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Interview with Danyang Ma |
Home > Designer Interviews > Danyang Ma |
Editor Frank Scott (FS) from DesignPRWire has interviewed designer Danyang Ma (DM) for A’ Design Award and Competition. You can access the full profile of Danyang Ma 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?
DM: Growing up I've always been a girl who preferred drawing about herself rather than talking about. Wondering what it was like to be fully committed to the creative world, I attended both undergrad and grad school majoring in design. Never had a second doubt and never will be.
FS: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
DM: I'm currently working at &Walsh, an amazing design studio in New York. Their works are always stunning and it's great working experience. Although, the projects that I release are only my personal projects. The studio projects should be credited to the whole team of course.
FS: What is "design" for you?
DM: Design is a response, to the observation of human behaviors.
FS: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
DM: Helping to build a brand from 0 to 100, or renovating the design for some brands which already have a longer history.
FS: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
DM: The logo for Public Theater, and the whole series of posters made with the same visual language, designed by Paula Scher.
FS: What was the first thing you designed for a company?
DM: Some posters about the performance of a dance group in New York.
FS: When do you feel the most creative?
DM: When I talk to inspiring people, or work with them, or sometimes, just walk on the street.
FS: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
DM: Visual always comes first to my design, I would also make sure the concept behind a project is inspiring and worth working on.
FS: What makes a design successful?
DM: Any design that can affect a certain group of people (sometimes even negatively) is a successful design.
FS: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
DM: I'm a visual person so the look and feeling are the first two things to strike me.
FS: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
DM: Changing its users' behavior from daily essential to a larger, longer-term basis, which can make a huge difference in society and environment.
FS: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
DM: I personally believe that self-authorship is the future of design, or even every creative industry. We are living under the age when everyone has such easy access to generate small pieces of media with the advantage of technology.
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?
DM: I initially adopted some design idea from Swiss graphic style, and then developed it into my own mixed media over the years of practicing.
FS: How do you work with companies?
DM: It's usually our professional team members to keep our clients in touch. Designers present their design progress to companies 1-2 times a week.
FS: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
DM: Don't be afraid to talk to people, introduce yourself and your work to the ones that you aspire to work with/for. Also, as a young designer myself, it's always more important for me to learn and absorb at the beginning than to get a big check.
FS: What skills are most important for a designer?
DM: Thinking, observation, communication, and empathy.
FS: What was your most important job experience?
DM: My first job after grad school working at Gretel. People working at are not only talented professionals but also kind friends. The experience there has taught me so much more in three months than all of my schools did in the past few years. I've always felt grateful for having the chance to work there.
FS: Who are some of your clients?
DM: Mostly the studio's clients, ranging from well-known worldwide cooperatives, start-ups, and emerging art/design organizations in New York.
FS: What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
DM: Branding and ideation. The thought of making some mind-blowing ideas come true really excites me.
FS: What are your future plans? What is next for you?
DM: I was interested in user experience design and would love to explore more, as well as AR/VR oriented visual design.
FS: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
DM: Both. I do commercial works with the team, in support of my personal projects going.
FS: How can people contact you?
DM: Feel free to reach out to me via my email or social media. I'm happy to share my work with you!
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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