Interviews with Su Wan Ling

I originally studied nursing, but I switched to design during my university and graduate studies, eventually graduating from the Visual Communication Design Department at National Yunlin University of Science and Technology.

Design is about interaction between people, and the various changes make it very interesting. I enjoy engaging in creative work.

Having initially been in a nursing program and earning a nursing license, I realized even more strongly that I wanted to pursue a career in design and illustration. This desire grew stronger, and becoming a designer has made me appreciate it even more.

My primary focus is on packaging design, as well as brand planning. I enjoy starting from scratch and gradually creating a unique identity for a product or brand.

I maintain a passion for life, continuously trying new things, and staying enthusiastic about design.

An excellent designer can better meet clients' needs, while a great designer can meet those needs and embody the value of design and art, achieving a balance between the two.

I believe the goal of design is very important. Whether it is addressing the product issues and market positioning provided by the client, achieving a balance between visual and commercial value through design, rather than just aesthetics.

Design is like an organizing process, where you work with the client to understand the personality and strengths and weaknesses of a brand or product. By reflecting this personality in the design, the target audience can quickly remember and understand it, maximizing the design’s impact.

I aspire to create my own packaging brand, testing marketing outcomes according to my own methods. Since packaging design is closely linked to marketing, I believe building a brand would be very interesting and help designers grow in their roles on the brand side.

I hope to work on comprehensive brand planning projects, including the visual aspects both inside and outside the store.

Due to family influences—both of my parents are pharmacists—they hoped I would pursue a career in the medical field. Consequently, I initially studied nursing and obtained a nursing license. However, I deeply felt that this was not the career I wanted. Therefore, I switched to studying design during my university years and discovered my passion for it. During my time in graduate school, I won numerous design awards, which further solidified my confidence that design is my true calling.

Tiger Mountain Design is my design company. I have over 8 years of design experience, with extensive expertise in packaging design. I once worked for a cookie gift company, where I had to create 20-30 gift boxes annually, including wooden boxes, tin boxes, paper boxes, and even fabric materials. If you have any related needs, feel free to discuss them with us.

For me, design is a method of organizing information. During the process, we refine the information, solve problems, and ultimately present it visually, showcasing the most complete and precise personality.

When I lack inspiration, I leave my computer and desk to do something unrelated to design. It could be watching a comedy show, a movie, or going to the gym. It may seem counterintuitive, but it actually helps my mind relax and makes it easier to come up with good ideas.

For packaging design, creating something from scratch typically takes about 2-3 months, depending on the complexity of the packaging. Besides the visual design, it also involves considering the product's size, weight, shape, and features. Throughout the process, we need to have back-and-forth discussions with the printing factory and the client to adjust the packaging format and the arrangement of the contents. This also includes testing during transportation. Therefore, packaging design projects generally require more time to be fully completed.

You can contact me through our company email at toradesign.tw@gmail.com.

And you can also visit my design website at www.toradesign.co.