Introduction:

1、Did you choose to become a designer as your profession because of your interest or were there other influencing factors?

When I was a child, I had a special fondness for drawing. Every day during class, I would bury my head in the blank spaces of my textbooks and doodle. As a result, I received numerous scoldings from teachers, but I also garnered admiration from my classmates, which made me feel delighted. One day, during the third grade of elementary school, my name was called out by the principal during a school assembly, and it was announced that I had won the third prize in a county-wide calligraphy and painting competition. It turned out that my Chinese language teacher had submitted one of my drawings to the competition. Even today, I still remember the prize I received: a box of 12-color watercolor paints in chocolate bar-like blocks and a plum-shaped white plastic palette... Since then, my love for drawing became unstoppable. In junior high school, I joined a professional art studio to receive formal art training, and eventually, I successfully gained admission to the Suzhou Institute of Arts and Crafts.

However, my journey toward interior design was serendipitous. My initial dream, like many art students, was to become a pure artist, preferably in traditional Chinese or oil painting. But I ended up applying for the decoration major because my teacher informed me that pursuing pure art could be tough and challenging to succeed, and more importantly, it would be challenging to find stable employment. For a rural kid like me, having a stable job was crucial.

In 1992, interior design was not well-known as a profession. The decoration major, which is now known as visual communication, was more popular and offered better job prospects. For some unknown reason, I was assigned to the relatively unpopular interior design major. Later, I heard that the decoration major was so competitive with many connections that many students were redirected to other majors. I neither had the ability nor the motivation to confirm this rumor, but in retrospect, I am extremely grateful that the school redirected me to the interior design major.

2、"Do you have any particular style you excel in?"

As a mature designer, I believe it is essential to be familiar with various design styles rather than being proficient in just one. Everyone can have their preferred style, but I have always maintained that a good designer's expertise in a particular design style depends on the client's requirements. It's similar to a skilled chef who may not excel in cooking a specific dish but can always satisfy diners by catering to their preferences. When clients present their design style preferences, designers should delve into the project background and architectural space. By engaging in discussions with the clients, providing concept reference images, and even conducting site visits together, designers can determine a design style that aligns with the client's needs. Designers can guide clients but should avoid imposing their preferences or so-called "preferred styles" onto them. Therefore, the ability to empathize, understand, and grasp clients' preferences and requirements is crucial for designers.

3、In your spare time, what hobbies do you have? For you, what kind of lifestyle is the most ideal?

For many years after starting work, I didn't have any "spare time." There were endless meetings, overtime, and business trips. I believe most designers can relate to this. However, in recent years, as I grew older and my team became more stable, I gradually gained some personal time. Consequently, I started to indulge in hobbies, like painting, writing, and watching movies, which I once passionately loved but had to give up due to life's pressures. Additionally, I wanted to engage in fitness, so I got a gym membership, but I couldn't maintain the routine. Later, a friend introduced me to practicing mixed martial arts. After practicing the basic boxing techniques for a month, I entered actual sparring and quickly ended up with bruises all over my head, unexpectedly real bruises that even appeared while wearing boxing gloves. It took two months for me to learn evasion and seize opportunities for effective counterattacks. After a year of persistent practice, I found myself energetic. During my college days, I loved playing basketball and, by chance, joined a designer's basketball team. Unfortunately, the basketball community wasn't strong, and after three games, the team dissolved due to a lack of players. Subsequently, influenced by some friends, I tried playing soccer and quickly found dozens of like-minded individuals. We formed a "U50" soccer team, playing once a week for the past two years. Sometimes it's just casual games among ourselves, and at other times, we engage in friendly matches with various teams.

Painting, writing, and watching movies allow me to immerse myself in a serene state, escaping the noise of the outside world. On the other hand, mixed martial arts and soccer bring back the enthusiasm of my youth, reminiscent of my student days. The busy work life with countless tasks and hobbies that offer both tranquility and action during my spare time, I believe this is the most ideal state of life.

4、How do you balance the relationship between a designer and clients?

The relationship between a designer and clients is not a cold and formal one defined by a contract as the first and second parties. Instead, designers and clients should be friends and partners, working together toward the success of a design project. For most clients, the field of design is unfamiliar, and due to the use of specialized terminology and concepts, they might have difficulty accurately expressing their true needs. Additionally, clients may bring their personal preferences into the design, such as a strong preference for the color red, even though it may not be suitable for the designated space. In such situations, a designer must tactfully navigate the situation, satisfying the client's needs while ensuring the design's effectiveness. What should designers do at this time? A less experienced designer might outright refuse and tell the client that using the color red is not viable, leading to a high probability of the negotiation breaking down if the client insists. A better approach would be to present two design options for the client to compare. Seeing that red might not be suitable, the client may listen to the designer's advice and opt for another color. However, some clients might be insistent on their choice, leading to breaking down.A truly exceptional designer, after careful consideration, would find a suitable shade of red within the red color spectrum, perhaps earthy red, rust red, orange-red, vermilion, wine red, rose red, or even pink – offering various alternatives to the client. In this scenario, the designer doesn't use the exact red specified by the client but gains the client's approval for the design, respecting the client's involvement and authority, preserving their face, guaranteeing the design's success, and ensuring overall satisfaction.

When a client chooses to trust a designer, it is, to some extent, providing the designer with an opportunity to practice their design concepts. Balancing the designer's vision with the client's needs tests the designer's comprehensive abilities. What might be a significant project for a client could be just one of many for a designer. A designer's growth is undoubtedly honed through numerous projects provided by clients, so I believe that designers should learn to balance their relationships with clients and approach each project with a grateful mindset.

5、As an interior designer, what qualities or abilities do you think are most essential to possess?

Passion for life, maintaining enthusiasm, continuous learning, and approaching each design project with a grateful mindset are crucial attributes for an interior designer.

Designers should be versatile because they deal with clients from various industries, backgrounds, and preferences, all of whom are diverse. Relying solely on knowledge acquired from textbooks in school is insufficient when facing such complex situations. Designers should develop multifaceted abilities, including managerial skills, public relations skills, the ability to observe and analyze colors, and other comprehensive skills beyond technical expertise.

Friedrich Nietzsche once said, "The harvest of life is life itself." By loving life, paying attention to the thrilling details in everyday life, staying passionate about design, continuously learning, and exploring the world, designers can face complex projects and demanding clients with composure.