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Interview with Jiani Zeng |
Home > Designer Interviews > Jiani Zeng |
Editor Frank Scott (FS) from DesignPRWire has interviewed designer Jiani Zeng (JZ) for A’ Design Award and Competition. You can access the full profile of Jiani Zeng by clicking here.
FS: 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?
JZ: I'm an Industrial Designer by training and I went to MIT exploring design with the newest technology. More specifically, I want to explore design beyond current manufacturing methods, such as multi-material 3D printing, soft robotics and etc.
FS: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
JZ: My partner Honghao Deng and I started our design studio "Illusory Material" in 2019, research on creating "impossible" materials in a controlled manner, with computation and multi-material voxel printing. We envision a future where designers can manipulate the color, texture, and reflectivity of materials across time and different viewing angles.
FS: What is "design" for you?
JZ: Design is about exploring new opportunities beyond the limit of current manufacturing and materials, imagine freely, and create freely.
FS: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
JZ: 3D printed objects/artifacts; technology-driven products; AI & IoT product; new material-based product.
FS: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
JZ: My recent project "illusory Material" - exploring "impossible material" with unique material expression using 3D multi-material printing.
FS: What was the first thing you designed for a company?
JZ: A cat litter box. https://www.jianizeng.com/furrytail
FS: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
JZ: Currently, Stratasys J750.
FS: When do you feel the most creative?
JZ: Midnight! And when I'm desperate.
FS: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
JZ: Uniqueness. I want to be a designer who creates a new design domain/methodology.
FS: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
JZ: Desperate then relieving and thriving.
FS: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
JZ: Get ready for the next challenge.
FS: What makes a design successful?
JZ: It impacts at least one person, functionally or emotionally.
FS: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
JZ: Bad question. Not gonna answer it
FS: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
JZ: Circular design.
FS: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
JZ: The future of design should not be fixed by design thinking or any fixed guidelines. Design is about user but also about designers themselves, be selfish and design freely.
FS: When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
JZ: Milan Design Week. The next one probably Dubai.
FS: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
JZ: Technology review.
FS: 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?
JZ: I pay attention to new tech/material/digital fabrication.
FS: 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?
JZ: Now in the USA.
FS: How do you work with companies?
JZ: Treat them like a boss...
FS: Can you talk a little about your design process?
JZ: Not Design thinking bullshit for sure. I don't have one. I create and invent.
FS: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
JZ: Learn to code!
FS: From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
JZ: Positive: if you like it, you will love your life. Neg: always desperate.
FS: What is your "golden rule" in design?
JZ: Be selfish. Your design should have your spirit.
FS: What skills are most important for a designer?
JZ: be smart, nothing more
FS: Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
JZ: Solidworks and Adobe suite.
FS: Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
JZ: I can't manage my time.
FS: How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
JZ: It depends.
FS: What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?
JZ: Can you help me design a logo?
FS: What was your most important job experience?
JZ: uhhh
FS: Who are some of your clients?
JZ: We need to sign an NDA first.
FS: What are your future plans? What is next for you?
JZ: Be the designer of a kind.
FS: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
JZ: With my partner Honghao Deng.
FS: Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
JZ: Confidential.
FS: How can people contact you?
JZ: https://www.jianizeng.com/
FS: Any other things you would like to cover that have not been covered in these questions?
JZ: No
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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