Interview with Xia Ke

Initially, driven by work, I aimed to perfect the designs I created. Eventually, it became a habit, and I started to enjoy the process.

My dream was to become an artist. However, due to the need to find a job, I was compelled to enter the design industry.

During my 30 - year design career, I focused more on graphic design in the first decade. In the subsequent 20 years, I developed an interest in architecture, conducted in - depth research, and gradually began to engage in the design and development of industrial parks.

As long as you find the right path, you needn't fear a long journey.

An excellent designer has good expressiveness, while a great designer possesses creativity.

A good design has depth and can be understood by users. Meanwhile, commercial design needs to achieve commercial conversion, rather than being just a simple visual display.

Good design can bring spiritual pleasure to people and trigger emotional resonance. The original intention of design is to make things more beautiful. When all things develop towards beauty, our world will become a better place.

I will design an art gallery for myself, where I'll display my works of ink painting, calligraphy, packaging, and architecture.

I want to own a design art gallery of my own.

Learn, research, fall in love, and persevere.

In packaging design, I love all the outstanding packaging designs around the world. In architectural design, I'm particularly fond of Antonio Gaudi, Le Corbusier, Jørn Utzon, Frank Owen Gehry, and Heatherwick.

For example, Antonio Gaudi's Sagrada Familia and Casa Milà.

According to general standards, the design of Zhangren Workshop (Daoist rice crispy candy) is quite successful. From "hair standing on end in anger" to "bearing the aura of an immortal", it uses the wrapping of a piece of paper to metaphorize the process of a person's spiritual cultivation and transformation.

Maintain long - term learning and practical abilities.

An artist

Design is a creative job that can add value in terms of functionality, visual appeal, emotional impact, premium pricing, and overall performance.

Life (responsibility to the family, responsibility as a boss).

Love for innovation and unique thinking.

I adhere to my original creative ideas, but unexpectedly, they are similar to the so - called international styles recognized by the public, which makes me less understood. If I always stick to the Chinese style, people may say it's not fashionable just because there are no English elements, perhaps due to the lack of cultural confidence in the past.

Find a good platform and channels to actively promote myself.

Create my own product brand through my creativity and turn it into a listed company.

When I gain others' recognition, I can also learn to tolerate and understand the world.

People always expect me to deliver excellent works while offering me the lowest possible fees.

Designers should maintain a positive attitude towards life, which in turn helps create a better society.

I am currently designing a super IP factory for a global brand's integrated rural industry development model.

In terms of architectural design, we're quite satisfied with the design of the Yinhongzishu·Wolfberry Manor. It's a large - scale project that came after 15 years of continuous collaboration between my partner, Teacher Tang, and me.
As for brand design, we're also very pleased with the packaging design of Zhangfei Beef. This design has accompanied the brand for 20 years.
All of these are things that we hold very dear.

I hope all designers don't blindly worry about the arrival of AI. Instead, use it as a tool. What we should really think about is whether our thinking and creativity can keep up with the times.

Design should be more user - centered and human - oriented. For example, we should pay attention to the daily lives and dietary habits of the elderly, as well as the mental health of children.

It takes about 20 days to complete a single - item design project. For large - scale projects, the time can range from three months to three years.

When taking on a new project, one should immerse themselves in the project's actual requirements to gain a real - life understanding.

As long as you find the right path, you needn't fear a long journey.

Design leads the trends. Trends are created by design.

Technology can present our creative ideas in a more astonishing and perfect way.

Apple computers, photoshop and AI.

Colors can shape the environment, and materials can enhance the texture of the environment. Conversely, the environment can also influence colors and co - exist with materials.

To ask some questions related to creative thinking.

Can I achieve even greater heights?

An ideal design partner is someone who can fully understand your expressions and respects each other.

Great clients and fellow professionals have really affected my designs a lot.

Biographies and documentaries.

Keep studying everything that feels new to you.

kebuxiye and Gaudi.

It's easy to win awards, hard to be famous, but not necessarily famous.

Red and black, Nice in France,potatoes and Sweet potatoes, autumn, daydreaming, Issey Miyake.

Once when a client asked me a question about architecture, I turned an ashtray upside down and said to the client, "If you scale this up 500 times, it will be a very beautiful building." Since then, we've started a 20 - year - long cooperation.

Set a consistent schedule for your hobbies, such as writing, making friends, painting, or design.

No. When I was a child, I knew I liked painting and thought my future might be related to it.

I believe that 1000 years later, I'll definitely remember the situation of my reincarnation.

