Interview with Yong Cao

Passion drives my design work—I love using design to transform everyday objects and environments around us.

I consciously chose the profession of designer and take great pride in this path.

I have designed numerous brand identities and products, and I look forward to exploring more types of design that I haven't yet experienced.

Adhere to independent thinking, maintain an original heart, and hold design in reverence.

Good designers provide visual enjoyment, while great designers offer solace to the soul.

It is the resonance from users or readers that elevates a good design to a truly great one. Great designs always bring me inspiration.

The value of good design is a reflection of human progress—it represents the evolving integration of technology and art, shaping the course of human civilization.

I enjoy designing playful, practical, and interesting small products tailored for hard-working young professionals.

There are countless examples in daily life—so many products that are awkward or inefficient to use. I'm always eager to redesign and improve them.

Start from the essence of the problem, identify solutions, and complement them with aesthetic design.

There are many. Rather than being inspired by design masters or legendary figures, I find greater inspiration in the great designs themselves.

I love Philippe Starck's Juicy Salif alien-inspired lemon squeezer—it's functional, visually striking, and full of imagination.

I believe it's the TreSound mini speaker—it's practical, aesthetically pleasing, and full of imagination.

Try to understand great designs and learn about the creative processes behind them—this will help you develop a thought process similar to that of master designers.

I suppose I should paint—it brings me a sense of tranquility, and I enjoy thinking quietly.

Design is a form of transformation—it alters product forms, enhances functional experiences, and reshapes industries and markets. Practical and aesthetically pleasing designs are what resonate with me.

My clients and partners have collaborated with me to bring numerous designs to life, and my family has been my greatest source of support.

Sensitivity to market trends and meticulous attention to detail have been invaluable assets in my work.

Obstacles have always existed—whether from within myself, clients, or technical challenges.

Actively participate in various design competitions and actively share on social media platforms.

I am currently designing a set of retro music player products, comprising a combination of three players: vinyl, CD, and cassette.

Using products I designed myself.

I aspire to create more products that are practical, aesthetically pleasing, and full of imagination.

Design is the fusion of technology and art, where advancements in both fields contribute to building a better society.

I'm currently working on a design and feel particularly excited.

I am most satisfied with the product design of the TreSound series Bluetooth speakers from the TRETTITRE brand because they are practical, aesthetically pleasing, and full of imagination.

I hope to see how advancements in technology, along with the emergence of new materials and techniques, are influencing transformative changes in design.

I believe the field of design will have broader development directions in the era of AI, breaking through conventional thinking.

The time required to complete a design project depends on its content. Typically, a design solution can be finished within one to three months.

I start from the purpose of the design project, integrate the project background and industry context, and put myself in the roles of both the client and the user to conceptualize the design solution.

Slow and steady wins the race.

I believe there is no leading relationship between design and trends; rather, they occur simultaneously and complement each other.

It can help me achieve the desired effect.

The most frequently used software in my work is Illustrator, and the device is a Mac.

Color, materials, and environment play an extremely important role in design, equivalent to the skeleton and skin that help bring the core of the design to life.

I hope people will ask, "Is it expensive?"—because that indicates the practical or emotional value of the design has surpassed its actual cost.

I will try to think like the designer behind this great work, seeking to understand their thought process.

I believe in co-design, and my clients are my ideal design partners.

Interactions with design peers, clients, material and manufacturing suppliers, consumers, and others all influence my design work.

Plane composition, color composition, three-dimensional composition.

Agile design thinking.

I don't know, I haven't thought it through yet.

I was very happy the moment I learned about winning the award—it meant my work was recognized by professional judges in the industry.

I like the color green, Shenzhen, hot pot, spring, and apples.

Come to think of it, as a designer—though this profession is often mentioned or seems familiar—many people don't truly understand the specific scope of our work. Moreover, since design spans so many different fields, explaining what I do always turns out to be quite complicated. That's why I almost dread being asked, "What do you do for a living?" and especially, "What exactly does that mean?"

My unwavering passion for design is a key reason why I have fulfilling days. I don't need external motivation—the desire to create outstanding design work is motivation in itself.

