Chao Yang

Specialized in Design.

Chao Yang

About Chao Yang

Associate Professor in Visual Communication Design, Graphic Designer. Winner of the 2013 DAAD Artists Scholarship (from German Government), the only Chinese artist who was honored this scholarship by the DAAD evaluation committee from Bonn, Germany, in 2013. Delivered the theme lecture “China Says, Graphic - Visual Language” at the international symposium “Social Science and Culture Studies” organized by DAAD at Martin-Luther-Universitat Halle-Wittenberg, Germany, in May 2014. Visiting Researcher at Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture, 2015 Visiting Scholar to Braunschweig University of Art, Germany, from 2013 to 2014; International Judge for the Visual Communication Design Category of the 2015 Italian A’ Design Award and Competition; member of The International Council of Graphic Design (ico-D); member of The Art Directors Club New York, USA (NY ADC); national Committee Member of the Packaging Design Association of China; organizer of the overseas issues for the AGDIE Asian International Graphic Design Exhibition – Invitational. Winner of the Italian A’ Design Award and Competition Golden Prize, Germany Red dot Concept Design Award, Los Angeles the International Design Awards (IDA) Golden Prize and Silver Prize, China International Advertising Festival Golden Prize, China Star Design Art Award Golden Prize, China Packaging Design Contest Golden Prize, and other international and Chinese design competitions.

  • Winner of the A' Design Award.
  • Specialized in Design.
  • Original Design.
  • Creative, Diligent and Innovative.
  • All Designs

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Interview with Chao Yang

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 studied design in my bachelor and master, because I like design and art. After graduation, I worked in Jingdezhen Ceramic Institute, as a design teacher. Jingdezhen is an art city because of ceramic. I also have a design studio in Jingdezhen. I like to use Chinese culture and art into my design works. I will always be the designer.
Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
In my design studio, we have less than 10 people, it has some students, and my partner. There are a few members in different cities and countries now. But we can work together to complete the design works. Every year, we have projects from various cities in China.
What is "design" for you?
Design is my job, Design is also a part of my life, design is my thoughts express.
What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
I prefer concept design and culture design, because it is self-expression designer ideas, the creative process is like an art work. It will not be bound by our customers and markets.
What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
Printed on handmade paper and the original ecological fabric or recycled paper craft.
What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
Sometimes very passionate, very inspired. Sometimes a lack of inspiration. Design need to accumulate, you need to stop to find and solve problems.
What makes a design successful?
First, you need to understand the market demand, understanding of customer needs. Second, you need to find the problem, targeted to solve the problem. Third, the need for good design work reflects the functionality and beauty.
When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
First, the function. Check out this design does not solve the problem. Second, the beauty. See if it looks better.
From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
1. Designers have a responsibility to help enterprises to help develop and expand the brand. 2 creative designers should design work to improve people's lives.
How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
Gradual integration of all areas of design similarities. Development of technology makes it easy to design implementation process, combined with each other in many design fields.
When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
My last exhibition in Florence, Italy. Now I do not know where the next exhibition, as long as you can fit the time and place.
Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
I am inspired by the traditional Chinese culture, I observe life, observe the market and generate design inspiration. I will continue to look at art exhibitions, the secondary market, antiques market, they give me a lot of creative inspiration.
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?
My style of design practice in the years to form, it comes from a traditional Chinese art form. Simplicity and rich connotation is my design style features. My design approach, first by chatting with the customers to understand their needs, and then through market research, the creation of the final 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 now live in Germany. My country is China, there are many excellent traditional Chinese culture, they are a great influence on my design. Chinese culture can help me find a lot of inspiration.
How do you work with companies?
Often, companies find that we do design services, in accordance with the contract and procedures need to be. Need to be prepaid deposit to us.
What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
As a good designer, you need creative thinking and expression. There needs to be able to endure hardship spirit, able to observe carefully the needs of the market, to discover and solve problems. Designers also companies choose to judge this regard.
Can you talk a little about your design process?
1. Understand my client's needs. 2. Observe the market, identify problems, to solve the problem targeted by design. 3 design works when it has a good sense of beauty.
Can you describe a day in your life?
Teach design course, drink tea and chat, see works of art, creative design.
Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
As a good designer, you need creative thinking and expression. There needs to be able to endure hardship spirit, able to observe carefully the needs of the market, to discover and solve problems. Designers also companies choose to judge this regard.
What is your "golden rule" in design?
Able to solve problems with beauty. Customer satisfaction, market praise.
What skills are most important for a designer?
1.Communicate with customers 2. observable market 3. Ability aesthetic 4.The ability to design expression
Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
Sketchbooks, cameras, computers and computer software, printers, design gallery, books, etc.
Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
Every day I would walk, eat, sleep when I wanted to design, but only in the last hands-on production.
How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
Different projects have different time, to determine the process according to the customer's needs and my schedule.
What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?
If customers do not know the aesthetic, but not well designed, unwilling to communicate. These will be the most difficult as the designer.
What was your most important job experience?
Collection of design material is very important, it is every day in life.
Who are some of your clients?
Jingdezhen yuyao plant, Jingdezhen sanbao International Ceramic Institute, Beijing Yi Pu Ti Etc.
What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
I like the design of cultural property, as it is able to represent the cultural and aesthetic which a nation.

