Interview with Ke Zheng

BareBag is created to empower people to do more with their hands. Before I founded BareBag, I had a bike accident that broke my left arm. The inconvenience of doing every tasks with one hand inspired me to create a product that could take over the dumb labor for your hand. BareBag is about promoting independence and inclusiveness. It aims to solve the common problem of busy hands for all people.

To me, solving problem is the basis of design, and inspiring people is the true value of design.

I often ask myself “why we’ve been choosing x to solve the problem y?”,”What are the revolutionary designs in the history of x?” In finding the core demands of problem y and exploring new possible solution, I feel fascinated.

My favorite design is the Christian cross, not because the religious part of it, but because of its minimal solution of communication and connection.

My first design that commercially launched was Miror Light for Miror. It is an ambient lamp that projects 3D dynamic color flows onto a wall, creating touching, natural atmosphere for your space.

My favorite technology is 3D printing. It revolutionized my way of designing and make the process of design a lot more efficient and straightforward.

I feel most creative when I’m in shower, alone.

I tend to focus on the physical user experience more than anything else. I prototype a lot, so I can understand the detail experiences by touching the prototypes.

I feel excited, empathetic when designing.

When my designs are realized, other than proud, I am also a little bit anxious looking for the next problem to solve.

In my opinion, a design could be commercially successful, impactful successful, or both. But fundamentally, a design has to be understandable with a touching, unique, effective solution.

I would consider the innovative part of it. Is it unique? Is it novel? Is it effective?

Designers need to understand the life cycle of their designs in order to create with environmental responsibility.

The labor part is hopefully going to be taken by AI, things like modeling and rendering. The future designers need to be more aware of the society and the most contemporary technology in order to innovate.

I have not exhibit at any event yet. If possible, I really want to experience exhibiting at Salone del Mobile in Milan next year.

My design inspiration comes from observation. Constantly ask questions about the problems and solutions around life.

My design style is influenced by math, physics and nature, I tend to find a mathematically elegant approach when executing the details.

I live in both Brooklyn, NY and Guangzhou, China. The urban atmosphere definitely affected my observation.

I usually work remotely with my colleagues.

I suggest companies should very constantly communicate with the designer to maximize the efficiency of communication because insights often come during inspiring conversations. Selecting a good designer for the project, the company should understand not only the skill sets of the designer but also focus on the designer’s innovative nature through the interview.

I often start my design with a problem analysis, with an in depth understanding of the market user group. Then I tend to prototype a mockup to experience my hypothesis for the solution. The design evolves through a long prototyping/testing process, experimenting different materials forms, feedbacks, and so on.

The tissue box hung upside down in my kitchen. The ceiling light that’s also a fan with smart home control. My Bambu Lab 3D printer. Robot vacuum. My BenQ screen bar.

Every day is a significantly different day for me.

Also being a Yung designer myself I think it is very important to keep inspired, keep observing, and keep asking questions.

I think the gift of being a designer is to have the opportunity to create and innovative for the world. The downside, however, of being a designer is probably worrying about 1 million things yet you can only accomplish one or two.

Fail fast, learn faster.

Storytelling

My favorite tools are my 3-D printer and my sewing machine as I’m always prototyping.

Draw less, model less, talk more, make more, think more.

Depending on the scale of the project, A design can take from three weeks to three years in my experience.

Do people really need this?

Starting my own business expanded my view of the industry and everything.

currently my key clients are the disabled group of people which were also my target users. Previously, I’ve worked with clients like Leica Biosystems, BOSCH, Midea Group, and CDN Lighting.

I enjoy the time of having meaningful conversations with my colleagues about the detail execution of the products, how could it help people, and the overall big concept of the story.

I’m starting my own studio BareBag designing urban accessories aiming to solve the common problem of busy hands.

I love working as a team. Because we can always inspire each other and learn from each other, which makes our products better than anyone could design.

Yes, we have been designing the signature product for our company BareBag. With this cross body bag, we aim to solve the common problem of busy hands. BareBag is integrated with a beautiful, minimal carrying system. We hope it could empower people to do more with their hands, other than carrying weights.

My email address is johnsparkzk@gmail.com but also feel free to DM me on instagram @id.zheng