions behind this design really impacted me as a child.
DI: What was the first thing you designed for a company?
MC : The first thing I actually designed was actually graphic design for a restaurant. Working with menus, logotype, and signage, it was a different area of design but it got me interested into designing for the restaurant space.
DI: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
MC : My favorite material to work with right now is ceramics. I have been diving deeper and deeper into ceramic history in China and specifically Jingdezhen. Everything about the possibilities of ceramics is fascinating.
DI: When do you feel the most creative?
MC : I feel the most creative when I am observing and people watching in all parts of the world.
DI: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
MC : Growing up in a culturally diverse community, I have always wondered what I could provide to the industry as a young Chinese designer. I have a deep respect for my culture’s rich heritage and craftsmanship and I see design as a way to change the narrative.
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
MC : Designs feeling familiar and approachable with subtle details to appreciate is really important for me. I hope that My designs feel comfortable and friendly while I am designing them and when people see them.
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
MC : I feel satisfied but also extremely curious. I am extremely curious about what else I can do and how I can push the narrative of my design even further.
DI: What makes a design successful?
MC : I think design is successful when it is emotionally rewarding. Emotionally rewarding for both the designer and the audience.
DI: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
MC : I like to consider whether if the design is easy to understand. That doesn't mean complicated designs are bad, a complicated design can still be approachable and easy to understand.
DI: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
MC : For me, designers should be able to utilize design as a tool to bring people together and start meaningful conversations. As we have further conversations about sustainability, it is also important for design to be a way to ask questions. It is important to question how and what we are doing and if there is a better way to do it.
DI: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
MC : I think design is currently at the forefront of many conversations, and that will only continue to grow in the next decade. We talk a lot about artificial intelligence in design, but a lot of the opinions are negative. I believe that with the ever-growing tech, media, and AI space, people will only be more sensitive towards good design. Design will be more on the demand as it is becoming more and more common for people to be able to realize the possibilities of design through the internet and AI. Artificial intelligence brings exposure to art and design in a new light, and hopefully, people’s sensibility towards well-designed objects will change over the years. I believe that the younger generation will grow up being more exposed to beautiful objects and spaces through the internet and will have a stronger sensibility for aesthetics. We are already seeing a fast-changing design landscape in east Asian countries just through the fact that young professionals are able to fulfill their design curiosities with their own growing income.
DI: When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
MC : My last exhibition was ICFF and Design Shanghai of 2023 and this year I will be returning to Design Shanghai with my own booth and a brand new design in the Talents area.
DI: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
MC : I like to people watch and observe the things around me to find inspiration. I also find a lot of my inspiration from the cultural contrast and differences I have experience as a child that was familiar with multiple cultures and languages.
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?
MC : My decisions are based on taking insights to ideate concepts that have a clean, approachable aesthetic without being overcomplicated. By illustrating convincing narratives, I want to bring ideas to life in a way that others might say “I could’ve done that”.
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?
MC : I currently live in the Los Angeles area in California, USA. To me this city is a melting pot of people that are all so familiar with cultural differences around the world. My heritage of growing up in Shanghai with a family background in southern China does heavily influence my ideas.
DI: What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
MC : A good designer working with a company should be able to be expressive with their own voice while still satisfying the needs of a client.
DI: Can you talk a little about your design process?
MC : My decisions are based on taking insights to ideate concepts that have a clean, approachable aesthetic without being overcomplicated. By illustrating convincing narratives, I want to bring ideas to life in a way that others might say “I could’ve done that”.
DI: What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?
MC : Tea ware from Jingdezhen, table light from flos, a thrifted foldable chair, audio-techinica record player, and my entire wardrobe of clothes.
DI: Can you describe a day in your life?
MC : My day to day involves a lot of what "Shanghai-ers" call "city walking". I like to people watch and observe the things around me to find inspiration. When I am working on projects, I take my time and I like to be alone figuring out all aspects of my own work.
DI: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
MC : In school we learned to solve problems. As the classes stacked on each other, we thought we had to design products and spaces that solved all of the worlds problems. After a couple years out of school I realized that, back in undergrad school we designed “Swiss army knives”. It has a lot of what you want, but none of it really works. Over the years I have to keep reminding myself to not design “Swiss army knives”.
DI: From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
MC : Positives of being a designer is to be able to tell stories, to be able to be expressive, and to be able to meet people. The negatives might be that you are constantly thinking about design and sometimes that can be overwhelming.
DI: What is your "golden rule" in design?
MC : Don't design a "Swiss army knife"
DI: What skills are most important for a designer?
MC : Communication, a keen eye for beauty, and storytelling.
DI: Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
MC : I use a plethora tools that is best fitting for what I am working on. I believe that tools can be limitations but they are unlimited if you are willing to learn on the go and not be stubborn about the tools you use.
DI: Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
MC : I like to actually spend a lot of time thinking and going about my day fulfilling other tasks, I find that more time effective than sitting down and staring at pieces of design on papers and computers screens all day.
DI: How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
MC : It can range from hours to days to months, it all depends on the idea and how hard it is to communicate what you are trying to say.
DI: What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?
MC : How do you come up with these ideas.
DI: What was your most important job experience?
MC : My work with Cory Grosser right out of college.
DI: What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
MC : I like doing work where I can be expressive about my culture and tell simple stories through design.
DI: What are your future plans? What is next for you?
MC : As I continue to develop my own designs, it is a goal of mine to play a part, no matter how big or small, but a part of the puzzle that defines what modern Chinese design is. Perhaps, eventually to create a platform for other young Chinese designer like me to create objects that help contribute to the new wave of quality Chinese designs. Starting with myself. To embrace and to be inspired by the rich history of craftsmanship and arts, to move things forward, and not just to copy paste traditional elements and “echo” the past. To redefine what “made in China” means.
DI: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
MC : Depends on the project.
DI: Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
MC : I currently have a fully ceramic table lamp that will be debuting in Shanghai for Design Shanghai. It is a special lamp about a special dance and hat out of my home province in China.
DI: How can people contact you?
MC : Through email at hello@minglidesign.com or through instagram: @ming_li_chang. They can also find out more about me on my website: www.minglidesign.com.