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Lotus Guest Chair by Ming-Li Chang |
Home > Winners > Design #152028 >Interview |
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FS: What is the main principle, idea and inspiration behind your design?
MC: Lotus is a guest chair designed to bring-forth a translation of traditional Ming Dynasty chair design for a modern home environment. The design was inspired by a Ming Dynasty folding chair that was created to allow high-class generals to maintain a symbolic status through furniture during an outing.
FS: What has been your main focus in designing this work? Especially what did you want to achieve?
MC: There’s a Chinese idiom that describes the growth of a lotus flower, out of the mud yet unstained. “Lotus” in Chinese is Lian, a character that is also in my late grandmothers name. Having lived through such a turmoil part of Chinese history my grandmother was still the kindest, generous, warmest, and purest of heart person I knew. All of which are emotions I wanted to convey through this chair.
FS: What are your future plans for this award winning design?
MC: I hope to be able to push this design further and find a brand I can work with to bring this chair to a wider audience.
FS: How long did it take you to design this particular concept?
MC: From the first version to the final version, the different variations in design and prototypes took took about half a year.
FS: Why did you design this particular concept? Was this design commissioned or did you decide to pursuit an inspiration?
MC: This design came to be because of a thought and inspiration that came from my family and culture. I also wanted to take on the challenge of designing a wooden chair. I think it is so cool for a design to have their own wooden chair.
FS: Is your design being produced or used by another company, or do you plan to sell or lease the production rights or do you intent to produce your work yourself?
MC: I wish to be able to sell my design to a brand and company that can work with me to bring this design to more people's homes.
FS: What made you design this particular type of work?
MC: I just really wanted to design a wooden chair. There's something so magical about a wooden chair. A well designed wooden chair carries a lot of emotions and meaning.
FS: Where there any other designs and/or designers that helped the influence the design of your work?
MC: Other than being influenced by a historical Ming dynasty chair I was also under the influence of Cory Grosser, someone who I worked closely with for the past years. I also take a lot of inspiration from designers that are so culturally keen like Neri & Hu and Kengo Kuma.
FS: Who is the target customer for his design?
MC: The taget customer would be someone who enjoys a clean and approachable guest chair in their home.
FS: What sets this design apart from other similar or resembling concepts?
MC: The structure is unique to wood joinery methods in China and the two toned contrasting finish makes is subtly standout.
FS: How did you come up with the name for this design? What does it mean?
MC: There’s a Chinese idiom that describes the growth of a lotus flower, out of the mud yet unstained. “Lotus” in Chinese is Lian, a character that is also in my late grandmothers name. Having lived through such a turmoil part of Chinese history my grandmother was still the kindest, generous, warmest, and purest of heart person I knew. All of which are emotions I wanted to convey through this chair.
FS: Which design tools did you use when you were working on this project?
MC: I used Solidworks and other software but quickly moved to a lot of hands-on mock ups and prototyping. Drawing and sketching over prototypes is extremely effevtive for me.
FS: What is the most unique aspect of your design?
MC: The joinery method and the two toned wood finish.
FS: Who did you collaborate with for this design? Did you work with people with technical / specialized skills?
MC: I worked with local craftsmen in China to figure out and understand the lap joint.
FS: What is the role of technology in this particular design?
MC: Technology was used to create the CAD model and drawings to help communicate with craftsmen. We went back and forth with 3D printed models and working with local Chinese craftsman to understand how everything can be put together while maintaining the structure and proportions that I wanted with the design.
FS: Is your design influenced by data or analytical research in any way? What kind of research did you conduct for making this design?
MC: Research mainly went behind the building method, materials, and finishes for the design.
FS: What are some of the challenges you faced during the design/realization of your concept?
MC: This chair went through multiple rounds of full scale prototypes. Turns out, figuring out the promotions and scales of wooden chair is really really hard.
FS: How did you decide to submit your design to an international design competition?
MC: I thought that A'Design could help push my design further through the deep rooted platforms that it can provide.
FS: What did you learn or how did you improve yourself during the designing of this work?
MC: I learned to be more expressive with my details and how to be more convincing with my storytelling.
FS: Any other things you would like to cover that have not been covered in these questions?
MC: I just want to express how thankful I am for all the support and recognition I have had with this project from the family and friends around me.
FS: Thank you for providing us with this opportunity to interview you.
A' Design Award and Competitions grants rights to press members and bloggers to use parts of this interview. This interview is provided as it is; DesignPRWire and A' Design Award and Competitions cannot be held responsible for the answers given by participating designers.
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