Xianou Ni

Specialized in Design.

Xianou Ni

About Xianou Ni

  • Winner of the A' Design Award.
  • Specialized in Design.
  • Original Design.
  • Creative, Diligent and Innovative.
  • All Designs

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Interview with Xianou Ni

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?
I studied in Industrial design in BA and MA in China Academy .later after teaching in an university I decided to go abroad to study more about Art and Design.I studied my ND course in jewellery and MA course in school of jewellery ,BCU,UK from 2004 to 2007. After my graduation, i was an artist-in-residence in London MET and also set up my workshop in Harton Garden ,London.now I am teaching and continue my workshop in Hangzhou China. I like art and design both as these keep your soul happyness and freedom all the time. Through this way you can share your wisdom and passion with other people from the world , which make me feel happy.
Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
I set up my workshp in 2007 ,with my name :Michelle Ni. In one way I make my art work by myself and produce some limited edition works . on anther way I design some work and manufatured , sell my work in Design store and jewellery galleries.
What is "design" for you?
For me . Design is a way to tell how you think about the life style should be. In design process you can pick up any fresh idea from your experance ,which excited you, make more thinking for the furture.
What kinds of works do you like designing most?
about spacial design,such as vessel, sculpture, clothes, jewellery.
What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
a lots. such as Alessi design, droog design,philippe Starck design lemon press,etc.
How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
diversified and hommization. the future deign worls be more individual.
When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
2017 Beijing International Jewellery Art Exhibition,China.Schmuck,Munich
Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
my inspiration is from Deconstrucion Achitecture. I feel more and more freely by this way ,with deconstructing more traditional chinese elements,daily objects.
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?
simple and complicated.in deconstruction idea, reinterpreting the structure, my work talk about the relationship between material and technology to express my purpose of creation.
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?
I live in Hangzhou,where I am teaching in China Academy of Arts.yes,I get lots of inspiration from my culture.You cant get very flesh information about the art and design current in the world and you cant slip the leash from the old culture if you live in the country and never go out for a look.
Can you talk a little about your design process?
Most time I always keep a sketch book and iphone with me . I could get any idea everywhere,on the train ,in hotel or in restaraunt ,i take photos and draw out on my sketch.From the sketch, I try to make 3d model with metal(sometime with copper sometime with silver directly),during making ,I try to find out which is the best material, form, technique for the design ,somtime keep remaking until I feel everything is in right place in the piece.
Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
you need focus on your design career if you want to be a good designer,even though it is hard to carry on because lots of people round you would not undersand your work that you need enough confidence , try the best to show your talent ,it may takes long time, five years,ten years even more.
From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
you can keep an eye to the daily life , sensitive to the beauty and function.your soul always young when you are a designer. on another side, your thinking should be individuality that sometime you need keep lonly.
Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
you could design anytime or anywhere, so I always like go out for traveling ,meet with friends ,then when i feel ready to manage my time to make my design in my workshop.
What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
I like to design and make table ware as it relates space, relates the form and the function, and i relates the metal making skill,which is a challenge to me.
What are your future plans? What is next for you?
I carry on my current jewellery design and go further with my design philosophy.
Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
currently I design jewellery with chinese element into the modern style.

Designer of the Day Interview with Xianou Ni

Could you please tell us about your experience as a designer, artist, architect or creator?
It has been 10 years since I graduated from school of Jewellery , BCU, UK, in 2017. afterword I was artist-in-residence in London Metropolity University and set up my workshop , I worked as a freelance jewellery designer and took part in exhibition internationally.I went back to China in 2010, taught jewellery course in China Academy of arts in Hangzhou, continue my workshop until now.
How did you become a designer?
I fininshed my BA and MA in Industrial design,from 1994 to 2001. I became a professional designer and jeweller since I draduated in School of Jewellery ,BCU,UK , in 2007.
What are your priorities, technique and style when designing?
I have a good taste and sensitive to the form, and I am experenced in goldsmithing technique as I studied two years ND course in shcool of Jewellery, BCU.I started my research about the deconstruction phylosophy in my art work since my MA course in school of jewellery. I made my art work with this idea continuely until now. I create the work by hand, starting with sketch.Sometime I use the digital tool to help make model when I do some design project, staring with the sketch as well.
Which emotions do you feel when designing?
when i draw out the sketch on the paper, because i draw out easiy ,when i saw the sketch , sometime suddenly feel that it will be a good piece when it been made with 3D dimention.I feel exciting about this , I was impetuous to start making right now because I have imagination the 3D form in my mind.
What particular aspects of your background shaped you as a designer?
Both my education of industrial design and education of Jewellery design shaped my current designer career.
What is your growth path? What are your future plans? What is your dream design project?
I had been art- design world for more than 20 years and I like it very much as I enjoy the creation process. I will continue my design career until the end of my life,my life is meaningful because of this. I wish I can have a chance to cooperate with some big brand and always make excellent work in the future.
What are your advices to designers who are at the beginning of their career?
The advice for the new designer is that you must carry on your dream even though you cant make good money as a designer, the good design is important for our society ,and it can proof your telant when one day comes.
You are truly successful as a designer, what do you suggest to fellow designers, artists and architects?
Good luck fo every good arist, every designer. one day you will deserve it as long as you work hard.
How do you decide if your design is ready?
then,find a workshop to have it made.if it is artistic style, I made it by myself,it will take longer time as i will look at every detail and find out a better way.
Would you tell us a bit about your lifestyle and culture?
I like London as it is an artistic and historical city.and my current city Hangzhou, it is the most beatiful city in my country, quiet,luxuriantly green,elegant. i am sure that my culture does effect my creation a lot.I am working in Hangzhou now, where I am teaching in China Academy of Arts, and I have my workshop here.because of my culture, in my work, it always have a sense of artistic conception of the east,which make my work very special .
Would you tell us more about your work culture and business philosophy?
I like be free to work with, as i am doing different things at the same time that means that i orgnize my timetableeasily . I am the only designer in my workshop and have two assistants (maker)help me to keep my business. i have some cooperation with some art shop and sell works in there, regularly works sell is ok as the designer work is still hard to sell in my contry as most people like traditional style, it is hard to push them to buy designer work.
What positive experiences you had when you attend the A’ Design Award?
It will be wonderful experence to me because I feel more people like my work than I thought that will make me have more confidence for the furture. And this will encourage me to go out get more people understand and know me.

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