We, as the Designer Interviews ("DI") had the distinct pleasure and opportunity to interview award-winning, most creative and innovative Yueh Mei Cheng ("YMC").
Yueh Mei Cheng is a distinguished professor at the School of Architecture at Feng Chia University in Taiwan. Her creative endeavors span various mixed media and interactive digital technologies, synthesizing Eastern and Western art theories into a cohesive and expansive artistic style and form. Her works present a diverse and rich cross-cultural contemporary perspective, serving as a perfect interpretation of the fusion between Eastern and Western cultures. She was once invited to collaborate with the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) on her "Emotional Color Thermometer" invention creating a digital interactive painting/light installation named "Introspection" for the International Floral Expo.
Yueh Mei Cheng Designs
We are pleased to share with you original and innovative design work by Yueh Mei Cheng.
Yueh Mei Cheng Design - Shang Shui Historic Reminder
Designer Interview of Yueh Mei Cheng:
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?
YMC : 40 years ago, not many people in Taiwan studied art, but I chose to major in art in college, preparing myself to become an artist or designer. I have always believed that artists are the happiest people-when a person can communicate in a way beyond “words”, that is a pleasant experience.
DI: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
YMC : I am an independent artist. I have a personal studio. At the same time, I also have several working partners, when needed.
DI: What is "design" for you?
YMC : For me, good design is like the relationship between cake and sugar. A cake that tastes good doesn't show sugar, but you can taste the perfect use of sugar.
DI: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
YMC : Public art or installation.
DI: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
YMC : I enjoy using highly interactive materials for design, including incorporating technological elements.
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
YMC : Creating a great design often resembles embarking on a lengthy journey. Discovering the inherent joy within the design process is essential to persevere until completion. On the day the design is finished, I often find myself and my creation resembling a pair of lovers, truly "made for each other."
DI: What makes a design successful?
YMC : The ability to harness irrational passion is the key to giving birth to a successful design.
DI: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
YMC : Is it aesthetically pleasing? Does it use color, space, and typography effectively to create a positive first impression?
DI: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
YMC : Designers can leverage their creations to share diverse cultures and perspectives, fostering understanding and respect between individuals. For instance, they can craft artistic expressions or designs that seamlessly blend elements from various cultures. Also, the designers can use their work to raise awareness, advocate for change, and inspire action towards environmental protection.
DI: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
YMC : The field of design is rapidly evolving, driven by new technologies, changing user needs, and a growing emphasis on the impact of design on society. Designers are collaborating more and more with experts from other fields, such as engineers, scientists, and social scientists. Designers will need to be able to collaborate with people from different fields and understand the needs of users.
DI: When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
YMC : My previous solo exhibition took place in 2022 at the Hung-Gen-Shen Fine Art Museum in Penghu, Taiwan. The subsequent solo exhibition is scheduled for 2025 at the National Taiwan Normal University Museum of Art in Taipei, Taiwan.
DI: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
YMC : The profound experiences of meditation and dance serve as the wellspring of my artistic creations. Meditation fosters a deeper comprehension of the universe's inherent reality, which subtly permeates my creative endeavors. I also derive immense pleasure from dancing which enables me to perceive the multidimensionality and fluidity of space within the dance floor.
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?
YMC : My design incorporates a variety of technological elements and techniques. Its most distinctive feature is the use of AI, AR, and light-interactive design to create numerous opportunities for interaction between viewers and the artwork, while also stimulating the viewers' multiple senses through this interaction. I aim to clearly convey my message and ideas through my work, allowing viewers to understand my intentions and resonate with them.
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?
YMC : I live in Taiwan now. As a Taiwanese I have lived in the United States for over two decades, I have experienced a natural fusion of Eastern and Western cultures. These cultures, rather than clashing, complement each other and have profoundly influenced my creative endeavors. Exposure to diverse cultures has broadened my creative perspective.
DI: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
YMC : Art creation is not about depicting the appearance of objects, but about conveying the true feelings of the mind.In Eastern art, the concept of "qiyun shengdong" describes the essence of art work . When a work of art is in harmony with the artist's spirit, it is said to embody "qiyun," and the artwork comes to life. I am of the East, and I am of the West, but I am most of all myself. I hope that every young artist/designer can find their own place in the diverse banquet of art, to contribute their unique passion and express their true selves.
DI: From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
YMC : Being a designer is a journey that blends creativity with practicality. Deciding if design is right for you depends on your personality and what you value in a career. If you enjoy creative problem-solving and have a passion for visual communication, the challenges can be rewarding. Meeting deadlines is crucial, and design projects can involve tight timelines. This can lead to stress and long hours, especially when revisions come into play. Deciding if design is right for you depends on your personality and what you value as an artist / designer.
DI: What skills are most important for a designer?
YMC : Designers need to possess a diverse range of skills and abilities to succeed in their field. Communication Skills are essential for all designers. Effective communication is crucial for designers, as they need to collaborate with clients, team members, and other stakeholders. This involves clearly articulating ideas, actively listening to others, and understanding different perspectives.
DI: Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
YMC : Effective time management is crucial for designers due to the frequent demand to complete numerous tasks within tight deadlines.For me, a couple of key strategies to enhance productivity are dedicating time for brainstorming before diving into design tasks to organize thoughts and scheduling tasks requiring intense focus during peak productivity hours.
DI: What was your most important job experience?
YMC : As a university art and design professor with over 30 years of teaching experience, I have had the privilege of guiding and inspiring countless young minds in their creative endeavors. My passion for art and design extends beyond the classroom, as I am an active artist myself. This dual perspective has enriched my teaching immensely, allowing me to connect with students on a deeper level and share the joys and challenges of the creative process firsthand. One of the most rewarding aspects of my work is the constant exposure to new people, ideas, and challenges. Each day brings fresh perspectives, unexpected twists, and opportunities for growth. This dynamic environment keeps me energized and motivated, as I am constantly challenged to adapt, innovate, and inspire. In essence, my job is to navigate the ever-changing landscape of art and design, both in the classroom and in my own creative pursuits. Embracing challenges, fostering creativity, and inspiring others are at the heart of what I do.
DI: Who are some of your clients?
YMC : My works are typically collected by private corporations, and I also occasionally participate in large-scale public art open calls initiated by government agencies.
DI: What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
YMC : I am deeply passionate about creating art and design that intertwines with spatial design. This encompasses both two-dimensional works like paintings and three-dimensional sculptures, seamlessly integrating them into various spatial installations that incorporate light and shadow projections, AI interaction, and AV/R interaction. I am fascinated by leveraging technology to expand the perspectives from which art is viewed.
DI: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
YMC : My large-scale public art installations often involve collaborations with designers, while most of my paintings are independently created.
DI: Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
YMC : In the spring of 2025, I will have a large-scale technological Ink Art exhibition at the National Taiwan Normal University Museum of Art in Taipei, Taiwan. This exhibition will combine the unique characteristics of Ink Painting with AR virtual-reality interactive visual image design and AI interactive technology to create a space where physical and virtual visual images coexist. Visitors can simply pass through this space and scan a specific QR code to experience the joy of interacting with physical ink wash art images in a virtual-reality co-constructed space. Constructing this contemporary ink wash art experimental field built through aesthetic calculations will also allow a large audience to directly experience the vision of "entering the painting realm" under the future 5G network, opening up their imagination of the 5G digital visual world and appreciating the joy of Ink Art. Through this, I aim to create a new look and a contemporary image for Eastern art - Ink Painting.
DI: How can people contact you?
YMC : Email is the preferred method of contact me: yuehmeiart@gmail.com