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Today's featured designer is Yuanyuan Wu. Yuanyuan Wu is the creator of iconic designs such as the Chinese Zodiac. |
| We had the rare opportunity to interview the exalted designer Yuanyuan Wu who was recently announced as the Designer of the Day by the A' Design Award and Competition. Yuanyuan Wu is the creator of iconic designs such as Chinese Zodiac. We got exclusive answers to our questions about Yuanyuan Wu designs and design philosophy. |
Yuanyuan Wu, how did you become a designer?
Yuanyuan Wu: I studied graphic design at China Academy of Art and New Media Art at the Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden. After that, I went to London and took an Art Direction course at the University of the Arts London. I always want to be an artist or a designer, since I was a little girl. I like creating things... |
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Yuanyuan Wu, what are your priorities, technique, and style when designing?
Yuanyuan Wu: First of all, I will do research that is relevant to my design project, secondly, I would like to hand-drawn the concept and make many different versions of the concept, some times over hundreds of drafts, and then I will use design tools to realize my concept on the computer... |
Yuanyuan Wu, which emotions do you feel when designing?
Yuanyuan Wu: Once the concept is realized, I really feel excited and can't wait to share it with my colleagues, friends, and families.
I am always concentrated on the things I am working on, with no interruption. I think the feeling/emotion of my designing process is like a curve- some times up (If I got a new idea or have realized my concept), some times down (If I stuck in the middle of the design or have no inspiration)... |
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Yuanyuan Wu, what particular aspects of your background shaped you as a designer?
Yuanyuan Wu : I play musical instruments, I can cook and I also like making handcrafts. I think all these non-design skills shaped me as a designer and I always get inspiration from doing the these things.
I think "design" is not simply about designing things, I think it's an important comprehansive ability of observing things, experiencing things and processing things to create something out of it. A good design must be unique and it is the personal understanding and experience from a designer: The inspiration could come from a cup of coffee, a movie, a delicious meal, an adventure or a relationship that the designer has had.... |
Yuanyuan Wu, what is your growth path? what are your future plans? what is your dream design project? Yuanyuan Wu: I want to design and open a creative space where combines café, gym, reading place and exhibiting place where can show and sell good design products.
I've thought about the name of the place already! |
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Yuanyuan Wu, what are your advices to designers who are at the beginning of their career?
Yuanyuan Wu: Don't limit yourself and try new things that you are interested and experience more. |
Yuanyuan Wu, how do you keep up with the latest design trends? to what extent do design trends matter?
Yuanyuan Wu: I get inspiration from everywhere in daily life. I read the news, watch movies, read books, travel, talking to friends, and always pay attention to the latest design trends. I don't apply the latest design trends intentionally, but I think you soak it into your design style gradually and subtly. ... |
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Yuanyuan Wu, how do you know if a product or project is well designed? how do you define good design? Yuanyuan Wu: Let the users, the audiences, and the market to evaluate the good design.
I like designs that could make people smile and have a witty mind.
The common mistakes to avoid making good designs are probably a lack of thinking and do not willing to experiment more. |
Yuanyuan Wu, how do you decide if your design is ready?
Yuanyuan Wu: I can't tell exactly, I guess by intuition...
Yuanyuan Wu, what is your biggest design work?
Yuanyuan Wu: I am working on the Chinese Zodiac series. It was my personal project initially and now it has been developed into a commercial project. I love the concept and idea behind the project, and because it is a project that I initiated and developed, so I have a lot of freedom to decide which direction I want to explore and develop... |
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Yuanyuan Wu, who is your favorite designer?
Yuanyuan Wu: Japanese designer Kenya Hara, Paula Scher, Zaha Hadid, Steve Jobs, and Elon Musk.
Yuanyuan Wu, would you tell us a bit about your lifestyle and culture?
Yuanyuan Wu: I like Stockholm. Yes, I like listening to music while designing.
I was born and educated in China until I was 18 and then I moved to Scandinavia and lived there for over 12 years. Now I moved back to China. I think the cultural difference and different lifestyle shapes me as who I am today. My personal experience has provided me with a unique point of way and way of thinking... |
Yuanyuan Wu, would you tell us more about your work culture and business philosophy?
Yuanyuan Wu: I am easy to work with. I like teamwork and hire people who share the same values.
I am running a design company together with my business partners. We create cultural and creative products and sell them to the public. I am the creative director and I am responsible for the creative part, brand positioning, and marketing for the products.
The challenge now is to find the right market for our products, targeting people, and create the products that they will like... |
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Yuanyuan Wu, what are your philanthropic contributions to society as a designer, artist, and architect?
Yuanyuan Wu: I have done many pro bono design work for non-profit associations and social entrepreneurs.
I think a designer should have social responsibilities, we should use design power to help social vulnerable groups, solve social problems, and make the world a better place.
I am quite active in design events and conferences. I also teach at the university in China. I always encourage my students to enter design competitions... |
Yuanyuan Wu, what positive experiences you had when you attend the A’ design award?
Yuanyuan Wu: It's great horror to win the A' Design Award and it is also a certificate to prove my designing skills.
The main benefit of participating to design awards and competitions is that 1) Can evaluate your professional work and designing skills. 2) See other good designs and learn from them. 3) Get to know like-minded people and communicate with them... |
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Yuanyuan Wu, can you tell us more about your company/design studio?
Yuanyuan Wu: My company GoChina AS has offices in Norway and China. We help Nordic brands expand their businesses in China market by providing them with branding design and digital marketing solutions. We also create cultural and creative products that merge traditional Chinese elements and motifs with Nordic style and spirits... |
Yuanyuan Wu, what is "design" for you?
Yuanyuan Wu: I think "design" is not simply about designing things, I think it's an important comprehensive ability to observe things, experiencing things, and processing things to create something out of it. A good design must be unique and it is the personal understanding and experience from a designer: The inspiration could come from a cup of coffee, a movie, a delicious meal, an adventure, or a relationship that the designer has had... |
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Yuanyuan Wu, what kinds of works do you like designing most?
Yuanyuan Wu: Personal projects. Branding design from logo concept to the final application. I like to work on projects that I can be more creative, not only the concept development but also work through the entire process to the final production... |
Yuanyuan Wu, what was the first thing you designed for a company?
Yuanyuan Wu: I don't remember, perhaps a poster or an illustration...
Yuanyuan Wu, when do you feel the most creative?
Yuanyuan Wu: When I feel relaxed and feel happy...
Yuanyuan Wu, how do you think the "design field" is evolving? what is the future of design?
Yuanyuan Wu: The future of design will be brighter and more dynamic I think. The design will meet the needs of many niche markets... |
Yuanyuan Wu, designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time? Yuanyuan Wu : Some times I forgot time, I can sit still for hours and hours, so being a designer is tough...
Yuanyuan Wu, thank you for giving us the opportunity to interview you... To learn more about Yuanyuan Wu and check more designs by Yuanyuan Wu as well as to see more Yuanyuan Wu designs such as Chinese Zodiac visit designeroftheday.com/?236023 |
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| We hope you enjoyed our interview of Yuanyuan Wu. This interview was made possible by the contributions of A' Design Award and Competition - The World's largest and most influential design accolade. A' Design Award is an annual, international design award open to both concept stage and realized works by designers, artists, architects and brands worldwide. A' Design Award and Competition aims to create a public awareness and understanding of good design by promoting the best designers such as Yuanyuan Wu and their design works worldwide. Visit designaward.com to learn more. |
 REFERENCES/BIBLIOGRAPHY:
https://competition.adesignaward.com/designer.php?profile=236023 https://competition.adesignaward.com/design.php?ID=74173 |
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This article was added on Tuesday, 15th of September, 2020 at 05.18 am by author 
