Interview
Liao Wei-Chiang
1 Congratulations on winning the 亚洲色吧! Can you introduce yourself and share about what inspired you to pursue design as a career?
I鈥檓 an architectural and interior designer, constantly inspired by the rhythm of the waves. For me, design is much like the sea鈥攎ysterious, fluid, and full of unexpected beauty. From a young age, I鈥檝e had a deep sensitivity to space. I would often find myself imagining how ordinary settings could be transformed into emotionally immersive experiences. As I grew, travelling and engaging in water sports opened my eyes to how nature鈥攊ts flowing curves, the play of light and shadow, and the tension held within open space鈥攃ould be translated into a design language. That realisation sparked a passion in me, one that continues to guide my creative journey with unwavering dedication.
2 What does being recognised in the 亚洲色吧 mean to you?
This recognition is more than an award鈥攊t is a bridge for meaningful dialogue with the global community. It validates that our work, while deeply rooted in local culture, can also be understood, appreciated, and celebrated across cultures. More importantly, it gives me the courage to keep pushing boundaries and to craft a new design language鈥攐ne that reflects the spirit, challenges, and aspirations of our time.
3 How has this achievement impacted your career, team, or agency, and what opportunities has it brought so far?
This achievement has opened the door to more international collaborations and cross-disciplinary invitations, while also greatly boosting our team鈥檚 confidence. For us, it鈥檚 more than a moment of recognition鈥攊t鈥檚 a source of momentum that propels us forward. It has deepened trust in our ability to take on projects of diverse scales and styles, and has paved the way for new partnerships with both brands and artists.
4 What role does experimentation play in your creative process? Can you share an example?
I鈥檝e always believed that without experimentation, there can be no true breakthrough. It鈥檚 much like surfing鈥攜ou have to ride countless waves before discovering the perfect line. In the project that received this award, I explored a technique of deconstructing and reassembling building materials. Elements traditionally reserved for exterior fa莽ades were reimagined and brought into the interior, blurring the boundary between inside and out. This spirit of experimentation allowed the project to break free from convention and offer a completely new spatial experience.
5 What's the most unusual source of inspiration you've ever drawn from for a project?
After a storm at sea, I once witnessed the waves stirring up foam and fragments, creating a scene that felt both fragile and resilient. That fleeting moment stayed with me and became a quiet source of inspiration. It led me to explore the layering of materials in my work鈥攋uxtaposing transparency with raw, tactile textures to evoke the calm that lingers after the storm has passed.
6 What鈥檚 one thing you wish more people understood about the design process?
I hope people come to see that design isn鈥檛 born from a single spark of inspiration, but from a long process of refinement and iteration. Every detail that appears effortless is, in truth, the result of countless trials and adjustments鈥攎uch like surfing, where you may fall a hundred times before catching that one perfect wave.
7 How do you navigate the balance between meeting client expectations and staying true to your ideas?
I often say that design is like a duet: the client brings their everyday needs, and I bring my spatial imagination. Both sides must listen closely to one another in order to find true harmony. The goal isn鈥檛 compromise, but rather a point of resonance鈥攚here the design not only reflects the client鈥檚 way of life, but also carries my creative vision.
8 What were the challenges you faced while working on your award-winning design, and how did you overcome them?
The greatest challenge often lies in preserving a project鈥檚 integrity amid tight deadlines and limited budgets. It鈥檚 like sailing into a headwind鈥攜ou can鈥檛 change the wind, but you can adjust your sail. By choosing flexible material alternatives and maintaining precise construction management, I work to ensure that the final result stays true to the original vision.
9 How do you recharge your creativity when you hit a creative block?
When I hit a creative block, I return to the sea. Standing atop a wave, my mind clears, and my body yields completely to the power of the ocean. In that moment of surrender and focus, something shifts鈥攁nd when I return to my work, I often find a renewed flow of inspiration waiting for me.
10 What personal values or experiences do you infuse into your designs?
Freedom, adventure, and authenticity鈥攖hese are the three core values I strive to bring into every design. Freedom allows me to move beyond limitations. Adventure gives me the courage to explore new possibilities. And authenticity ensures that my work speaks sincerely to people鈥檚 emotions and needs.
11 What is an advice that you would you give to aspiring designers aiming for success?
Don鈥檛 be afraid of failure. Design isn鈥檛 about finding the perfect answer鈥攊t鈥檚 the outcome of endless exploration and experimentation. Observe more. Feel life deeply. Let inspiration come from the waves, a quiet street corner, or even a simple cup of coffee鈥攁nd then, with courage, let it flow into your work.
12 If you could collaborate with any designer, past or present, who would it be and why?
If given the opportunity, I would love to collaborate with Tadao Ando. Through his mastery of concrete and light, he has crafted some of the most poetic spaces鈥攕haping the softest emotions from the hardest materials. I believe that working alongside him would teach me how to cultivate a deeper harmony between architecture and nature.
13 What's one question you wish people would ask you about your work, and what's your answer?
The question I most hope to be asked is: 鈥淲hat is the deeper message behind your work?鈥� And my answer would be: 鈥淚 want people to feel the same sense of freedom and energy in a space as they do out on the open sea鈥攆ull of tension, yet deeply calm.鈥�
