It is about a Way-of-Being
We are living in an advanced era; in the 21st century, design has become highly developed in terms of technology and increasingly diverse in its thinking. However, the overwhelming abundance of choices can leave one feeling confused. The existence of diverse design philosophies has made it progressively more difficult to assess the state of the field.
I believe that what the contemporary era needs is design that has spirit—design where materiality, form, and function all harmonize with the designer’s inner essence. This spirituality, this humanity, is what I find increasingly difficult to capture in today’s design. People focus on the environment, explore materials and technology, and refine service functions, but where is the voice of humanity? Good design is soulful; it is when you see it, touch it, and feel it that you resonate with the designer’s spirit. From an analytical perspective, this feeling emerges when all design elements are seamlessly integrated to convey a unique experience.
As an industrial and furniture designer, I focus on the theoretical aspects of design. For me, this represents the designer's reflection on aesthetics. Aesthetics not only concerns appearance; it transcends physicality, extending from the spiritual into the material. From the minimalist “less is more” of modernism, to Japan’s design philosophy rooted in Zen, and the stylized elements of Italian postmodernism; from Mies van der Rohe's Barcelona chair, to Eames’s vision of mass production serving the public, to Ettore Sottsass’s poetic approach to design—these figures and ideas have deeply influenced me and have shaped my own design philosophy.
The designs I strive for are intelligent, beautiful, and timeless. I aim to create works that are serene and clean in their composition, with subtle details that stand like sculptures, speaking to the soul of the piece. I want to bring a unique sense of individualism, using the advanced technologies and materials of our time to think about designs that balance both form and function—designs that can withstand scrutiny, and, above all, are soulful.