Chi-Hao Chiang

Specialized in Building Components Design.

Chi-Hao Chiang

About Chi-Hao Chiang

Chi-Hao Chiang / 江啟豪 is an avid gamer, amateur Hip-Hop dancer, and a cross-field industrial designer with a mechanical engineering background. Coming from Taiwan with a BA in mechanical engineering, He completed his Master's Degree in Industrial Design at Pratt Institute in May 2021.

  • Winner of 2 A' Design Awards.
  • Specialized in Building Components Design.
  • Original Design.
  • Creative, Diligent and Innovative.
  • All Designs
  • Building Components
  • Furniture
Karst Water Filtration Staircase

Karst Water Filtration Staircase

Building Components Design

Attache Folding Stool

Attache Folding Stool

Furniture Design

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Interview with Chi-Hao Chiang

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 didn't have a design background from the very beginning. I assumed myself to be a mechanical engineer. However, during the process of exploring my interests, I realized where my passion is of mechanical engineering is overlapped with industrial design. That is to observe problems and find a better solution with making iteration prototypes.
Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
So far, I haven't worked as a personal studio yet, but perhaps I will start my own business in the future after gaining and growing with more experience.
What is "design" for you?
I think design is to make objects become thoughtful for users. Objects can be tangible, digital, or even service.
What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
It's Spun by Heatherwick studio. As the first design-inspiring object for me, it makes me understand there is a strong connection between design, form, mechanical engineering, and manufacturing process. They can all achieve each other by collaborating tightly.
What was the first thing you designed for a company?
It was a trash can. I proposed the concept to a factory to assist them to develop their own brand and achieve industrial upgrading.
What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
I like concrete a lot. I don't have a favorite platform yet. The technology I like the most is 3D printing. It makes ideas come true so easily.
Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
I found myself focusing on feasibility the most, perhaps because of the foundation of mechanical engineering.
What makes a design successful?
Currently, I think it's finding the balance between manufacture, aesthetics, and user-friendliness.
When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
The relationship between form and function, and if the appearance or user experience can represent the concept.
From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
I think it's being the bridge between society and the environment, helping them communicate and understand each other better.
How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
In my opinion, it has evolved from physical and visual fields to digital and virtual now, and it will merge into various industries in the future.
When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
My project was exhibited as one of the objects in Sound&Vision in New York in 2019. I don't have a plan for the next one yet.
Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
It usually comes from something irrelevant to the topic itself. I feel my creativity through connecting the experience of playing around with different objects to design
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?
Probably I would say pragmatism and minimalism. I believe it derived from my background in mechanical engineering, and the form would serve the function. I'll start to design from research, and prove the solution for problems.
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 now living in New York, USA. Yes, I think the culture affects a lot. The pros are to bring up a different life experience or thinking perspective, and the cons are a lack of thorough understanding of local conventions.
How do you work with companies?
I would always like to understand the requirements and limits first.
What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
To see if a designer has good control over how feasible their design can be, and communication is always the most important point to select and collaborate with a designer.
Can you talk a little about your design process?
I would list out the requirements and limits first, then research to find problems and potential solutions. Based on the information I gathered to iterate prototypes and use prototypes to verify different solutions. In the end, converge to a few working solutions.
What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?
ANONYMOUS_NECKLACE_SILVER by Drilling Lab HMM Slide by HMM Akari 1A by Noguchi Wavy Lamp by Wooj Design Braun Wall Clock Black by Braun
Can you describe a day in your life?
Wake up around 7 am, and go to work after working out at the gym. Leave the office between 5 and 6 pm, usually go grocery shopping for dinner, and lunch for the next day. Usually, go to bed after 11 pm.
Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
I don't think I'm experienced enough to answer. I also consider myself one of the young designers as this is my first year after graduating.
From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
The positive is that doing projects can push me outside of my boundary of doing research and understanding new things in various fields. The negative might be this research process can take a lot of time, even while taking a rest.
What skills are most important for a designer?
Might be the willingness and sensitivity to observe and understand new things.
Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
I use Fusion360 the most, along with Keyshot. I like calipers the most.
Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
Force myself to really focus while working and also force myself to take a break while it's off work.
What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
I like prototyping because it can prove the concept and help improve it to iterate.
What are your future plans? What is next for you?
Improve myself to be able to handle projects as a manager or director.
Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
I start to develop by myself, but improve designs in the process of discussing with others as a team.

