Waterson: Hello Students and everyone. Happy and excited to be here to share ideas with everyone on Designboom.
Designboom: Can you introduce in50 Studio? Do you accept student intern?
Waterson: Our Chinese name is 昱华建筑 and english name is in50 Design Studio. Means in 50 years or design that takes into account the future so everything design we do must be sustainable and our mission to create a brighter tomorrow for people.
At in50 we are little bit different. We don’t start designing right away, we will start by ask QUESTION like what is the real MEANINGS? and do lots of RESEARCH. We want to RE-DEFINE things and will not accept merely what has been done before as fact, for us INNOVATION IS SURVIVAL. We want to give people an experience that is a little bit different.
Yes, we welcome student interns at in50 Studio. We are looking for students with new ideas and the following skills and experience:
- Design Skills: Good hand sketch and model making; Fast learner and conceptual thinker.
- Communication: Speaks English and Mandarin; Can do brainstorming of ideas in a team setting and easy to talk with.
- Computer Skills: AutoCAD; Sketch UP; Rhino; Photoshop; Lumion; 3D Max; Powerpoint, Outlook and Excel.
- For us to consider you for an intern position please send your portfolio and CV to the following email: hr@in50design.com
设计邦：开门见山，我要向你问问题了哦！请您先介绍一下IN50工作室，然后我给大家谋个福利，问您一下对于刚刚毕业的学生，如果录用IN50有哪些要求呢？
Waterson：我们工作室中文名字是昱华建筑，英文名字是in50 Design Studio。in50的名称来源于50年以后的样子，我喜欢用未来的眼光思考现在的问题。in50工作室最大的特点就是独立思考问题的工作方法，拿到一个CASE，我们不会立马就动手设计，而是先思考，寻找出这个案子做原始的意义和最本质的需求是什么？
对于应聘的人要求有三点：
- 会说中英文；
- 会CAD\PS\SU\RHINO\3DMAX等软件及优秀的手绘能力；
- 拥有开放讨论的团队精神，不害怕提出自己的见解。
我的邮箱是hr@in50design.com
Designboom: Which work are you most satisfied with?
German Centre in Taicang 1,
Waterson: We always begin by doing research and talking to the people to understand what they do at the German Centre office. Our new German friends Fabian Großkopf mentioned at the time of our first meeting that “It is a home away from home for German Companies and other international companies”. And “it should have good German quality and everything should be solid and work”. Through our experience talking and working with our new German friends, we saw that people at the German Centre are warm, kind, simple to work with and most importantly they are very people oriented.
After doing research on the German Bauhaus school of design, the Chinese Suzhou garden and working through how to put in our in50 low carbon fun factor DNA. We tailor made the office into a beautiful oriental garden space with a great smelling German bakery & cafe. At the heart a large atrium space with a huge vertical green wall going up 3 stories along side large glazed windows bringing lots of natural sunlight into the office interiors. This new German Centre Taicang office is targeted to be both LEED and DGNB certification.
设计邦：In50这个名字蛮有趣，50年后样子，嘻嘻。问一个大家关心的问题，在你那么多作品当中，你最满意自己哪个作品?
Waterson:我会介绍两个项目。第一个比较满意的项目是【太仓的德国中心】。
我们开始和客户聊天，寻找他们的工作模式及一些他们的故事。后来我和这些德国人都成为了好朋友，他们说就是给他们设计一个他们在中国的“德国家”。这个德国中心可以提供一个高质量的工作场所，我们感觉到德国人是比较热情的。通过很多调查，因为太仓和苏州离的很近，我们把IN50“低碳、好玩儿”的设计理念放到这个德国中心里面，在中心设计一个三层的挑空区，有中心花园，有自然光照进来，太仓德国中心也获得了LEED认证。
KI Furniture Showroom Project 2,
Waterson: KI is an American furniture brand famous for Healthcare and Education furniture and soon they will open a brand new flagship showroom in Beijing China.
Traditional furniture showrooms in this region has been design we guess with a ruler and as a result looking straight and lacks the “in50 fun factor” as furniture are merely displayed and cannot be played and not very fun.
This furniture showroom is highly interactive between space, furniture and people. Environments are easily controlled and can even intelligently senses people and interact with us. We added lots of fun factor so that anyone can play and take the furniture for a test drive, as well as talk with star designers from around the world using the latest touch screen and video conferencing technology.
Our inspiration came from the human form like all KI furniture. Everything from the lights on the ceiling and wall; to the tables and cabinets and even rugs on the floor take cues from the curvature of our human form. We have taken customisation seriously in this furniture showroom with almost everything tailored to suit the size and personality of this showroom space. We are taking full advantage of the ability of the factory in China to easily customise.
