Interview with Ce Zhong

I still remember when I was a middle school student I got my first auto magazine occasionally, the form and mechanical aesthetic of vehicle in that article impressed me a lot. Afterward, dedicating in design for a lifetime stimulates my work up to now. However, the transfer from designer to design researcher is what I am going to do from now on.

Yes. But now I choose to be a design researcher.

My design work ranges from home appliances to medical installation, railway transpiration, and public transportation. I do a lot of research during the process of design, which inspires me a lot to better inquire about some specific questions. As a result, I do better understand what kind of artifact I should design, who will be going to live with my created object, and how this kind of designed thing can better stay with people.

For a young designer. They should just ‘read’ a lot of design at first, especially classical design in work. The most important thing is that they should reflect on why these products become classic in the world? Why their form designed like this? Why they use that kind of material? How can they iterate the design by themselves according to the resources they have, e.g., material, manufacturing technique, design skill? And finally, what they should improve to achieve the goal they want.

The good designer can meet the satisfied of users and manufacturers. But a great designer should take their responsibility to the society to make our life much better.

A good design should meet the necessary design requirements such as aesthetics, function, safety, efficiency, etc. requirements. It can also stimulate the development of technology and society. We should put a specific product in the timeline of the technology and design development track.

The value of good design is it can make our everyday life easier. We should invest good design to boost the development of technology. Thus our everyday life may become more and more splendid.

I design for everyday practitioners who engage with everyday artifacts over time in the context of residence.

The next project would be the next project what I want to do most. I always dedicated all my vigor to my new design project.

This is a good question. I think hard working and work hard is the most important gene in my blood.

I think I know a lot form other along with my design career. They can be, for instance, designers who I am familiar, a researcher who is outstanding, friends who I am familiar with or stranger, etc.

I like a lot of designs in many different kinds of design fields and non-design fields. Both of them give me a lot of inspirations with which I renewal my design mind every day.

I still work in progress of my most excellent design. I always believe the next design of mine would be the best design because I try to dedicate all my renewed expertise in my work.

treat design as your lifetime career.

I do not know what I would have done. But I know I will work hard as well.

Design for me is a better way to understand how everyday artifacts situated in an environment where people engage with them, and how do these artifacts mediate the way people live in that specific context.

A lot of people help me in my design life. Such as my parents, supervisor, classmates, friends, etc.

hard working.

To understand what good design is. How to act as a principal investigator to conduct research through design.

the best way is deploying their work in use in a real environment.

I am going to conduct research focusing on computational artifact by focusing on the dynamic properties of texture.

To better understand how does the lived experience with artifacts regarding its different kinds of properties.

People are looking forward to the esteemed designer to make their life much more comfortable and better.

design help us design product, graphic, environment, community, and city, as well as out society. Everywhere needs design, design give us a lot of opportunities to

I enjoy the process of setting up a research project. Especially in the process of data collection, I can have an overview of either the data I gathered to answer the research question or not? How to figure out the problem and adjust the design or artifact?

hope the next project will be much better than all the previous projects.

hope the next project will be much better than all the previous projects.

in the upcoming artificial intelligence, internet of things, visual reality, and augmented reality, as well as significant data, etc. age.

All depends. For the research product, I will spend more than half year for each because I have to iterate the research product.

I am working on a research computational lamp by focusing on the dynamic properties of texture. The goal of this research is what is the characteristics of the dynamic texture of computational lamp in the context of interaction design and HCI research? How do these qualities can be perceived through the haptic and visual interaction with a digital lamp in the environment of everyday residence? I try to use research through design method to conduct this kind of research.

Less but more, and less than more.

It all depends. They both influence each other.

I often utilize new technology and new material in the new design projects. For instance, what I am going to is design a computational lamp which can be driven by microcontrollers with the application of conductive silicone. The aim of this research project is to investigate how to describe dynamic pattern expression of texture through a design of interactive lamp?

I have to read a lot of research papers at first, which is related the what kind of research what I am going to do. I do conduct design practice a lot by myself and work with my lab mates. We use Rhinos, Adobe suites, CNC, laser cutting, and 3D printing for sure.

they are like the ingredients of the food and clothes of people.

