Interview
Leung Jia Jun
1 Please give us a brief bio of yourself and your design background.
Jia Jun is an industrial designer in YSQ International, in Singapore. Having being in the tobacco industry for 2 years, I design mostly electronic device to allow consumers to use the portable device to enjoy on the go. After graduated in industrial design from NUS, Singapore, I found myself doing medical design in Agilent Technologies ,Karlsruhe Germany. It has allowed me to explore usable design using my prototyping skills. Since then I move to furniture industry and now electronic.
2 What made you become/why did you choose to become a designer/artist?
I made my first Sofa, and solid work furniture in 2013 in school when I was studying interior design. I didn
3 Tell us more about your business/company, job profile, and what you do.
YSQ International is a tobacco manufacturing company that produces cigarettes. Tapping on the digital device approach, we hope to convert traditional smokers to the heated consumed cigarette. Heated cigarette as compared to the traditional cigarette uses the battery to power the heat and burn the tobacco leaves instead of the traditional method of combustion.
4 What does “design” mean to you?
Design is an emotion, to design is to give meaning to the object created. It is an emotional object because the exterior form of an object makes us feel a certain way. Softer form make us feel happy sometimes. Design exist to please the user through a practical function.
5 What’s your favorite kind of design and why?
My favourite will be super normal design, the design that doesn
6 To you, what makes a “good” design?
Good design is honest is not pretentious. Good design is costly because the designers are trying to create something that no one has attempted , and be innovative in the concept of the manufacturing. Good design to me is to create something that is extraordinary and spread the positivity
7 Describe your design style and its main characteristics.
My style is modern rugged type of styling. This method is to give a modern look to replace the existing look of the object. The main characteristic is clean edges with intricate details
8 Tell us about your design process.
When I Received a brief, I will start the project with competitor
9 Do you think your country and its cultural heritage has an impact on your design process?
Living in Singapore allowed me refine my concept of using less material and achieve more. The Design scene in Singapore has been focus on catching up the design trends, hence, it does not really encourage one to stay on one area of design for long. I meant the designers have to be always upskill their style to meet the commercial needs. However, for me I came to realized that I love repeating one single action of sculpting clay for a long period. I found a quiet space to continue making small iteration and refinement on the clay prototype, and that has slowly develop my style.
10 Congratulations! As the winner of the 2023 MUSE Design Awards, what does it mean to you and your company and team to receive this award distinction?
It is very encouraging because as an independent designer. I was glad that I took risk for this projects, it is always safer to choose an easier method to design, and to execute the project, however, taking the harder route sometimes might lengthen the ideation period. As a winner of Muse Design, I feel honored.
11 Can you explain a bit about the winning work you entered into the 2023 MUSE Design Awards, and why you chose to enter this project?
It is really encouraging because these 2 years has been challenging for independent designers. During the Covid 19 period, furniture manufactures were trying to keep the assembling pipe line moving as per normal. However proposing a change in the construction technique was frown upon, and I was slightly discouraged by that fact that, furniture manufactures were reluctant to try any new method of construction. Hence winning this, under this category was heartening for me.
12 What was the biggest challenge with this project?
My main difficulty was to convince the furniture manufacturer to change their existing way of manufacturing furniture. Manufacturers are used to the simplest and most efficient method , hence it is slightly challenging to allow them to try another method of construction.
13 How has winning an Award developed your practice/career?
Q13. How has winning an Award developed your practice/career? It has given me more confidence in developing concepts, and stretch my thinking about manufacturing method. Winning This award has allowed me to see how concepts can come to life, it made me realize that prototype and rendering are ways to visualize the project.
14 What are your top three (3) favorite things about our industry?
What I love about this award is that, it is separated in gold, silver category which gave us as designers to see how the judges view and rate our projects
15 What makes your country specifically, unique in the design industry?
Singapore .There is a very strong UIUX design industry in Singapore. Hence, developing hardware has been an interesting area in my country because I have to find resources and the right manufacturer to produce my work.
16 Where do you see the evolution of design industry going over the next 5-10 years?
The next topic is to discuss circular design, and how the products will have an even lasting appearance. How to get consumer to choose something which is more timeless and long lasting, so that as designer we don
17 If you were a student entering this industry or an aspiring MUSE Design Awards submitter, what advice would you give them?
Design your style, and be patient. Do not rush into something because everyone else is doing that.
18 What resources would you recommend to someone who wants to improve their skills in the design industry?
Behance will be good platform. Fiverr will be good for freelancing and pinterest will be good.
19 Tell us something you have never told anyone else.
I thought that creative projects can just focus on manufacturing, but I was wrong
20 Who has inspired you in your life and why?
My professor in my university, they gave me the confidence to continue to develop my work. Without their encouragement in school, I would probably have a very narrow vision of design. Having tried medical design, fashion design, furniture design and electronic design. I enjoyed doing these categories. I will be doing and focus more in my brand , and designing more projects under my name.
21 What is your key to success? Any parting words of wisdom?
Trying and take the less common route
22 Do you have anything else you would like to add to the interview?
Try and take the harder route, because you might not see the immediate outcome, but it is worth it.
