We, as the Designer Interviews ("DI") had the distinct pleasure and opportunity to interview award-winning, most creative and innovative Johnny Jiasheng Chen ("JJC").
Johnny Jiasheng Chen is a Los Angeles-based designer/artist. He is recognized for his innovative and cross-disciplinary practices in design and art. He is passionate about seeking new experiences and unique alternatives, exploring new perspectives on materials, cultures, humanity, and speculative futures, and is the founder of the Forenext Design Studio.
Johnny Jiasheng Chen Designs
We are pleased to share with you original and innovative design work by Johnny Jiasheng Chen.
Johnny Jiasheng Chen Design - Syn Universal Calendar
Designer Interview of Johnny Jiasheng Chen:
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?
JJC : I am Johnny Jiasheng Chen, a Taiwan-born, Los Angeles-based industrial / product designer. I trained as an industrial and graphic designer with a BFA in Product Design from Ming Chuan University (2017), Master’s level research experience in Industrial Design from Taiwan Tech (2018), and a Master of Design degree from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago (2022). As a designer with a diverse background working in a foreign country, it fostered my unique insight. The cultural differences and my experience growing up in a rural area enrich the design influences during my career, such as tackling a problem in a specific community or understanding the relationship between different species. These experiences have given me the passion to find the essence of everything we have created. My goal is to dedicate my creations to society, nature, the environment, human interactions, etc, providing an innovative and alternative point of view when reflecting on our present stage. The designs/ arts that can remind us that there are always different alternatives, solutions, and perspectives when navigating the constantly changing world.
DI: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
JJC : Forenext is an innovative design studio focusing on creating new experiences and providing creative solutions via different design media. We conduct projects from cultural & creative design to visionary avant-garde design. Generating new perspectives and thinking of unique alternatives are our design goals.
DI: What is "design" for you?
JJC : “For me, every designed object is a convex ideological mirror, amplifying its creators’ minds and practices.” I believe every man-made object that exists in the world has its purpose, and it reflects the intention of its creator. And only by identifying the intention of a design can one truly understand the value of an object. For me, design is a form of lifestyle an individual chooses, which interweaves into every part of our lives. It is more than just an object or medium. Eventually, it becomes our way of thinking and how we view the surroundings.
DI: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
JJC : Speculative design and conceptual design are my favorites. The works that no one had previously imagined or created.
DI: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
JJC : I like our previous project Plan B. Plan B. is a design system concept across digital and physical products that track different environmental elements to help people understand their surroundings. The design itself reflects the current difficulties humankind is facing, while offering an alternative perspective on how we should review and respond to the climate change challenge.
DI: What was the first thing you designed for a company?
JJC : An innovative folding laptop
DI: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
JJC : 3D printing, CNC machining, wood working…
DI: When do you feel the most creative?
JJC : When I gather enough data and focus on solving problems.
DI: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
JJC : If it is reasonable, achievable, practical, or not
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
JJC : Calm, focus, consistent.
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
JJC : Happy, a sense of achievement, exciting
DI: What makes a design successful?
JJC : There are too many variations and factors to consider. It is case-by-case.
DI: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
JJC : The approach people took, the research they conducted, and the results they created.
DI: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
JJC : Being innovative and visionary. Develop better products or alternatives that address current social or environmental issues.
DI: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
JJC : Design field is at a turning point, which is developing faster toward the digital aspect and application, while the physical aspect is growing more slowly in recent years. From my perspective, the Future of design depends on the balance of digital and physical technology breakthroughs, such as new materials, manufacturing methods, and global supply chain management, as well as their integration with AI technology.
DI: When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
JJC : 05/2024 ARCOLisboa Art Fair with Al-Tiba9. We are still planning for the year 2026
DI: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
JJC : Everyday objects, art and history museums, and architecture. My inspirations always come from the background research and the question that I want to solve.
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?
JJC : Modern and transitional Modern and minimal design can be timeless and celebrate the pure form, but I also appreciate decorative designs, as their intricate forms provide a sense of disclosure, much like a story. The approach will depend on the project's content.
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?
JJC : Los Angeles, CA, USA Cultural heritage has a significant impact on me. Due to my different background, I am more aware of cultural differences and have had opportunities to explore them further. Design is vital for its image and semantics, and it varies in multiple cultures. Sometimes it will be limited while considering too much.
DI: How do you work with companies?
JJC : I own a design studio while working in a company.
DI: What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
JJC : Carefully identify what kind of designer you need. Understand what both sides can offer to each other. Good portfolio, good reputation, willingness to learn
DI: Can you talk a little about your design process?
JJC : Research Define Ideate Protoype Fine model Test Production
DI: What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?
JJC : Wallet Phone stand Light Water bottle Breakfast cooker
DI: Can you describe a day in your life?
JJC : Sleep, breakfast, work, lunch, work, exercise, dinner, relax, sleep
DI: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
JJC : Be smart, make good decisions, and don’t give up
DI: From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
JJC : Positives: Being able to create innovative and pretty objects is satisfying, and it is a rare and unique skill. Should feel proud and achieve. Negatives: It is a dark time for designers. Have to work smart instead of mindlessly working hard.
DI: What is your "golden rule" in design?
JJC : Make sure to understand the background before forming any judgments.
DI: Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
JJC : Ipad pro. Rhino, Solidwork, Illustrator, C4D, Keyshot
DI: Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
JJC : Multitasking, stop and work on something else when you feel stuck.
DI: How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
JJC : It depends on whether the research results are clear and easy to tackle or not. It can take anywhere from one to three months to have a physical prototype.
DI: What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?
JJC : Do you like what you design?
DI: What was your most important job experience?
JJC : Compal Electronics, industrial designer
DI: Who are some of your clients?
JJC : ASUS, DELL, HP, APPLE, SAMSUNG, ACER
DI: What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
JJC : Creative, decorative, and home-related. I enjoy thinking about conceptual objects and creating items that no one has imagined before.
DI: What are your future plans? What is next for you?
JJC : Accumulate more experience, attend more competitions, and exhibitions. Apply for a design competition judge.
DI: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
JJC : I do both settings as a team and individually.
DI: Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
JJC : We are developing a home-related project that can add a better accent to the home, while also being practical.
DI: How can people contact you?
JJC : designfornext@gmail.com