Perhaps that's the case. Having a self-regulated grasp of the things and objects around me might just be the budding stage of design thinking.

The future may also be the past—it's hard to imagine. Live in the present.

For more information, please visit https://wildgrass.design

Wild Grass Design is my personal design studio, and I have also joined TRETTITRE as the Design Director.

Design is about proposing methods and solving problems. It seeks a balance between functional application and aesthetic expression, embodying the integration of rationality and sensibility.

I appreciate cleverly designed works—it's truly fascinating to glimpse the designer's thought process behind a piece.

I have an appreciation for almost all categories of design—branding, product, space, animation, and more.

First, understand the growth story of this company.

My favorite materials are wood, stone, and metal.

I tend to reflect deeply when I'm alone, and new ideas often emerge unexpectedly during the creative process.

The purpose of design, along with functionality and practicality, are the aspects I focus on most.

When I begin a design, my mind is calm and thoughts flow gently. As the work nears completion, I feel excitement, though sometimes anxiety creeps in as well.

When my design comes to life, it brings a sense of ease and enjoyment—I find myself revisiting and appreciating it repeatedly.

Good ideas, sound methods, and excellent execution.

Ingenuity, rationality, stability, and aesthetic quality are the criteria I use to evaluate design.

To provide society with aesthetically pleasing and functional products, and to promote the healthy cycle of the ecological environment.

The field of design has evolved alongside humanity's transition from mere survival to living with purpose. The future of design is, in essence, the future of humanity.

The last exhibition was in 2024, in Shenzhen. The next one is likely to be in 2026, in Hong Kong.

The inspiration for my work comes from my perception of life. Interests and needs spark creativity, and my ideas are born from daily accumulation.

My design style is minimalist and practical. "Striking right at the heart of the matter" is my preferred approach, which is why I use the simplest design language to interpret my work.

I live in Shenzhen, a UNESCO City of Design, where I have access to cutting-edge technological trends and the latest fashion information.

Collaborations take various forms, depending on the nature of the project.

It is advisable for companies to evaluate designers based on their design style and industry recognition to find the right fit for collaboration.

Before starting a design, I first seek to understand user needs, industry trends, and market dynamics. Identifying solutions to problems is at the core of my design process.

Tesla model Y, Airpods, dyson Pencilvac, Sonos Speaker, SONY TV

On August 22, 2016, my lovely daughter was born. Her arrival has inspired me to place greater emphasis on care and humanity in my designs.

Stay true to your ideas, tirelessly explore various fields, and immerse yourself in the experience of design. Take it slow—sometimes, that’s the fastest way forward.

The positive aspect lies in maintaining an optimistic attitude toward life—designers should, by nature, cherish living. On the flip side, they may encounter various challenges, but these are precisely what designers ought to face and resolve.

Listen — Observe — Think — Observe — Listen. Repeating this cycle is my guiding principle.

Observation and reflection are essential skills for a designer.

Pen and paper are my primary design tools—everything starts with a draft. Once the design direction is clear, I transition to the computer, using Adobe Illustrator to refine the sketches and develop the details.

I usually begin the actual design work only after thorough deliberation, which means a significant portion of my time is dedicated to the preliminary thinking process.

A design solution might come together quickly—sometimes in a day or two, other times in a week or two. However, achieving mass production involves a much longer cycle, influenced by numerous complex factors.

Where does your inspiration come from?

Every project I have undertaken has been a valuable professional experience, with each one contributing to my growth.

My initial clients came through personal connections, and later, through referrals from those clients.

I particularly enjoy working on culturally oriented design projects, as they involve fewer commercial constraints and allow creativity to flow more freely.

I don't have a concrete future plan—I'll continue doing design work, and I'm truly content with that.

Some projects are developed independently, while others involve teamwork—it all depends on the nature and requirements of the project.

I'm currently designing a set of retro music players, featuring a combination of vinyl, CD, and cassette players—a trio of devices bundled together.

You can reach me via email at grasscao@foxmail.com.