Our company was established in 2012 and has gone through three stages of development. The first stage was a seven - year survival period. In the second stage, we spent ten years researching consumer psychology to create designs that are more in tune with people and the market. In the third stage, we have been deeply involved in the food industry chain, covering aspects from packaging, consumer psychology to industrial parks.

Design should not be an art form that exists solely for the sake of form, nor should it be standardized. Design is closely related to art. It stems from life, surpasses life, and serves life.

I like to design works that can showcase historical heritage, such as special local products featuring intangible cultural heritage craftsmanship.

I love the works of masters like Le Corbusier and Jørn Utzon. They incorporate their life experiences and inspirations into their designs, establishing a strong connection with nature.

Design serves people. First, we need to understand what our customer groups need and what kind of design is user - friendly to them and can bring emotional value to them. Then, we can create value for clients.

I'm fond of using natural materials. For example, in architectural design, I often use local stones, soil, etc., and draw inspiration from their shapes or colors.

When I visit a place I love and have been longing for or take a walk around the market to see various products, I'll get inspiration for creation.

During the design process, I pay more attention to the cultural connotations and emotional value that design can bring to people.

I'll be in a real quandary when facing difficulties in design, but I'll feel extremely exhilarated after coming up with a satisfactory design.

Once the design in my mind is realized, I'll earnestly hope that it can be liked and adopted by more people.

Maintaining enthusiasm for life all the time is the secret to my success.

To evaluate the quality of a design, one should consider its cultural, usability, and communicative attributes.

Passion for continuous innovation and curiosity about life.

In the future, we've got to have more designs that put people first and look out for environmental sustainability.

The last design exhibition was held on the Winter Solstice in 2023 at an ancient guild hall in Chengdu with a history of 300 years. I hope to hold my own design and art exhibitions every two to three years in the future.

My life experiences, along with my constant observation of things and curiosity, can all stimulate my creativity and bring me inspiration for creation.

My design style is a Chinese aesthetic style that combines cultural attributes with modern aesthetics. I adopt a design approach that flexibly refines Chinese culture and integrates it with international elements.

I live in Chengdu, China. The comfortable living environment, the relaxed design atmosphere, the rich accumulation of cultural heritage, and the modern urban trends here all have a profound impact on my creation.

As designers, our cooperation with companies mainly focuses on the technical level, and we contribute the core ideas.

Enterprises should choose designers who have design experience, profound thinking, market sensitivity, and the ability to accurately identify and solve problems.

At the beginning of creating a design, one should first search for past classic cases in their mind. After in - depth thinking, transform them into convertible sketches. Then, combine them with market practicality for a transformative design.

My favorite design items: A wooden and fabric - combined sofa from HC28 under the Louis Vuitton brand more than a decade ago; A piano - lacquered stool designed by Masayuki Kurokawa; A full - moon - shaped sideboard designed by Lu Zhirong; The Book Mountain Cabinet from my own designed "Wunong: Mountains and the Ordinary" series; A storage box designed by Zaha Hadid in a cross - field project.

Every time I hold a personal design art exhibition, I will showcase my accumulated works over the years. This is not only a comprehensive review and summary of my creative journey but also a precious opportunity to share my creative insights with friends. I will introduce to my friends in detail the background and process of creating each piece. When I see the joy and approval on their faces as they appreciate the works, I feel deeply gratified.

For designers, it's of utmost importance to have enthusiasm for life, stay true to their original aspirations, and avoid being impetuous. Just as water dripping can pierce through stone, for designers, like doctors, "clinical practice" is the best way to accumulate experience.

On the positive side, designers can truly create value for clients and enhance the aesthetic level of society, making our lives more beautiful. On the negative side, designers need to communicate with the public while also insisting on their own opinions due to their professional self - restraint. They may find it difficult when these two aspects collide.

The "golden rules" in design are culture, differentiation, and creative aesthetics.

It is important for designers to learn to observe things and have hands-on skills.

The most frequently used resource in my toolbox is books. Additionally, I also follow some design bloggers.

Passion is the best time manager.

The time it takes for a design to go from concept to implementation can range from a week to a year. Take architecture as an example.

"Why did you design it this way?"

One of my important experiences was heading to universities to tell students about my life and creative experiences.

My clients include designs for local specialties, daily necessities, and home decor.

I love architectural design the most. A well - designed building can last forever, and it requires the most comprehensive set of skills.

Next, I hope to have time to return to my calligraphy art.

I have a team

It's not convenient to talk about it.

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