CRE+Design, established in Shanghai in 2009, specializes in brand design. Over the years, we have partnered with a wide range of leading Chinese and global brands. Our work has been honored with numerous international design awards and has gained broad recognition in the market for its creativity and impact.
Design success depends on multiple factors — the professionalism of the design team, as well as the client’s understanding, execution, and commitment to the design.
From a market perspective, a good design should help a brand build influence and open up its market. From a design perspective, originality and distinctiveness are key.
An unavoidable reality is that AI is rapidly transforming the design industry. While it enhances efficiency and accelerates development, it also raises expectations for creativity. Skills that cannot be replaced by algorithms will become increasingly valuable.
What makes this industry truly appealing is the ability to create work that holds both aesthetic value and creativity.
On the downside, for visual designers, our work can often feel like that of a doctor — many complex problems require a hands-on approach. Our productivity is inherently limited, and there are often no viable alternatives or shortcuts.
It's difficult to generalize timelines — they depend greatly on the scale of the project and the time the client can allocate.
I do not take on projects that are rushed to the point where the quality of design cannot be ensured.
Extended Interview with ECUST | CRE+ Design Hao SHAN
In my view, a successful design is one that empowers a brand to establish its influence, expand its market presence, and elevate its value. It must also embody creativity and artistic expression — distinctive, impactful, and genuinely solution-oriented.
Creating design that is distinctive, unconventional, and truly solves problems — once you set this as your standard, the expectations you place on yourself naturally become much higher.