Critique of my design. Ask about what and how I design it out? What is the most challenge I met in the design, and how did I deal with that problem?

What can I learn from this design? Is there any aspects we can improve this design.

Critique of my design. Ask about what and how I design it out? What is the most challenge I met in the design, and how did I deal with that problem?

What can I learn from this design? Is there any aspects we can improve this design.

a lot of books give an insights of design such as “the design of everyday things”, “where the interaction is: embodied interaction, “make design theory”, “reflective practitioner”.

a lot of books give an insights of design such as “the design of everyday things”, “where the interaction is: embodied interaction, “make design theory”, “reflective practitioner”.

definitely, I want to talk with a lot of design legend such as Steve Jobs.

famous is not important. But make sure your design is most important things you should care everyday.

my favorite color is sky blue. I like walk along with the seashores when I am free. I enjoy the summer sunshine a lot.

I found that design do not need design. you just let it happen as people want.

in the morning, I always do read papers or articles which may contribute to my research and design work. In the afternoon, I will do design practice sometimes and teamwork as well. In the night, reading would be the best choice for me and I will have a reflection before sleep.

in the morning, I always do read papers or articles which may contribute to my research and design work. In the afternoon, I will do design practice sometimes and teamwork as well. In the night, reading would be the best choice for me and I will have a reflection before sleep.

I think the development of design is accompany with the improvement of people’s life. therefore, as we are going to living in a technology society and community in future, especially the development of artificial intelligence, internet of things, visual reality, and augmented reality, as well as big data etc. the design in the future will intersect with many other subjects, such as computer science, information science, and statistics, etc.

The everyday design studio, co-directed by Ron Wakkary and William Odom in the School of Interactive Arts and Technology (SIAT) at Simon Fraser University, is a design research studio focusing on exploring interaction design. Our research investigates the changing nature of interaction design in response to the increasing role technology plays in mediating everyday practices like DIY, amateur experts, reminiscence, self exploration, social connection, the making of home life, and so on.In the spirit of design research, we aim to be reflective and generative, uncovering new and emergent practices of design that help shape both design and its relation to technologies. We design new computational things and systems, and study them in the context of people’s everyday lives. We often also develop new methods for better supporting the practice of interaction design research. Our studio prides itself on a strong collaborative culture with a friendly, engaging, and highly creative atmosphere.

Design for me is a better way to understand how everyday artifacts situated in an environment where people engage with them, and how do these artifacts mediate the way people live in that specific context.

My design work ranges from home appliances to medical installation, railway transpiration, and public transportation. I do a lot of research during the process of design, which inspires me a lot to better inquire about some specific questions. As a result, I do better understand what kind of artifact I should design, who will go to live with my created object, and how this kind of designed thing can better stay with people.

Well, next plan should be my favorite design because I will iterate my expertise in real time during the process of design. Challenging myself is a habit I always keep to focusing on my new design project.

I still remember when I was a second-year design starter I worked out a humidifier for a design corporation. That was an amazing moment for me to experience the process of design.

I often utilize new technology and new material in the new design projects. For instance, what I am going to is design a computational lamp which can be driven by microcontrollers with the application of conductive silicone. The aim of this research project is to investigate how to describe dynamic pattern expression of texture through a design of interactive lamp?

When I am going to project I will meeting a bunch of challenges and problems. The process of dealing with these intractable things make me more productive.

I focus not only on what is the affordance of the sematic embody the product, but also investigate on how people interact with the product during process of use.

i feel both relax and conentrate. Because I enjoy the process of dealing with challenge problems.

I will concern whether the design meets the design rules, what I can improve at this stage.

I this the user is the best referee to evaluate whether a design is good or not. For a commercial product, we should not only concentrate on the sales volume of one product. but also see how this artifact push forward the development of technology or the lifestyle people live in the world.

There are a lot of elements I should concern, such as ergonomics, aesthetics, material use, functions in use, manufacturing and transportation costs, environmental friendly etc. But the most important concern at first is whether this design can be safely use.