Waterson: 第二个项目，我想介绍KI家具展厅，KI是个很有名的美国家具公司。IN50认为家具展厅应该是一种好玩儿、形式跟着人体走的设计。空间、家具、人三者很好的互动起来。这些家具都可以试坐。希望普通人前往购买家具的时候，通过视频会议、触摸屏和家具设计大师们进行沟通。里面所有的设计都是量身定做的。
以下我要跟大家分享现在施工到80%的现场照片。
Designboom: Is all the design fields different? or are they related?
Waterson: I don’t see any boundaries between different design fields for myself. For example when I was in Paris working with Karl Lagerfeld the lead fashion designer for Chanel and Fendi for the new Karl Lagerfeld 5 star hotel in Macau with the B+H design team we talked about design without any borders for fashion design or architecture.
As well I myself have been trained as an architect and practise in Canada, in China I worked as an Interior Design and also do Graphics and Furniture design for spaces we design. In my mind a designer can design anything and everything if he or she is determined and takes what they do seriously enough. Of course practising in a new design field may take longer to understand and to get good at.
设计邦：施工的照片很吸引人呢，喜欢你的作品，很期待参与你的开业派对哦~在跨界的潮流下，你认为不同设计专业之间区别大吗？是否相通呢?
Waterson:Boundary其实是没有的，但会存在心理的界限，如果你是一个好的设计师，你会模糊和通过这些界限。我之前和一个服装设计师一起在巴黎合作，合作的恨愉快。我也经常从服装界带来一些新的潮流思想到我的建筑设计里面。同时，不得不提醒大家，如果你真的要进入一个新的领域，一定要沉下心去学习、一定要花时间。然后你就可以做到了，没什么的，没什么界限。
Designboom: How to train ones design thinking?
Waterson: Live life to the fullest noticing all the little details and use that experience to train ones design thinking. For example: you need to go to experience a 5 star hotel before you can design one.
I have fortune to have travelled to many places around the world and many times I take these experiences back with me. One time when I was in Paris staying at a hotel where they have a huge green wall where I was having breakfast. So I brought back the idea of working in a garden and used it in my works. It can happen anywhere with an open mind ideas will float in and out very easily.
设计邦：你跟我们designboom设计邦的理念都是一样的，一个好的设计师能做很多跨界的设计。
那么，在你漫长的设计征途上，如何锻炼自己的设计思维？
Waterson:我觉得设计思维要从平常的生活来找，去体验，注意生活中的细节。你要做一个好的设计师，必须去体验好的生活。我很幸运，去过很多地方、很多国家，包括欧洲亚洲美洲，可以看到他们的生活方式。所以我会把这些经验放在我的记忆力里，然后用在我的设计里。比如我有次在巴黎，在一个酒店吃早餐，看到很漂亮的一个绿植墙，我就在想，我要把这个绿植墙带回来，用到我的设计里面。让人在花园里享受咖啡、面包和惬意的时光。
Designboom: What do you think about the current market this year specifically Architecture and Interior Design?
Waterson: I have noticed that the Architectural Market in China has slowed down especially in the first tier cities. But for Interior especially office is still good as people need to renovate every 3-5 years. As well the population in China is ageing rapidly so the future of Healthcare and Elderly homes will see an increase I believe. Of course like Apple company during the market melt down in 2009 their revenue maintain a high profitability. At in50 we believe INNOVATION IS SURVIVAL so if your products or services has great value to people and you are always innovating then I believe the market situation is not a big factor.
设计邦：先是生活好了、玩儿好了，再做设计，真是一个很好的生活态度！问一个偏商业的问题，你认为今年的建筑和室内设计市场如何？
Waterson:今年看起来，在中国，建筑市场有点慢下来的趋势。但在室内方面，比如办公室设计，市场还是挺好的，因为每三五年一些公司都要重新搬办公室重新装修。在IN50，创新是我们的核心价值观，所以无论市场怎么样，我们都不怕，因为我们永远可以创新。而且我个人比较看好未来医疗和老年人方面的创新型设计。
Designboom: How is the design market in Canada developing? Is it suitable for going to study? What kind of good university is available?
Waterson: I have not been living in Canada for more than 10 years now.
But I have always been grateful for my Canadian education. It has taught me to learn, to do research and have my own critical thinking. I would definitely recommend going to Canada to study.
In terms of University I would say pick the one that suits you, not everyone is wired the same. I went to Ryerson University that was more hands on and technical for there architectural science studio program we make lots of models and have structural class where we actually test metal. Some of my friends like theory and concept so University of Toronto is good. Waterloo University is also good if you like co-op programs where you work during and carry on University studies consecutively. So coming out of university you will have real work experience already.
