We had the distinct pleasure to interview award winning designer Hung Yuan Chang about their original and creative Coffee Table design work. Hung Yuan Chang is an award-winning industrial designer, that makes our world a better place with their original coffee table works.
Hung Yuan Chang ("HYC") answered Design Interview ("DI") questions about their award-winning work Bridge DNA Coffee Table. Interview questions prepared by Frank Scott.
HYC : This work centers on the relationship between bridge structure, construction methods and timberwork, coming from the processes of design and manufacturing. In this project, I intend to discover and develop different characteristics of different structures and materials and create works that are visually powerful using different visual languages.
HYC : My aim was to use all the works and structures that I have created to link all my designs. The minimum components I had designed are linked and by connecting all the components in a certain pattern, I was able to demonstrate and present my topic. I followed the basic components of bridge design and developed a unique three-dimensional structure.
HYC : For me, a piece of furniture is a miniature building. I had obtained different types of professional knowledge and in the future, I will integrate this knowledge and make it the core of my creations.
HYC : As I said in the previous question, my aim was to use all the works and structures that I have created to link all my designs. The inspiration of the design came from a very important experience of my past live working as an architect and at that time I was working on designing a bridge. This experience gave me a huge influence thus I brought that to my later furnitures.
HYC : It’s not being produced or used by any companies and I intent to produce your work myself.
HYC : The design as I mentioned, was inspired by the experience from my previous professional work. And also I wanted to add a little bit more challenge for myself, transforming the concept from a much larger object to a piece of furniture and here’s what I did. The design as I mentioned, was inspired by the experience from my previous professional work. And also I wanted to add a little bit more challenge for myself, transforming the concept from a much larger object to a piece of furniture and here’s what I did.
HYC : Sure there are many important chair designs in the history and all of them have their own impact on me but as for the inspiration, it’s all myself.
HYC : Usually designer tends to use something stronger to make a piece of furniture, at least something that’s being able to hold a human’s weight, but I went another route. I used the wood strip that are not entirely strong if you see it separately but I used the techniques and the knowledge that I learned to create a structure that made the combination of these wood strip incredibly strong and comfortable.
HYC : Bridge DNA is from my knowledge of transforming the bridge into furniture. DNA represents the core of the structure of a bridge.
HYC : I succeeded in putting my ideas into practice conceptually and practically. Complex structures can show the power of structure. Visually, it can show the uniqueness of the concept and it is light and firm at the same.
HYC : No, I made the piece solely. But I appreciate my professors Richard Tannen, Andy Buck and Juan Carlos Caballero-Perez who gave me some valuable advices during the process.
HYC : Laminate bending and knowledge of designing and building a bridge.
HYC : Probably not that much. I had to do a lot of research during the process of course but those were mainly about the structures of bridges.
HYC : The process of transforming the idea to a real piece of work is not easy. Although I have the experience and knowledge of how to build a bridge, but using wood strip to present the work is not that easy. Wood strip is very unstable and they could be broken or twisted easily. I’ve done numerous calculation and experiments on the size, structure and everything before actual crafting it but there were no guarantee until it is completed. I was glad it came out just the way I wanted.
HYC : I was very confident with my work and I wanted it to be seen as much as possible. International design competition is the best way to go.
HYC : During the process of design, my goal changed. At first, my goal was to create the work with bridge DNA, and then my goal changed to utilize bridge DNA help me develop my work. This shift in goal took place organically. At the early stage, I focused on the work with bridge DNA, put too much of my experience into the work and tried to connect my experience to my work, which was stiffly reflected in the stiffness of my early projects, and resulted in several limitations. The characteristics of a bridge were imposed on the furniture so the structure was reasonable, but not natural. In my later works, a more appropriate process was established. I focused on the most important things in the process, thus the characteristics of a bridge were naturally presented, making the work conform to the theme of bridge DNA.
HYC : Thank you for giving me the opportunity. I am glad my beautiful work is now being able to get in front of a larger audience.
