Interview with Zhen Li | An Emerging Interior Designer with a Wide Range of Expertise

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Zhen Li

Zhen Li is a highly acclaimed emerging interior designer. He has a wide range of expertise in furniture design, graphic design, interactive design, Fine Art, and photography, among other design fields. With his diverse design methods, he showcases greater possibilities and higher integrity in expressing design concepts.

1Please give us a brief bio of yourself and your design background.

I am Zhen Li, an emerging interior designer with a wide range of expertise in furniture design, graphic design, interactive design, Fine Art, and photography, among other design fields. Through my diverse design methods, I aim to showcase greater possibilities and higher integrity in expressing design concepts.

I am not just a designer; I am also a socially responsible advocate. Many of my projects focus on social issues, and I actively seek to improve the quality of life for marginalized groups through innovative design methods.

My unique life experiences have given me a distinctive worldview. I am passionate about design, eager to explore, and possess an endless curiosity. These qualities drive me to constantly move forward, grow, and become a better designer.

2What made you become/why did you choose to become an architectural / interior designer?
Throughout my growth, I've realized that people's living spaces and environments can significantly influence their feelings, moods, and even personalities. When I create a space, I feel outstanding achievement and joy if it can enhance the quality of life for its users, help them live more mindfully, and provide them with novel experiences.
3Tell us more about your business/company, job profile, and what you do.
Currently, most of my main work projects involve corporate interior spaces. I am also involved in furniture design, graphic design, interaction design, and photography.
4What does “design” mean to you?

To me, design is about understanding and caring for "Humans". In my design practice, "Humans are the primary audience, so studying people's physical and mental characteristics is crucial. In addition, design is also an understanding of life. It is not superior but integrated into daily life.

Optimizing and improving life is an excellent design. As a rational activity, design is similar to detective work, requiring extensive investigation and collection of information to identify and integrate clues to problems, draw inspiration from them, and solve all problems.

5What’s your favorite kind of design and why?
I don't have a specific preference; all fields of design are interconnected, differing only in their modes of expression.
6To you, what makes a “good” design?
First, good interior design finds a unique concept rooted in the local cultural context. This concept should be simple and logically connected to the design. Secondly, design that fully considers users' needs, ensuring multi-functionality and adaptability to different uses at different times. Thirdly, it emphasizes environmental friendliness and energy efficiency by using local and recyclable materials to reduce pollution. Lastly, from an aesthetic perspective, good design should transcend its era and remain relevant across different times.
7Describe your design style and its main characteristics.
My style is relatively diverse, but I prefer simple elements. Both Eastern Zen aesthetics and the multifaceted cultural influences of the West have significantly impacted my design approach.
8Tell us about your design process.
Before starting a project, I dedicate significant time and effort to thoroughly researching the local culture and environment. I strive to find a novel and exciting perspective to interpret the local culture, from which I develop the project concept. During the design phase, I conduct extensive analyses of my prior research and use design techniques to address the site's deficiencies while aiming to utilize as many local materials as possible.
9Do you think your country and its cultural heritage has an impact on your design process?
My country's culture and philosophy of life have greatly influenced my design. For example, in Western, the focus is mainly on the brightness of light in the space. However, in the East, people appreciate shadows and low-light environments. My cultural heritage gives me a different perspective on how to approach design.
10Congratulations! As the winner of the NY Architectural Design Awards, what does it mean to you and your company and team to receive this award distinction?
This award is significant to me. It will help me gain more confidence and courage to pursue my ideas boldly.
11Can you explain a bit about the winning work you entered into the NY Architectural Design Awards, and why you chose to enter this project?
The competition project is called "Around the Clock." The central concept is that redefining the temporal boundaries and contingencies of interior space can transform machine-centric civil infrastructure from an instrument of class stratification to a humane environment of socioeconomic inclusion. I am participating in this competition because the NY Architectural Design Awards offer excellent exposure, greatly benefiting my future career development.
12What was the biggest challenge with this project?

The most challenging part of the design process is attempting to find a design approach and perspective that can connect all the issues that need to be addressed. The three major problems that need simultaneous resolution include:

1. Finding value in repurposing a large number of abandoned private cars and parking lots in the future.

2. Reducing environmental pollution in conditions of natural resource scarcity and environmental degradation.

3. Addressing the increasing urban population and solving the issue of affordable housing.

What adds more challenge is my desire to bring higher value to the people living in this community. It requires finding a design strategy to break social class barriers, encouraging communication and mutual learning among people of different social strata. Meeting all these requirements, designing a reasonable solution, fulfilling my vision for the future, ensuring the basic spatial functionality, and assisting the vulnerable group pose a challenging task for me.

13How has winning an award developed your practice/career?
To some extent, the award can prove my capabilities and lead to more media coverage, which can help me gain more opportunities.
14What are your top three (3) favorite things about our industry?
Create, inspiration, and collaborations.
15Where do you see the evolution of design industry going over the next 5-10 years?
In the next 5-10 years, more artificial intelligence will be involved in the design phase, and the project construction process will pay more attention to environmental protection and energy conservation.
16If you were a student entering this industry or an aspiring NY Architectural Design Awards submitter, what advice would you give them?
Propose your project boldly and work hard to make it happen.
17What resources would you recommend to someone who wants to improve their skills in the design industry?
Archdaily, Designboom, and Detail.
18Who has inspired you in your life and why?
Wang Shu, he combined traditional Chinese culture with modern architecture very well.
19What is your key to success? Any parting words of wisdom?
You learn, you earn.

Winning Entry

Around The Clock | New York Architectural Design Awards

The project anticipates a private car-free future in 2040, repurposing idle parking garages into multifunctional affordable housing through innovative interior design to address resource scarcity... (read more here.)


Zhen Li

Zhen Li is a highly acclaimed emerging interior designer. He has a wide range of expertise in furniture design, graphic design, interactive design, Fine Art, and photography, among other design fields. With his diverse design methods, he showcases greater possibilities and higher integrity in expressing design concepts.


Read about the interview with Xinyue Geng | Architectural Designer & Artist With a Rich Professional Journey here.

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