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Interview with Luo Dan - DDA |
Home > Designer Interviews > Luo Dan - DDA |
Editor Frank Scott (FS) from DesignPRWire has interviewed designer Luo Dan - DDA (LDD) for A’ Design Award and Competition. You can access the full profile of Luo Dan - DDA 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?
LDD: Sure.Well,I have been studied art since high school.I graduated from Changsha University of Science & Technology(CUST) as an art & design major student.After graduation,I continued my further study in this field in Polytechnic University of Milan（POLIMI）and got my master degree in 2012.I've always been crazy about art and design,I got satisfaction by achieve good designs.Honestly,designing makes me happy.Yeah...I've always dreamed to become a good designer since I know I'm in love with art and design.
FS: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
LDD: Yes,DDA/Dan Design Associates is a professional organization specializing in high-end design worldwide,we provide planning, architecture, interior, art furnishings design and supply,project engineering as one-stop design and consultancy services for customers.Since the establishment of DDA, it is aim to produce sustainable, timeless and fashionable art workin hotel design. DDA, up to now, has worked with many famous international hotel brands,such as Starwood, IHG, Accor, Wyndham, Argyle etc.
FS: What is "design" for you?
LDD: Design is a creative and inspiring work,it’s a great way to turn those creative ideas into reality,just like making dreams come true,it’s all about innovation,beauty,speciality,practicality.Design can truly improve life quality,change our life style.
FS: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
LDD: I have over 20 years experience of hotel design,especially those international hotel brands,such as Intercontinental, Accor, Wyndham etc. And I love what I’ve been doing in this field.
FS: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
LDD: Hmm...among all the designs I’ve made or been working on,Wyndham Grand Foshan would be my favourite design I think.It is an international platinum five-star hotel,a landmark project in China.The total height of the hotel is 168 meters and the area is nearly 80,000 square meters.The design inspiration came from the nature and local culture,which is the harmony between man and nature.The river nurtured generations of the local people same as the fish cannot leave the water.The fish,in Chinese culture,symbolizes prosperity and good luck.The river elements and the Canal Town culture were extended into the whole interior design.
FS: What was the first thing you designed for a company?
LDD: Pullman Baiyun Airport Guangzhou in 2007.
FS: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
LDD: My favourite material is marble and wood.I like interior design magazine,and my favourite technology is script-making design mode.
FS: When do you feel the most creative?
LDD: Usually when I’m enjoying myself in music,I love singing and playing piano,and I’m pretty good at them.
FS: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
LDD: Design inspiration,practicality,design materials.
FS: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
LDD: I feel excited and energetic.
FS: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
LDD: I feel happy and satisfied,design always makes happy.
FS: What makes a design successful?
LDD: A good design inspiration,a perfect use of materials,comprehensive communication with clients.
FS: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
LDD: Design originality,functional practicality,design materials.
FS: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
LDD: A mature designer must have the artist's quality, the rich experience of life and traveling, the business philosophy of operator, and the cost consciousness of a financial expert and sustainable environmental-friendly design philosophy.
FS: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
LDD: I think it is a necessary process of design to become more common and specific.With the economical development,people are pursuing more higher life standards and qualities,which can bring design a new higher level,I think we would see more design in the future,in every industry,even daily life requests design.
FS: When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
LDD: I didn’t have much time for my own exhibition.I spent a lot of time on my own projects and my company’s business.However,I definitely would have my own exhibition in the near future,probably next year.
FS: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
LDD: Well...my inspiration comes from the local culture and its marketing targets. I keep learning new knowledge and technology and I travel around the world to feed my creativity.I think my life experiences and different cultures are my sources of inspirations.
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?
LDD: I have worked with many international hotel brands,I’m familiar with the design standards of those brands,since most of my clients are Chinese,I’d like to add both Chinese and western culture elements in my design,so it’s a combination of Chinese and western styles. The market is there,customers want to see different styles mixed in a perfect way and they can also feel different cultural atmosphere in a comfortable way.The best way to keep this design style is to keep learning more,experience more and absorb more cultural things.
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?
LDD: I have worked with many international hotel brands,I’m familiar with the design standards of those brands,since most of my clients are Chinese,I’d like to add both Chinese and western culture elements in my design,so it’s a combination of Chinese and western styles. The market is there,customers want to see different styles mixed in a perfect way and they can also feel different cultural atmosphere in a comfortable way.The best way to keep this design style is to keep learning more,experience more and absorb more cultural things.
FS: How do you work with companies?
LDD: I have my own company,so I would say it’s a cooperation between companies based on mutual benefits.I would like to build a long term cooperating relation with other companies to bring more business for each other,or work as a strong team.
FS: What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
LDD: The companies must know what kind of designer they need,how the designer’s skills fit for the companies and what the company can offer to keep the designer contribute more.It’s necessary to have a skill test for a designer and companies need to make a evaluation on a designer’s works in the past.,experiences are very important.
FS: Can you talk a little about your design process?
LDD: First of all,I will go to check the project building for initial measurement and communicate with my clients to make sure what they need,give my suggestion from professional perspectives.Then I’ll make a concept design and planning,modify the scheme according to my clients’ opinions.After the planning design is done,it comes to the renderings design and construction drawing design,soft furnishing design is included if the clients need it.
FS: What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?
LDD: Pullman Baiyun Airport Guangzhou,Intercontinental Haitang Bay Sanya,Wyndham Grand Foshan,Zhongnan Center Suzhou,Beauty Crown Sanya,Grand Mercure,Guangzhou.
FS: Can you describe a day in your life?
LDD: Most of the time I’m working,sometimes in office,sometimes on business trip.
FS: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
LDD: The greatest determination can produce the highest wisdom.Do one thing at a time, and do well.Design is a long-term job,designers must be patient and always keep learning new knowledge,no matter what difficulties you might have,just keep your initial heart for designing,because it’s worthy.
FS: From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
LDD: People usually think being a designer is a noble and decent job,a designer is thought to be intelligent and is well respected,and as a designer,what we experience is more diversified,such as culture,history,civilization all over the world.However,we also come up against many difficulties and problems while designing,and it’s not easy to deal with those problems,which might cause negative feelings.
FS: What is your "golden rule" in design?
LDD: Any design should have a story,just like making a Hollywood movie.
FS: What skills are most important for a designer?
LDD: Communication skills,creative thinking abilities,computer skills.
FS: Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
LDD: CAD,PhotoShop,BIM,Pinterest,some design magazine,such as ArchDaily,Interior Design
FS: Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
LDD: I usually make a time scheme list to make sure every step is on the list,and at what time exactly need to be finished,marked the most important things to remind myself of what is emergency.
FS: How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
LDD: It usually takes around 4 months to finish the design part for hotel designing.
FS: What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?
LDD: What big successful projects did you design
FS: What was your most important job experience?
LDD: I think it’s my design experience for Pullman Baiyun Airport Guangzhou in 2007.
FS: Who are some of your clients?
LDD: Accor,Intercontinental,Wyndham,Argary etc.
FS: What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
LDD: Hotel design is my favourite.I think hotel design is more challenging and I’ve been doing this type of design since I graduated from school.
FS: What are your future plans? What is next for you?
LDD: I plan to build more subsidiary companies both in China and abroad.The next step is to stable and spread my design brand worldwide as soon as possible.
FS: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
LDD: I have a strong design team in my company,I take the role of team leader.
FS: Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
LDD: Recently I’m working on Howard Johnson Hotel Qujing,Yunnan.
FS: How can people contact you?
LDD: Contact me by email:danluo98@163.com
FS: Any other things you would like to cover that have not been covered in these questions?
LDD: No,thanks.
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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