Designer of the Day Interview with Chi-Hao Chiang

Could you please tell us about your experience as a designer, artist, architect or creator?
This is actually my first year in the industry after graduation. As working in a sports tech startup, I'm grateful to work with some big industry leaders such as NBA.
How did you become a designer?
I majored in mechanical engineering, and then I found out what I have a passion for in mechanical engineering is actually overlapped with industrial design. Therefore, I made a turn to this design industry, and I really enjoy it.
What are your priorities, technique and style when designing?
I found myself really focus on the feasibility, details, and how users would interact with the product. I really enjoy making physical prototypes while designing, but also feel satisfied when a computer-aided design model or rendering is finished.
Which emotions do you feel when designing?
I usually feel excited when starting a new project, pretty much like exploring an unknown area. Overall, the moment that a prototype is proved to work is my favorite part when designing. I think designing help fulfill my curiosity and provide feeling of achievement once a project is finished.
What particular aspects of your background shaped you as a designer?
I would say the experience of being trained in mechanical engineering supports me to understand the foundation of manufacturing. This helps a lot in communicating both the concept and production sides, and faster and smoother the whole process, also lowering the cost.
What is your growth path? What are your future plans? What is your dream design project?
I'm at the beginning of my design career path, so still thinking about the possibility. Overall, I would like to be remembered as a thoughtful designer who makes collaborators feel comfortable to work with and the process be as smooth as possible. In the future, I want to finish a successful consumer electronics project well-finished in details and a piece of furniture.
What are your advices to designers who are at the beginning of their career?
I am also one of the young designers, not having lots of experience yet. However, what I have learned from my professors and colleagues is to stay curious and keep improving myself. Even just a tiny bit of progress a day can make tremendous change in the long term.
You are truly successful as a designer, what do you suggest to fellow designers, artists and architects?
I'm too young to provide valuable opinions, but I like one quote from Pratt founder Charles Pratt, "Be true to your work and your work will be true to you."
What is your day to day look like?
I like waking up a bit early in the morning and going to gym before work. I believe exercising can energize my brain and generate more creative thoughts. Having a short walk between work can motivate me back to focus on projects.
How do you keep up with latest design trends? To what extent do design trends matter?
I would browse news and articles from various design social media. Understanding the trend can be helpful for inputting new concepts into my head and become an inspiration.
How do you know if a product or project is well designed? How do you define good design?
I would focus on how well the details are finished and the feasibility of a project. Finding a balance between concept and manufacturing limits is something I would like to evaluate.
How do you decide if your design is ready?
I believe there is always a way to improve designs. As time passing, some concepts and inspiration can ferment from the initial design.
What is your biggest design work?
So far, I don't have a super huge design work yet, but I'm developing an NDA project right now and I think it's pretty groundbreaking.
Who is your favourite designer?
It's Thomas Heatherwick. He is the one that inspired me to change my field to design, and let me know that what I learned in mechanical engineering can be helpful while pursuing design.
Would you tell us a bit about your lifestyle and culture?
I'm a Taiwanese now based in Brooklyn, New York. I think the difference between East and West does bring me a unique perspective to understand designs. With the design mind, I would be able to appreciate tiny but thoughtful details in life, and encourage myself to bring the same feeling in my projects.
Would you tell us more about your work culture and business philosophy?
I'm now working with a sports tech startup. I think it is very important that people are encouraged to express their thoughts and cultivate an environment of friendly communication.
What are your philanthropic contributions to society as a designer, artist and architect?
So far as a recent graduate working within a year, I think I haven't done any contributions to society, but that's definitely one of my goals as I grow and gain more experience.
What positive experiences you had when you attend the A’ Design Award?
I think the A' Design Award provides a huge opportunity to expose awarded designers and designs. That's very helpful for new designers to catch attention and have potential collaborations, also conveying their thoughts more thoroughly.

Extended Interview with Chi-Hao Chiang

Could you please tell us about your experience as a designer, artist, architect or creator?
I studied mechanical engineering in undergraduate, then I found my interests more towards to industrial design. Thus, I decided to pursue this field as my master's degree. Currently, I work as an industrial designer in a wearable tech start up.
How did you become a designer?
I found myself being curious to observe things, and pretty much enjoy the process and results of trying to solve or improve a problem. This becomes my motivation to design and make experiences better.
What are your priorities, technique and style when designing?
I chose by myself, at the moment to decide on the next step after graduating from undergraduate.
Which emotions do you feel when designing?
Currently, I design more about consumer electronics and soft goods. If I have a chance, I would love to also design some furniture pieces.
What particular aspects of your background shaped you as a designer?
I won't consider myself a design legend. I'm still one of the young designers in the first year of my career.
What is your growth path? What are your future plans? What is your dream design project?
I think great is a good designer who has the power to influence a bigger group of the design community.
What are your advices to designers who are at the beginning of their career?
Personally, I focus on the finishing of details and how practical and feasible a design is. I believe these can enhance the quality and smoother the production.
You are truly successful as a designer, what do you suggest to fellow designers, artists and architects?
Good design is thoughtful in user experience. People can spend the lowest time cost to understand how to use it and feel friendly.
What is your day to day look like?
I would like to thoroughly design a video game controller as I am an avid video gamer.
How do you keep up with latest design trends? To what extent do design trends matter?
I'm still looking for it but I believe it would be a game-changer in specific fields. I hope the object that I design can support the function of the project perfectly.
How do you know if a product or project is well designed? How do you define good design?
Don't have a solid answer yet but I do focus on details and how practical and feasible it can be manufacture-wise.
How do you decide if your design is ready?
They would be Thomas Heatherwick, Oki Sato, Kenya Hara, Naoto Fukasawa, Dieter Rams.
What is your biggest design work?
It's Spun by Heatherwick studio. As the first design-inspiring object for me, it makes me understand there is a strong connection between design, form, mechanical engineering, and manufacturing process. They can all achieve each other by collaborating tightly. I also like the Muji wall-mounted CD player by Naoto Fukasawa. It combines its form factors into function so precisely and intuitively.
Who is your favourite designer?
Probably my thesis project "TANDEM," a set of video game controllers, as I did make a working prototype to demonstrate my concept of how to interact with it.
Would you tell us a bit about your lifestyle and culture?
Stay curious and keep in mind that there is always a better solution.
Would you tell us more about your work culture and business philosophy?
I may be a mechanical engineer doing some industrial component design.
What are your philanthropic contributions to society as a designer, artist and architect?
I think design is a mindset and thought that stays curious to improve things.
What positive experiences you had when you attend the A’ Design Award?
Of course it's my parents who supported me to change my major to design.

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