Vivian Wai-kwan Cheng started his career as a watch designer and went on to work as an industrial designer for fashion accessories. Vivian has had a significant impact on the Hong Kong design community. She is a member of several design associations and is a senior lecturer in product design at the Hong Kong Institute of Design (HKDI). She spoke to Ken Koo, chairman of Asia, after a jury meeting in Essen in late February this year. Vivian showed his design concept in the dialogue.

Ken Koo(KK): I see that you are always fashionable and you prefer some specific colors.
Wai-kwan Cheng (VC): I am not fashionable, but I have my own style, because if I use the word "fashionable", it means I chase the trend. Fashion and trends change every few months, but I don't follow suit at all. I have my own unique style. I have my own color system. My colors are always red, black and white.

KK: As far as what you wear, I know your preferences are black, white and a special red. Does this color system also apply to your furniture or even your study?
VC: Yes! Exactly! My house is basically all white, including bathrooms, sheets and everything else. I like to be mainly white with small elements of red and black. The reason is because the living space in Hong Kong is very small. If there is too much black, the space will look crowded; if it is white, the space will become larger visually. In addition, if you add a lot of details, the house will look smaller; if everything turns white, you will feel that you have more space. It's a space issue. The only exception is my kitchen floors. They are black because I want to experience the feeling of floating in the air. It gives me space to think and imagine.

KK: How does color affect today's industrial design? For example, how to design a piece of furniture?

VC: Color is a design language.

KK: So, if the designer wants to accept orders from the company to design something, how to choose this color system, will he use his own preferences or tailor the color code for the customer.
VC: I think he must know the company's ideas and goals. If the company wants to make a breakthrough, color matching may be one of the ways, but it may also be a new form. I will understand the needs of the company.

KK: Color can experience form and mood. But in the Red Dot Design Concept Award, most of the concepts submitted were monochromatic. What is the reason?
VC: When designers produce design concepts, they pay more attention to function, innovation and form. Most of the time they ignore colors, because it is very safe to use black and gray, because these two colors can never go wrong. Sometimes it is because the designer only has 3D visual effects and no physical model. Therefore, 3D visual effects with high contrast tones are safer.

KK: Do you have any suggestions for the designers participating in the Red Dot Design Concept Award? Specifically, how do they use color to make their work fuller?
VC: First of all, they have to think carefully about the goals they are designing. Then, consider the function of color, because color does have function. For example, what does green mean? Green always gives you the impression of safety. Red indicates special concerns, dangers and special signals, such as conveying the "I am hot" message. The gray is subtle and steady. Therefore, when applying color to design, the function of color needs to be considered.

KK: Thank you for your interview.