Nancy Zhang

Specialized in Accessory Design.

Nancy Zhang

About Nancy Zhang

An international independent visual artist, designer and writer. Born in Tianjin and graduated in Beijing film academy in China, has published several books such as “Encounters”, “ Style Art Life”, “ No Truth without Ruth”. Art book “ Encounters” won the 11th ICMA bronze award (2021) and project “60 days” won the 64th CA’s illustration award of excellence (2022). As a creator, a “bridge” between east and west, I want to bring the unique warmth and humanity to the world.

  • Winner of the A' Design Award.
  • Specialized in Accessory Design.
  • Original Design.
  • Creative, Diligent and Innovative.
  • All Designs
  • Accessory
Shapes of Light Decorative Scarf

Shapes of Light Decorative Scarf

Accessory Design

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Interview with Nancy Zhang

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?
Actually I come from a designer family, my dad used to be a textile designer and my mom used to be graphic designer. Personally being a designer is not a goal to achieve but a heritage choice.
Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
I have a personal art studio combines the visual art projects and design projects together.
What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
So far my most favorite design is about my upcoming illustration book “60 Days” , from the concept making, researching, illustration drawing, writing and actual book design, I have put the most effort in it.
What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
From my personal opinion, the classic natural materials are always the most sustainable and stable.
What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
Usually very calm and I would be slightly happier if the results came out better than I imagined.
From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
How to make the products in a sustainable way or how to use the graphics to deliver questions to the people.
How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
The design field evolving rely on the society circumstance changes and technology developing. People’s creativity has no time or progress limits.
When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
My latest design collaboration works was shortly exhibited by A design award and I was really honored. So far I am focusing on finish my new publication.
Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
Everything in the world could feed my creativity especially natural phenomenons. It could be my dream, a sparking of conversation or a piece of snow flake.
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?
Colorful, minimal and joyful. I would like to share this emotional connections with the costumers through these design works.
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?
Currently I am based in Berlin as an artist. Indeed my drawing style was slightly get influenced by Bauhaus aesthetics.
How do you work with companies?
Generally I take offers from clients and work remotely recent years.
What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
It depends on which goal the company wants to achieve and what kinds of customers they are looking for. Designer and the company is partnership, matching is the most important thing.
Can you talk a little about your design process?
Concept, researching, sketching, discussion the availability with team and make samples, going to manufacture progress after everything confirmed.
What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?
The whole apartment interior arrangements, blankets, basket vase, lamp and my chairs.
Can you describe a day in your life?
A simple day started from a cup of coffee then focusing on the working list I have to do. I prefer late afternoon or evening time during the week because I could relax and have fun with the people.
Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
No suggestion generally, everyone’s character are different and what they need are also different, Youth supposed to be passionate, idealistic and make many mistakes then everything will work out.
From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
There’s no specific positives or negatives in any kind of field from my opinion. Everything changes all the time base on the environment and society changes.
What is your "golden rule" in design?
Maintain the emotion and creativity, that’s the only advantage of human.
Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
Use the time when I am on the way. I bring my notebooks and sketch book with my all the time.
How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
It depends on each specific project, it could take years, also could take months.
What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?
How did you draw this and which kind of tool you use. I simply don’t like these kind of technical questions because I think the basic concept is far more important than making progress.
Who are some of your clients?
Because all the clients are important and respectful, so it not fair if I only choose few to write.
What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
It used to be fashion design of course but nowadays I am also very much into architecture designs.
Any other things you would like to cover that have not been covered in these questions?
I think these questions almost covered everything I would like to talk about. Thank you for everything. In the end I hope my new works could meet everyone soon.

