Interview with Khoi Tran Nguyen Bao

I chose to become a designer because of my childhood interest in drawing. After graduating from high school, I began to study art professionally at a college and later studied design at university. Emotion spring up when I look at something cool and wonder if I could create such things, drove me to be a designer. The desire to create something interesting, useful is my originally motivation for me to follow this profession.

I think in any field of artistic creation, there should be a central theme that drives your mind and emotions during the working process. When I design, I try to come up with as many options as possible, draw my thoughts quickly with a pencil. I do not try to use digital tools to express perfectly sketches. What I and my clients want is the design renderings created by the 2d or 3d softwares are done in a short time; if something is selected, we will correct the problems as required and complete on computer. Mock up also physical models are built for the most intuitive evaluation. I approach a new project through intermediary.

Feeling of freedom and a bit of challenge are the emotions I get when design a product or project. I think every phase of the design has its own unique vibe. Like when you travel to a foreign land, there is ambiguity, excitement, sometimes a bit of disappointment and hope again..But overall you always have to be optimistic and feel everything exciting despite difficulties to complete the journey. Being in dialogue with myself is what I like most when focus designing. The design process also helps me speak my mind and learn a lot through debate. Sense of happiness is created when I am more mature in my career.

I think some of them are presentation skill, quick reflexes, analysis and observation. They are important because they help me understand people's psychology and communicate with them better. Karl Lagerfeld is one of my biggest idols, I love his creativity and persistent energy. My design journey has been quite stable, I am happy because of some accomplishments that I had dreamed have made, but I realize it takes a lot more effort.

To free my thoughts. My interest in drawing from childhood has led me to design profession.

Previously, I used to design industrial products such as: transport, lighting, home appliances, pedicure spa..Now, I want to focus on furniture field.

Hard working, listening, keep optimism.

Based on how people perceive and position their products. A good designer brings a good product, a great designer brings a story, I think so.

A really good design: No need to change anything anymore.. I evaluate a good design depends on customer satisfaction.

That is the benefit it brings to its users. Everyone invest in good design because of its potential, a good design goes a long way.

For those I find interesting.

It is ahead. But I don't think too much about it, I try my best in any project I design, always remember the achievements.

Thinking coherently, persistence, work hard, read a lot. view a lot, always find opportunities.

I learn quiet many from design myths from fashion to product design, architecture and interior. I admire the constant working of Karl Lagerfeld, the utmost sophistication in his design; the crazy of John Galliano. Quasar Khanh, Philippe Starck, Karim Rhasid, Zaha Hadid..are also legends that their freedom in creativity, the mixing of science and artistic inspired me.

I like Louis Ghost Chair of Philippe Starck, B306 of Le Corbusier's studio, The Animal Chair by Máximo Riera..They teach me how a beautiful structure, the unique thinking about using material, shapes..

That is the Nervure Chair in cast alluminum furniture line of Quasar Khanh. It is a love poem, a perfect simulation from nature with beautiful lines and superb craftmanship.

Practive.

I will open a small bookstore, serving coffee too.

Design is a game of thinking. You do not want someome to give you a complete set of instructions from start to end like the installation guide of a Ikea's table.

My family. I love them.

I think I am not a great designer yet. What helps me improve is effort and curiousity.

There are always obstacles on your way such as getting used to new technologies, skills and things in life that govern your work. Thinking that you are already a design master will be a burden to the creative process. Be carefree like the kids.

Talk less, do more. Try to show the best possible.

That is still furniture. The wood processing and furniture manufacturing industry in Vietnam is growing fast and stably. So designers like us have a lot of work to do. I am working hard to introduce better products in the future.

Is to contribute to making life more meaningful in my own way.

What will the world look like?

The starting point of the design is the problem. The more well-solved problems, the better society is.

The furniture items really suit the people, climate and culture of Vietnam.

These are things that I feel are more special than anything I have designed, and they also get good feedback from clients. Mekong Writing Desk is the project I am most proud of ever. It makes the dream "A' Design Award& Competition" come true.

Minimize pollution to the environment, especially water sources. Every product that is no longer in use is completely recyclable. I wish one day, a commodity would be discharged. a tree would be planted.

Inventions in technology and materials.

It depends on the size of the project.

Doing projects is my daily work.

Don't rush, calm down and enjoy. Don't turn yourself nto a printer.

A trend can originate from any event, sometimes it is accidental.

Suggestions.

The softwares support 2D graphics and 3D modelling.

That is the ingredients to make a delicious cake.

I like detailed questions, especially prices. (laugh)

Its designer is admirable.

Who support my limitations. I believe, as long as the specific work of each person clearly defined.

People with objective thoughts.

There are some books I love that affect me. "What is product design?" by Laura Slack, "Bauhaus" by Magdalena Droste..are examples.

Always learning. Observing, analyzing and drawing should be a habit.

Karl Lagerfeld.

I appreciate the achievements I had. I do not think much about the famous because the world is moving so fast and there is a lot to do.

Color: Emerald Green. Place: Saigon. Food: banh mi (Vietnamese Baguette). Season: Winter. Thing: LC4 Chair. Brand: Cassina.

