We had the distinct pleasure to interview award winning designer Lo, Ron about their original and creative Chairs Collection design work. Lo, Ron is an award-winning industrial designer, that makes our world a better place with their original chairs collection works.
Lo, Ron ("LR") answered Design Interview ("DI") questions about their award-winning work Ning Chairs Collection. Interview questions prepared by Frank Scott.
LR : Let modern space immerse into the aesthetic of Chinese heritage object.
LR : First, finding simplicity beauty of the "Ming Style Round-backed armchair" and figuring the practical, module solutions to create the collection. Second, design general typologies of the series chair for the modern environment which remain the beauty of Chinese object.
LR : Promoting the concept to the potential producer which is interested with the design concept, then dedicate myself to keep working on the details and make it come true.
LR : The concept was growing for 3 years, then I fulfill through this concept in the master program and took 2 years for researching, design, prototyping this work.
LR : As the Mandarin speaker, I tried to research the language of objects. That's how the concept started. The concept is driven by personal request, by asking myself and responding by myself.
LR : Yes, I hope that I could cooperate with the producer or brand to produce the design.
LR : One of the reasons makes this design particular because the design reveals the process that finding the way how to conserve the traditional design language in the contemporary era.
LR : Bouroullec brothers, Naoto Fukasawa, Jasper Morrison, Keiji Ashizawa, Tomoko Azumi, Konstantin Grcic, Edward Barber & Jay Osgerby.
LR : Restaurant, fashion brand, the modern office, simplicity apartment which would like to use the objects to create an impressive atmosphere with silence beauty in the interior usage.
LR : The design concept is focusing on responding to personally question, how to conserve the language of objects and how could it be in this contemporary era. Sometimes the way designers quest ourselves with a familiar started point. Besides, the system of design education conveys the major perspective of aesthetic. Therefore those make some designers come up with a similar outline, features. However, if we anatomy the process to see the way of interpretation. The processing must have some difference.
LR : “NING” reveals the design purpose. In Mandarin, this word has multiple meanings. In terms of the noun, 甯 Ning is used as an ancient family surname. As a form of the verb, it presents motions as wishing and hoping. In an adjective use“, NING”expresses a peaceful and tranquil status. With this context, “NING” as a verb represents the entire design process-passing on eastern aestheticism in the modern world, conveying the spiritual atmosphere of peace and calm. To me, the chair reveals the aesthetic of curves of the female body and the “Ning” normally is used for the name of the female. Therefore I decided to name this collection as "Ning collection". At last, the pronunciation of "Ning" is familiar as "Ming" which metaphor the interpretation from "Ming chair".
LR : About the software, I used Rhino, Keyshot, Vray to do the visual presentation. About the research tool, I was inspired by a methodology of my instructor Professor Cheng-Neng Kuan which called "Ways of interpretation".
LR : The purpose that quests the design himself that where's our design language came from?
LR : I collaborate with a design studio called "Medium2studio" which held by my close friends. The specialty of the studio is solid furniture design knowledge.
LR : The prototype was made by CNC machine. Therefore the role of the technology is the application of CNC machine.
LR : No, it is driven by personal perspective. The way of research is digging the deepest side of my mind and seeing, observing the reality in this era. Keep reflecting, questing myself to find the appropriate solution.
LR : People might see a chair, but don't know where is the chair came from. Therefore, one of the challenges is making people recognize the story. But before that, to the designer himself. How to re-interpret the iconic traditional object into the modern era which couldn't let people feel cliche.
LR : 1. Sharing the perspective of design with the world. 2. Finding the potential producer, brand to produce the design. 3. Trying to promote my design and designer himself to the world.
LR : Reading, traveling to expand the perspective of the design. Observing, reflecting to review the perspective. Thinking, meditating to integrate the design solution. Making, adjusting to feel the design, memorize the feeling through the skin. Reflecting, questing to the designer himself to analyze the problem. Interpreting, re-interpreting the design again.
LR : No thank you, the organizers had already listed the great questions for designer.
