At the 2006-2007 Next-Gen PC Design Competition was the winner of the Chairman’s Award John Leung. His winning entry was the innovative concept computer MADE in China which uses next-generation wireless technologies that allow software to run from centralized servers, shifting the bulk of hardware to software service providers where they can be utilized and recycled more efficiently. Input is driven by a pair of chopsticks for new forms of user interaction. John has started the design band AARIVE and is also the recipient of numerous local and international design awards. I’ve had a chance to talk with him a little about the competition and his thoughts on design.
Give us a little background about yourself; and what sparked your interest in design?
For half of my life, I lived in Hong Kong, and the other half, I lived in Australia. The knowledge and experiences from the east and west has really shaped me into a global & holistic thinker. This also allows me to discover more loopholes and opportunities in everyday life for design. The process of discovery is what always interests me.
Looking back, did you expect yourself winning the Chairman’s Award? What was the feeling when you realized that you’ve won the Bill Gates’ award?
I remember before the announcement of the result, MADE in China wasn’t one of the popular ones amongst the Internet community. It wasn’t much talked about, it wasn’t much publicized. When I entered the contest a year ago, what I wanted most was to pitch my revolutionary PC concept to the world – to benefit the world. A concept of a young person (no matter how much potential it carries) can not go anywhere without opportunities like these. I believe there’s no good or bad design. When my design got personally selected by Bill Gates and won this contest, what meant most to me was that I shared the same grand vision as Bill Gates and Microsoft.
What was the inspiration for MADE in China?
The inspiration came from seeing how most PCs nowadays are made IN China but none are really made FOR China. I wanted to design something which begins with the 1.3 billion people in mind – something with a primary interface which doesn’t start with a keyboard with foreign alphabets.
What aspects of MADE in China do you think have made it stand out?
It is how simply it addresses multiple fields simultaneously – the users, manufactures and the environment. Many of the features on the MADE in China are simple and nothing new, but it is the way they are put together to address a single grand purpose which defines the innovativeness of MADE in China.
Tell us about your dreams for your design band AARIVE and where do you see it going in the future?
“AARIVE the design band” is also my concept. We want our designs to be like music, for people to enjoy. I also want the designers(including me) to get the kind of happiness associated with making music, so to keep us making even more designs in the future. I’m foreseeing a branch of designers who will follow a path similar to bands and artists in the popular music industry. AARIVE is definitely leading that way.
How do you come up with ideas? Do you have to think hard or do they just come naturally?
Ideas come to me with everyday experiences. Just have to be conscious of them. I collect them as I go. Playing with ideas is like playing with Lego. There is a bag of them and I have to see how each of them can fit together to accomplish my goal. To be efficient at it, usually you need to be a very free thinker.
What kind of products do you enjoy designing the most?
As a matter the fact, I like to design things I hate – it can be anything from Building to Product to Graphics. It’s the most satisfying in design, to start off with something you hate and end up with something you love.
What are/were you studying at university and how has it influenced your design work?
I’ve started the Masters of Architecture this year. Having a background in architecture does make me more aware of pragmatic issues. Knowledge in different field is always the ingredient for innovation, but I never let my knowledge hinder my free thinking.
When you’re near finished designing something, how do you know when it’s complete or when it’s good enough?
I often say a design is “concreted” by the designer rather than “completed” by the designer. When to concrete a design is highly dependant on the project. Most of the time, the concreted design reflects my state of mind for that project’s duration.
As someone coming from Hong Kong, how do you see it as having an influence on your design style?
Hong Kong is a very special place, it’s a small city with a lot of international influence. I do keep internationalism in mind when I design.
What do you consider is important for new graduate designers entering the industry in this age?
Passion. Direction. Don’t enter this industry at all without uttermost passion in a direction.
Tell us an “ah-ha” moment where a creative idea suddenly popped up in your mind that solved a real-world problem.
I still remember the “ah-ha” moment when I came up with the idea for the MADE in China infrastructure. I was on the train and thinking about the future of 3G telecommunication – what will happen when we have 10G…? The idea of the MADE infrastructure pop-up and I instantly realized its vast potentials – it literally give me Goosebumps! But when an idea like this comes up suddenly, I always ask myself – “why not?”
What do think of the current and future state of the design industry?
If you ask me about the current state, I’d say … “give more chances to the young designers!!”
What would be the ultimate design project for you?
Nowadays, the so-called “popular designs” are those “half-a-step ahead designs” majority of the population embraces; while the so-called “good designs” are those “one-step ahead designs” which those in the design industry celebrates. I hope to get a real life opportunity for a design project where I can be at least TWO steps ahead.
What other activities or hobbies do you enjoy besides design?
I enjoy the Internet very much – especially innovations like the Wikipedia and YouTube. It’s like getting out of the house without getting out of the house at all!!
After winning so many design awards, what are your career plans now?
I’m building up AARIVE. I’m also looking for more design opportunities. I also want to write a book.
Last but not least, what advice would you give to young aspiring designers?
Once again – Passion, Direction. Be passionate about designing – but HATE your designs.
My thanks to John for his time and effort. Take a look and see more of John’s design work at his website AARIVE.
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