For a commercial designer, they should persuade themselves to count society and environment in as one of the most important factor they need to achieve during the all process of design.

I think the development of design is accompany with the improvement of people’s life. therefore, as we are going to living in a technology society and community in future, especially the development of artificial intelligence, internet of things, visual reality, and augmented reality, as well as big data etc. the design in the future will intersect with many other subjects, such as computer science, information science, and statistics, etc.

My last exhibition was hold in Taiwan, where I did exchange study and research programs. I hope the next exhibition would be better in euro and North American.

I generate my inspirations in my everyday routines which deeply rooted in my everyday life. everything happened around me can be utilized as resources for design. But what is think the most important thing would be think about the connection of each resource and how these connections can I know form it to better deal with a specific problem.

I always use the simplest way to achieve the design result. In the processes of design, I always ask myself how do design the form of an artifact which may sale all over the world? how does the morphology of design can bring meaning during the process of use? All of these questions I will ask in advance when I design a product.

I am living in Vancouver, Canada now. Meet with different cultures help me think more about how does the culture affordance of a design should be? Design culture in a product may help me better understand what kind of experience users may generate when they use the artifact, but I may restrict the sale worldwide.

I will design for them more than they expected.

First, corporations should provide a breezily environment to designers where folks can stimulate they design and creativity potential. Second, rules and management system should be built to better organize designer community. Third, different development stage companies may hire different level designers with which organizations can achieve their different goals with less budget spend and best human resource utilize.

My design process is a dynamic balance between pros and cons.

Everything placed in my house give me inspirations a lot. I enjoy the experience to live with them every day.

In the morning, I always do read papers or articles which may contribute to my research and design work. In the afternoon, I will do design practice sometimes and teamwork as well. In the night, reading would be the best choice for me and I will have a reflection before sleep.

for a young designer. They should just ‘read’ a lot of design at first, especially classical design in the work. The most important thing is that they should reflect on why these products become classic in the world? why their form designed like this? why they use that kind of material? how can they iterate the design by themselves according the resources they have, e.g. material, manufacturing technique, design skill? and finally, what they should improve to achieve the goal they want.

always try to challenge yourself by setting higher goals. Always improve yourself by learning new things, always keep young state of mind whenever you are.

Less but more, and less than more.

design thinking and design research skill can not only contribute to the design work, but also enrich the mind of designers. To be a reflective designer in everyday life can help the grow of a designer.

I have to read a lot of research papers at first, which is relate the what kind of research what I am going to do. I do conduct design practice a lot by myself and/or work with my lab mates. We use Rhinos, Adobe suites, CNC, laser cutting, and 3D printing for sure.

my work schedule is not stable. I always adjust my time schedule according to dynamic work sessions. But I always work at night because I can concentrate on my working more with peaceful environment.

It all depends, but we always iterate research product over time. if we have renewal research questions we will going to adjust the design to meet the requirement of research. we try to embed knowledge in the research product and generate knowledge from the interaction with computational artifacts.

As a designer, I always ask myself is this edition if the best one that I can do. Are there any other ways that our team can work together to achieve a better result? How can be better improve the design of the computational things.

All of my job experiences contribute to what I am doing right now. For instance, I worked as a mechanical engineer, industrial/product designer, design researcher all enriched my mind to have more in-depth insights to better analysis specific questions and cooperate with others.

Everyday practitioners with different gender, age, cultural background, etc. would be our participants in our research.

I really enjoy the process of set up a research project. Especially in the process of data collection, I can have an overview of either the data I gathered answer the research question or not? How to figure out the problem and adjust the design or artifact?

My future plan is dedicated in design research for sure. The next and recent thing is finish a research project.

yes, I work with a design research team which is named Everyday Design Studio at Simon Fraser University, Canada.

I am working on a research computational lamp by focusing on the dynamic properties of texture. The goal of this research is what is the characteristics of dynamic texture of computational lamp in the context of interaction design and HCI research? How does these qualities can be perceived through the haptic and visual interaction with digital lamp in the environment of everyday residence? I try to use a research through design method to conduct this kind of research.

e-mail: zhongcez@sfu.ca