In 2014, I displayed an outdoor relaxing chair, its shape resembles a Vietnamese national musical instrument. People were afraid and did not want to try until I sat comfortably, they laughed a lot.

That is thinking about pre-bed ideas and wanting the morning comes quickly to draw those ideas. The desire to create something new or improve my skills are the ways I motivate myself.

When I was a child, the internet wasn't quite as developed as it is now. I realized that I was able to draw and just care for those premitive works. As I get older with more information, I define what a designer is like and learn to be a designer. But with the title of great designer, instead of always thinking that sweetness, I try to do jobs better yesterday and make the right decisions.

The future will be very difficult. People are more and more afraid climate change. They are also too fed up with the huge amount of waste that is released every day. In a hundred years, I see a dark grey color filled with garbage, human greed and impasse. But I also see a green color when people know enough, realizing that luxury matter is not as valuable as napping under green trees. Nature will be harsher but human will adapt. Each product produced will be assessed as rigorously as possible and environmental protection values are higher than the cost.

I wish when they travel to Vietnam, see the peaceful countryside along the Mekong River, they will remember my "wooden boat", of a designer who constantly strives to make better works.

At present, I do not own a company or a design studio. I am working full time for a big Vietnamese furniture brand.

For me, "design" is the way to solve a problem.

I like product design most, especially designs that need their own personality.

There are a few projects I have designed that make me more satisfied than others, a white massage chair designed for the US market is an example. It has furturistic style. It received good feedback from manufacturer and customer.

It's an outdoor furniture collection I designed when I was a student. It gave me a first trip abroad, expanding my design mindset.

I love wood, glossy metal, eco- friendly materials...

When I am optimistic.

Impressive first look, novel details and usability of the product .

The excitement and a bit of a rush. I try to catch emotions as quickly as possible.

So very happy.

The value it gives to life.

I consider first whether its appearance and functions are suitable for design purpose? Could it bring satisfaction to user?; and its commerciality.

Those are questions that must be given frequently: how to meet customer expectations for products, but the production process is limited in harm to the environment.

I think the "design field" is evolving in a way that is closer to the needs of people than ever before. It increasingly understand the psychology and problems of consumers. The future of design is smart products, more friendly to the environment.

It was 2 years ago at the international fair Vifa Home 2018 in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Whether or not my next exhibition will happen depends on whether I can create good designs anymore.

They come from the interesting things I suddenly discovered in life. Reading, drawing, art research; having fun with everyone is how I feed my creativity. My sources of inspirations are curiosity, like to make things different.

My design style is aimed at modernity, keeping things as simple but efficient as possible. I like the quote "Less is more". Main characteristics of my style is to combine smooth and coherent lines, eliminating the extra details. My approach to design comes from observing contemporary problems in life and the market research.

I live in Ho Chi Minh city, Vietnam. The heritage in my country is not in grandiose architecture or lavish festivals..that is a harmonious combination of cultures living together on an S-shaped territory. I want to incorporate those specific characteristics into meaningful designs. The pros during designing as a result of living in each country is that brings uniqueness to the work and the cons is that I can not leave those features intact, I have to adjust to fit the general design trend in the world.

I work full time.

Let designers try their best, don't put too many restrictions in the beginning, do not too urge them. And most importantly, encourage them. I am not sure how can companies select a good designer, as long as good designers match their needs.

It is like the design process of other designers: Read carefully the design requirements, refer to the new design trends, express ideas by hand sketches or computer. Continuous exchange with customers and technicians, make prototype until the production process is formed and running.

I use furniture and decoration designed by myself at home. They're not perfect yet, but I love them: a lounge chair, bookshelf, a bench, working desk and a tea set.

I wake up at 4 a.m. to go to work. Busy goes with me until 4 p.m. A "ca phe da" (Vietnamese traditional coffee) cup on the sidewalk brings to me a little relaxtion after work then going back home to cook dinner. Before sleep, I spend my time on private projects, research or reading.

Hard working, listening and keep the optimism.

Positives: Have wide knowledge base from culture to technology, an interesting personality.
Negative: Sometimes the work will follow into sleep.

That's the golden ratio application by my way.

Independent thinking and communication skills.

I use some software as Rhinoceros, Photoshop, Illustrator, Auto Cad..for work.
I collect books about art and technology, sometimes they are sources of my inspiration.

I prioritize what can be done first.

It depends on the size of the project.

"Can I see it sooner?" (lol)

Every environment I work in, every project I get gives me different experiences, so it's hard to say which is the most important.

They are manufacturing businesses that need to buy external designs for their plans.

Product design. Because through each project, I learn more lots of knowledge from materials, technology..to human psychology.

I still work in furniture industry and expanding the design scope. The next is a new furniture collection that is reminiscent of Saigon old time.

In daily work, I work as team. For individual projects, I develope my designs myself.

Yes, I'm designing a furniture collection based on "Mekong" idea.

They can contact me by my email: khoitran5490@gmail.com. I thank for all attention.

These questions are enough and OK.