Designer of the Day Interview with Nancy Zhang

Could you please tell us about your experience as a designer, artist, architect or creator?
After I graduated from Beijing film academy, I decided to come to Berlin for working. As a Visual artist, illustrator, writer and graphic designer, I have been engaging in the industry since 14 years ago.
How did you become a designer?
Being a designer/creator wasn’t a big decision but a natural heritage from my family, both of my parents used to be designers. Ever since I was a little child, I started to read my father’s textile pattern book references as the children’s book. And these memories are in my blood no matter which path I would choose.
What are your priorities, technique and style when designing?
First priority is the concept, which information want to deliver to the costumers, would it be helpful for people? Styles and techniques are equally important, new techniques could make some style ideas become true or make it easier. I accept all kinds of new technology, Techniques are like grammars for speaking, style is like how you speak, but most importantly is what you want to say.
Which emotions do you feel when designing?
Designing is a new meditation for me. Usually I was quite focused while I was creating, detached from the reality.
What particular aspects of your background shaped you as a designer?
My major used to be animation making in the academy. animation film making, painting, illustrating…all these experiences helped me to understand what design really is. Design is a way to combine art and our daily lives together. Design contents endless knowledges, my exploring journey of design is still at the beginning .
What is your growth path? What are your future plans? What is your dream design project?
As I mentioned above I comes from a designer family. Despite my parents, almost all the other family members could paint well also although some of them chose other occupations. They have influenced my aesthetics and always push me to be a better creator.
What are your advices to designers who are at the beginning of their career?
Emotional stability is important. Design is a team work, we need to communicate with each other a lot to achieve the same goal. I still remembered what my colleague said to me many years ago, “ We have to keep a calm, professional attitude to deal with changes. “
You are truly successful as a designer, what do you suggest to fellow designers, artists and architects?
I always believe that people’s creativity comes from the personal experiences. Usually I won’t give any specific advice because people could only learn things properly from the mistakes. Enrich the life experience is the key to be creative, that’s all I want to say.
What is your day to day look like?
A simple day started from a cup of coffee in the morning then working(meeting/writing/drawing/etc). I do follow up the industry news during my spare time. I only feel excited when I deal with some challenging projects that I never came across before.
How do you keep up with latest design trends? To what extent do design trends matter?
I am the person who doesn’t care about the trend much, no matter which kind of trends. As a Designer we need to learn from the past , also think more about what the future needs.
How do you know if a product or project is well designed? How do you define good design?
A good design’s definition could be judged subjectively. Personally I think the “details” is the most decisive standard. It doesn’t mean the appearance decoration details, but the structure of concept, efforts of the functionality, accuracy of techniques, all these little things built up a good design.
How do you decide if your design is ready?
I don’t think a designer should focus on the product success too much while we were working on the progress. We should think from a creator and others(reader/audience/customers/clients )perspectives, whether we like it or not. If the results could make both sides satisfied, then it’s ready.
What is your biggest design work?
The most significant project to me is my latest 3 projects: “ Encounters” , “ Lightseeker” and “60 Days”. The first one is connected with my personal memories, the second is connected with my principals and the third one is connected with my identity and culture background.
Who is your favourite designer?
Anni Albers. Also I would like to talk with her if she’s still alive.
Would you tell us a bit about your lifestyle and culture?
From my opinion every city has their own history and charms, it’s not comparable. Ever since I was a child, I have been obsessed with original ancient cultures a lot (My dream used to be a historian). For example as a Chinese artist who’s based in Germany, my current project is inspired by Chinese ancient philosophies, which presents a dynamic, harmony perspective between the nature and human societies.
Would you tell us more about your work culture and business philosophy?
Collaborations built the human society. Although I work as an individual creator, we could not finish a entire work without the collaborations from other procedures. Working with many different professional collages means you need to understand other people’s perspectives as well then make your own decisions. It could be quite challenging but we all have to balance it.
What are your philanthropic contributions to society as a designer, artist and architect?
As an artist, I would like to be a “ Lightseeker”, keep seeking for lights and deliver lights through my works. “Light” is a heritage, we took the torch from the last generation, we will bring it to the next generation also.
What positive experiences you had when you attend the A’ Design Award?
Getting to know so many talented designers from different industries was the most positive experiences. It’s also a great chance to follow up the contemporary worldwide creative topics. International design competition is not only a good stage for global designers showing their talents, but also maintain the global connections under this big era.

Extended Interview with Nancy Zhang

Could you please tell us about your experience as a designer, artist, architect or creator?
As a Chinese Designer/visual artist who bases in Berlin, I graduated from Beijing film Academy. Originally I come from a designer’s family. Both of my parents are designers and almost most of my family members can paint very well although some of them don’t work in creative industry.
How did you become a designer?
For me being a designer is not really a big choice but a heritage thing from my family. Design is one of my ways to express my ideas.
What are your priorities, technique and style when designing?
In fact my parents expected me to do something else instead. Yet I still decided to be a creator because I feel like I was born for this.
Which emotions do you feel when designing?
Concept art design for film, illustration design for publications and textile design for fashion. I love doing all kinds of visual things, they are just not comparable.
What particular aspects of your background shaped you as a designer?
Be confident and don’t be scared to make mistakes or face to the failure.
What are your advices to designers who are at the beginning of their career?
I think “ details “ are the most decisive standard. It doesn’t mean the design’s appearance decoration details, more like something invisible but you could tell when you touch it: the structures of concept, the accuracy of the shape & texture, the creativity you expressed…..all these things you couldn’t see it directly, but you could feel it when you see it.
You are truly successful as a designer, what do you suggest to fellow designers, artists and architects?
A good design is timeless, investing a good design not only makes your lifestyle better but also enriched our aesthetic experiences.
What is your day to day look like?
I have achieved what I want to design for the people I love(my family) by illustrations and textiles. Every book I made and every design I made are all paid tribute to them.
How do you keep up with latest design trends? To what extent do design trends matter?
Actually I don’t really have dream project but the project I expected to participate in future if there’s chances. One is the stage art designs, the other is the game design.
How do you know if a product or project is well designed? How do you define good design?
I am the cook who have very simple recipes and cook very simple dishes. There’s no secret ingredient, I was just concentrated on foods a lot and enjoy cooking so much.
How do you decide if your design is ready?
Anni Albers and Joseph Albers I love their colorful geometric designs.
What is your biggest design work?
Nature itself is the most incredible design, the beauty and accuracy of each creatures are just flawless.
Who is your favourite designer?
Personally I don’t think I have the greatest works but the most significant works that I put a lot of efforts in : my personal illustration project” Encounters” ,” Lightseeker” and “ 60 days” , some of them are like personal memories sharing, some content my principles.
Would you tell us a bit about your lifestyle and culture?
Not get influenced by the trends so much and focus on what you want to create.
Would you tell us more about your work culture and business philosophy?
If I hadn’t become a creator I would probably choose my childhood dream to be a historian.
What positive experiences you had when you attend the A’ Design Award?
I appreciate all the people who cares about and push me to become a better self.

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