Extended Interview with Chao Yang

Could you please tell us about your experience as a designer, artist, architect or creator?
I obtained my Bachelor and Master degree in China. From May 2013 to October 2014, I studied in Braunschweig University of Art when I was granted the German DAAD artist scholarship funded by the German government. In 2016, I was admitted to the Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture as a Ph.D candidate, and continued my study and research of design. I have been working as a design teacher in a collage since I received my Bachelor degree in 2007.
How did you become a designer?
I started to know about design as an undergraduate. I found that I loved designing and enjoyed the pleasure it brought to me. Through my design, I can solve problems for my customers or update the brand image. As a designer I feel proud of myself when my design can solve problems and reconstruct brand image of my clients.
What are your priorities, technique and style when designing?
Of course, it’s my own choice. I’m a college teacher and this job is gold-plated. But by comparison, the feeling of being a designer is better. So I chose to be a designer and a teacher at the same time.
Which emotions do you feel when designing?
I delicate myself to brand image design, poster design and book design. Of course, I also would like to combine my design with art. For example, I apply ceramic arts to hotel decoration.
What particular aspects of your background shaped you as a designer?
I made those achievements in that I spent a lot of time and I also worked hard. I think that young designers should focus on their expertise. Because only when you make the most out of your expertise can you give birth to a good design. Of course, young designers should be insistent in improving their fundamental skills.
What is your growth path? What are your future plans? What is your dream design project?
Maybe it’s talent. A good designer is able to solve problems and meet the customer’s demand through his design; But a great designer not only solves problems, he also affects many young designers and his works remain classic even hundred years later.
What are your advices to designers who are at the beginning of their career?
In my opinion, first a good design should solve the problem. Secondly, it should have aesthetic appeal. In addition, it has to take into consideration reducing the loss of resources, lowering production costs and the convenience to consumers when it is produced.
What is your day to day look like?
When I first start my design career, I had no choice. I accepted every offer from clients so as to accumulate my experience. But it’s not the case now. I specialize in brand design and try to combine my design with many other fields. I’ll do such design as long as I have time. At the same time, I will also create my favorite theme posters; It is a fun.
How do you keep up with latest design trends? To what extent do design trends matter?
I’m fond of art, maybe one day I will be an artist, such as a ceramic artist. But for the time being, I should be a designer first when young.
How do you know if a product or project is well designed? How do you define good design?
I focus on international design with Chinese elements. So I would study on designing by taking it as a kind of culture. I would like to express my ideas with the latest design methods. Designing is a trying work, but I have been insisting on it and I feel happy with it.
How do you decide if your design is ready?
I am going to learn from some award-winning works both domestic and abroad in order to inspire my creation.
Who is your favourite designer?
I have a lot of design work I like very much. When I studied in Germany, I designed a book entitled “China Says”, which demonstrated pottery and porcelain culture of Jingdezhen in the form of creative images. I did it by hand, from designing to producing, and I enjoyed the process very much. The brand image “YI PU TI (A Bodhi)” I designed for a monastery in Beijing is also one of my favorites, which reflected the combination of Chinese Buddhist thoughts and arts, and it was expressed in a composition of modern styles. There is still a logo design that worthies mentioning. It is the silk brand HERGENE. In ancient time, silk from china was as valuable as gold, so I designed the logo in the form of a Chinese square-holed coin. There are a lot more works of designing that won over clients and audience.
What positive experiences you had when you attend the A’ Design Award?
There are two reasons. The first is my clients. They gave me opportunities to design. The second is designing contests. By taking part in these contests, I compete, communicate and improve.

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