设计邦：因为你是在加拿大求学的，所以我们想问你，如今加拿大的设计发展的怎么样？是否适合去留学？有什么好的设计院校可以推荐给大家呢？
Waterson:我先跟大家分享几张加拿大的照片。
Waterson:加拿大有一个很好的教育模式，会教人怎么去学习、怎么去调研，怎么去思考。关于选择什么样的大学？我建议还是先问自己是什么样的人？需要什么样的教育体系？才能很好的发挥自己的潜能。比如我是在瑞尔森大学，它很注重动手能力和科学学习方法，在我读建筑的时候，在结构课里，我们会真正把铁弯到它快裂的时候，我们可以看到真实铁的弯曲的情况。有另外一些大学也不错，像多伦多大学以思考和概念为重心点，适合喜欢做概念设计的同学去留学。滑铁卢大学也很好，在大学里有一年可以去工作，所以当你毕业的时候你就已经有一些工作经验了。
Designboom: What is the difference between work in china and work in Canada?
Waterson: Working in Canada for the 5-6 years I have noticed working life and social life is more separate. When arriving in China in 2005 I was not used to having to answer the phone after work. But I did enjoy going out with my team after work and doing much more team building. Life and work in China is more linked.
设计邦：照片很美！加拿大教育很注重个性化思考哦。瑞尔森、多伦多、滑铁卢三个大学都各有侧重。那在中国做设计和在加拿大做设计在你眼里有哪些不同？
Waterson:感觉中国的同事更喜欢上班下班吃饭都在一起，而在加拿大，下班的时候我们都离的远远的，从来不讨论工作，分的很开。
Designboom: Outside of work time, what kind of interesting things do you like to do?
Waterson: I like watching movies and going travelling with the family. We have taken our son to many places in Europe, Asia and Canada. It is interesting to see how people live and the different cultures and food.
设计邦：我也喜欢把工作和生活分开。比如每周日晚8点—9点绝对不进行微信访谈直播。开个玩笑。哈哈。Waterson，问你个私人问题，你在设计之余，爱干点什么呢？
Waterson:我喜欢看电影，和家人一起去旅行。会带孩子去欧洲亚洲加拿大去旅行，让他感受当地的文化氛围。我发现旅游的时候人的思想容易放松下来，会沉下浮躁的心，真正思考一些事情。
Designboom: What is the advise you want to share with young designers?
Waterson:
- DREAM BIG and NEVER believe anyone who tell you NO! Rather ask yourself HOW, can I get there?
- LEARN HOW TO LEARN.
What you learn in school is a lot about the past and some about the present. But school teaches you very little about the future! However you will need to build a career for yourself and family in the future. So how can you be prepared?You need to learn how to learn, start by doing research, understanding how people of the past solve the similar problem so you “don’t have to reinvent the wheel”. But then really think and evaluate things for yourself, through YOUR OWN EYES and experiences. A book about love cannot give you the real feeling of holding a girls hands for the first time, you must experience it for yourself. Paris bakery story, hearing a story about how good the bread taste in Paris will not give you the taste of fresh baked bread standing in front of actual french bakery. - Give back to society in your way.
I received helped from the red cross when my family was in Thailand refugee camp and we were sponsored to Canada, so now it is my mission to help others when I can.This year we made our contributed to the design of a Sino-German Handicap workshop in Taicang. This workshop allows people with disability such as the hearing impaired or people with minor mental disability to get back to work building simple circuit boards or machine parts, within an environment that they can easily adapt to and manufacturing companies will pay for their labour for the numbers of parts they are able to assemble.This is the first of it’s kind that we know happening in China. It allows people with disability to feel important and part of society. Passing on the kindness in your own way by helping others can really bring happiness. I encourage everyone to lend a hand when you can, it makes our lives a little warmer. It is even more important in places that are harder to do so.
设计邦：看得出来，你很享受旅游给你带来的放松。问一个大家关心的问题，您对我们年轻设计师们有没有类似武功秘籍这样的忠告呢？
Waterson:我有三个秘籍想跟这些年轻设计们分享的。
- 不要相信任何否定你的梦想的人。你只需问自己我怎样能做到，用什么方法去做。
- 学习怎么去快速学习。学校很少教我们未来的事情，未来很多事会和现在不一样，我们要去调研，学习以前的人怎么解决问题的和一些实用的实践方法。要用自己的身体去体验，用自己的思想独立去思考现在和未来。
- 乐于助人的精神，构建温暖的人文社区。今年我们在在太仓设计的一个项目是没有收费，是德国和中国合作的一个残疾人工作室。在中国很少见这种项目，让残疾人感受到他们融入到社会里，他们也是很重要的，社会是需要他们的。特别是在很难生存下来的北京，我希望这种温暖互相传递。
Designboom: Thank you for sharing, bye-bye Waterson.
Waterson: Bye-bye students, bye-bye Mia of Designboom, thank you.
