Designer Interview
26 Froen
I'm a Jewelry/Metal art student in California College of the Arts for almost four years, I chose this major because of my family background but later on, I found my real passion in jewelry, especially in art jewelry.
Could you please tell us more about your art and design background? What made you become an artist/designer? Have you always wanted to be a designer?
I'm a Jewelry/Metal art student in California College of the Arts for almost four years, I chose this major because of my family background but later on, I found my real passion in jewelry, especially in art jewelry. And my college has a very versatile and artistic vibe that helped me developed my own aesthetic preference.
Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
I'm currently a student and I'm thinking about having my own studio in the future if possible. But I also don't mind working for companies.
What is "design" for you?
Design is what links innovation and function.
What kinds of works do you like designing most?
I like stuff with volumes and dimensions. I'm obsessed with geometric shapes and abstract expressionism.
What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
Rene Lalique is my favorite artist, all of his work are amazingly designed, he's a glass designer as well as jewelry designer. His "Dragonfly" brooch is the one I love the most.
What was the first thing you designed for a company?
It was a school project, I made a custom design for my classmate. It was a bamboo shaped silver ring with a emerald cabochon on it.
What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
My favorite material is 14K gold and silver.
When do you feel the most creative?
Random things happened in life would sometimes inspire me.
Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
The visual effect and its functionality.
What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
My design always comes during the time of making. I have to keep working and let the design kick in.
What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
I feel pretty satisfied when a design managed to come through.
What makes a design successful?
Its balance between functionality and artistic quality.
When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
Its artistic quality.
From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
For me as a jewelry designer, I think my responsibility is to create pieces that connects and communicate with people.
How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
I think the future of design must be very technology-based.
When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
My last exhibition "Grasping the Absent" was held in Oakland, California.
Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
Mostly from architecture and literatures I read. I also take inspirations from my personal experiences and emotions.
How would you describe your design style? What made you explore more this style and what are the main characteristics of your style? What's your approach to design?
I would say my works are more like art jewelry, which emphasizes creative expression instead of its wearability. I enjoy the process of exploring different materials and possibilities. My work often looks very abstract and has a lot of dimension, most of the time I would incorporate geometric shapes in my design.
Where do you live? Do you feel the cultural heritage of your country affects your designs? What are the pros and cons during designing as a result of living in your country?
I'm originally from China, now I live in California, San Francisco Bay Area has a very high cultural diversity and artistic vibe that I gravitate toward.
How do you work with companies?
Most of the time I do personalized handmade jewelry for customers.
What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
The creativity and passion of a designer are the most important things.
Can you talk a little about your design process?
Normally, I don't have a finished results of a product before I started working, most of the design came during the process of making.
What is your "golden rule" in design?
Its artistic quality.
What skills are most important for a designer?
Step outside of the bubble.
Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
I develop my designs myself.
How can people contact you?
My email : luyisunjewelry@gmail.com
