Designer Interview
17 questions
I was always interested in drawing - comics, cartoons, illustration books... fantasical animations with futuristic gadgets and gizmos developed my liking for doodling a lot of "what if's".
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 was always interested in drawing - comics, cartoons, illustration books... fantasical animations with futuristic gadgets and gizmos developed my liking for doodling a lot of "what if's".
I was bad at history but took on art history with an interest in understanding how design came about. And at the end of high school, in defiance against Asian parents' wishes in pursuing medicine or law studies, I obstinately prioritised design as my first preference for tertiary education. Having said that, I did go through a scholarship year of design at the College of Fine Arts, realising that it was all too conceptual for my liking. Henceforth I transferred to industrial design in the second year, and that was when and how it all started.
What is "design" for you?
Shaping and ameliorating the way people live and interact.
What kinds of works do you like designing most?
medical products - they are challenging, altruistic, and concerns human factors at a stringent level than other product categories.
What was the first thing you designed for a company?
An integrated lateral flow test device.
What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
pen and paper.
When do you feel the most creative?
After watching something inspiring - could be anything, a movie, TED video, a Powerpuff Girls episode, etc.!
Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
user, usability, adaptability, visual semantics, haptic sensors... etc.
What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
it depends... most of the time it's just pressure, but when I get a good idea I feel exhilaration and anticipation!
When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
It's intuitiveness for a user to pick it up and know what exactly its functionality is.
How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
More encompassing and acknowledged by society, not just the industry itself. The realisation that design is, and has always been, a part of our everyday life and shapes what is known as 'lifestyle'.
Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
"Step back when in a rat hole".
From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
People recognise designers as pure executers of appearance beautification, or fashion offbeats who have no boundaries of imagination. However, there is so much more than just aesthetics and idiosyncrasy. We bridge the gap between form and function, and are the wheels that drive in gear with engineering successes toward a humanitarian and sustainable future.
What is your "golden rule" in design?
Always think about the user.
What skills are most important for a designer?
Be an empathetic and holistic thinker. Keep an interest in a variety of things that help establish an underlay of inspirations which can be evoked one day.
What are your future plans? What is next for you?
I have only begun working at ide+ for less than a year, and aim to learn more about manufacturing, DFMA and how design and business ties together for a couple of years. I am also interested in learning about intellectual property and may do that as a masters degree. Anything is possible and I am open to opportunities offshore as well.
Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
You need to be able to do both. Constructive criticism helps with brainstorming even if you are the only designer in the project.
How can people contact you?
email please.
