The Joy of Swimming Fish Exhibition Space Design by Qian Zhen

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DI: What is the main principle, idea and inspiration behind your design?

QZ : Openness and fluidity, inspired by a dialogue from Zhuangzi by the pond, expressing a philosophical idea of transcending worldly concerns.

DI: What has been your main focus in designing this work? Especially what did you want to achieve?

QZ : How to express a philosophical idea through space? First, I need to understand what that philosophy conveys—is it about the relationship between self and the world, or a different way of perceiving it? What I aim to achieve is the process of reflection itself.

DI: What are your future plans for this award winning design?

QZ : I want to turn it into a physical model and place it at my workplace; I don’t have grander ambitions beyond that.

DI: How long did it take you to design this particular concept?

QZ : About a year or so.

DI: Why did you design this particular concept? Was this design commissioned or did you decide to pursuit an inspiration?

QZ : This specific concept stems from my interest in Eastern philosophical ideas and their guidance in my life. This design wasn’t commissioned; every step from inspiration to realization, including the details, was under my control.

DI: Is your design being produced or used by another company, or do you plan to sell or lease the production rights or do you intent to produce your work yourself?

QZ : Currently, I have no intention of selling, leasing, or producing it.

DI: What made you design this particular type of work?

QZ : Graduation.

DI: Where there any other designs and/or designers that helped the influence the design of your work?

QZ : Junya Ishigami, Antoni Gaudí, and Mies van der Rohe.

DI: Who is the target customer for his design?

QZ : Commercial.

DI: What sets this design apart from other similar or resembling concepts?

QZ : Contemplation and deep thinking guide my design process.

DI: How did you come up with the name for this design? What does it mean?

QZ : It originates from the core concept of the design itself.

DI: Which design tools did you use when you were working on this project?

QZ : I use rendering software on a computer to bring my ideas to life.

DI: What is the most unique aspect of your design?

QZ : Curves and materials are essential elements that define the aesthetic and structure.

DI: Who did you collaborate with for this design? Did you work with people with technical / specialized skills?

QZ : Myself—I rely on my own intuition and skills.

DI: What is the role of technology in this particular design?

QZ : To better represent the actual effect and enhance the final outcome.

DI: Is your design influenced by data or analytical research in any way? What kind of research did you conduct for making this design?

QZ : Researching the concept and studying how other designers have brought their ideas to life.

DI: What are some of the challenges you faced during the design/realization of your concept?

QZ : Technology plays a crucial role in advancing my designs.

DI: How did you decide to submit your design to an international design competition?

QZ : To understand my true position and place in the design world.

DI: What did you learn or how did you improve yourself during the designing of this work?

QZ : I learned how to realize a design step by step, breaking it down into manageable phases.

DI: Any other things you would like to cover that have not been covered in these questions?

QZ : Not at the moment.