1Please give us a brief bio of yourself and your background.
Graduating from the ArtCenter College of Design with a major in Transportation Design, I have worked as a car interior designer at VW/Audi Design Center California, Audi AG in Germany, Genesis Design North America, and Hyundai Design North America. I am passionate about creating enjoyable and eco-friendly lifestyles for people.
2What made you become/why did you choose to become a product designer?
A good product can bring joy to people's daily lives. I'm fascinated by classic product design, which is often simple and smart. It would be a delightful experience for me to create a product that could be cherished and used by future generations.
3Tell us more about your business/company, job profile, and what you do.
Our team are plant-lovers. We've often found ourselves wanting to improve the life and growth of our plants but struggling to find the ideal products. Our friends faced similar issues. As product designers, we conducted extensive research and realized the potential in this market.
So, we decided to create a design studio focused on plant-related products. Starting with sketches, renderings, and 3D modeling, we brought our designs to life using cutting-edge 3D printing technology. Now, we offer a series of Oasis Poles that support the vertical growth of indoor plants.
4What does “design” mean to you?
Design means problem-solving.
5What’s your favorite kind of design and why?
My favorite designs have warmth; they are alive, unique, and capable of being passed down through generations.
6To you, what makes a “good” design?
Good design naturally blends into your life, becoming an integral part of it without drawing attention to itself.
7Describe your design style and its main characteristics.
My design is function-oriented. By omitting decorative elements, I achieve aesthetics that harmonize with excellent functionality.
8Tell us about your design process.
We always begin with extensive user research, analyzing their pain points and understanding the ideal experiences. Starting with quick sketches, we then build 3D models to facilitate better discussions.
After that, we 3D print prototypes, test their functions, analyze any issues, and iterate on the design. We also send prototypes to users for testing before mass production. Their valuable feedback helps us refine the design, ensuring we deliver the best experience with high quality and durability.
9Do you think your country and its cultural heritage has an impact on your design process?
Yes, being born in China, my design thinking has been profoundly influenced by our long and rich history. My favorite era is the Song Dynasty, with its philosophy of achieving harmony between nature and reasoning. "Nature" involves observation, imitation, and blending seamlessly with the natural world. This philosophy provides me with abundant inspiration and guidance in my design process.
10Congratulations! As the winner of the 2024 NY Product Design Awards, what does it mean to you and your company and team to receive this award distinction?
Thank you so much for recognizing our design and efforts! This is a significant milestone for us and boosts our confidence in the path we have chosen. We will continue to improve our products and make them available to more people around the world.
11Can you explain a bit about the winning work you entered into the 2024 NY Product Design Awards, and why you chose to enter this project?
Tomo, the oasis pole, boasts an exquisite generative pattern design, a symphony of complexity achieved through cutting-edge 3D Printing technology and recyclable, plant-based materials.
Inspired by the immersive joy of tropical rainforests and addressing the challenges we encountered in supporting the vertical growth of tropical plants, Tomo embodies our passion for bringing innovative solutions to life and sharing them with plant enthusiasts.
12What was the biggest challenge with this project?
The biggest challenge is to mass-produce the intricate pattern design with a reasonable budget.
13How has winning an award developed your practice/career?
This boosts our confidence in the path we've chosen. It's becoming increasingly evident that we will persist with our design approach and expand our product offerings with more series in the future.
14What are your top three (3) favorite things about our industry?
1. To be a good product designer is challenging.
2. It feels great to use the product I designed.
3. It feels even better that my designs receive recognition.
15Where do you see the evolution of design industry going over the next 5-10 years?
People may grow tired of the commonplace things they encounter daily. Classic forms and preferences may resurge in popularity.
16If you were a student entering this industry or an aspiring NY Product Design Awards submitter, what advice would you give them?
Believe in yourself and keep working. You will succeed!
17What resources would you recommend to someone who wants to improve their skills in the design industry?
Learn from your peers, professors, colleagues, managers, and everyone better than you. It is always a good idea to keep up to date with the latest technology and incorporate it in your design ideas.
18Tell us something you have never told anyone else.
I am a whisky collector.
19Who has inspired you in your life and why?
My sister has inspired me a lot with her persistence and strong heart.
20What is your key to success? Any parting words of wisdom?
Endless hard work is always the key to success. Do not work with stress; instead, love your work or make your hobby your work, so that you do not need to distinguish between the two and can find joy in your efforts every day.
21Do you have anything else you would like to add to the interview?
Thank you so much for giving me this great opportunity to share more about my life and journey!
