Interview
Chung Wei Wang
Chung Wei Wang, an industrial and furniture designer based in New York city. He is passionate about using various forms and materials to design objects with aesthetics and interactions. As an designer, Chung Wei is awarded numerous of international design awards. His work can be found in furniture, product, and installation.
What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?
“I am an industrial and furniture designer based in New York. My connection to art began in childhood, where I found joy in drawing and painting with natural materials, exploring the textures and colors around me. In high school, my passion for art deepened as I began experimenting with materials, forms, and functions, which ultimately ignited my interest in design. My college years were pivotal in shaping my career, as I learned how to transform raw materials into functional and meaningful furniture pieces, bringing concepts to life as tangible products. This hands-on experience solidified my love for design and its ability to merge creativity with practicality. My journey has taken me across the globe, working with designers and artists in countries such as the Netherlands, Japan, the United States, and China. These experiences have allowed me to explore design through diverse cultural lenses, enriching my perspective and fueling my creativity. This global exposure continues to inspire my work as I pursue a design philosophy that balances innovation with cultural connection.”
What inspires you?
“I’m deeply inspired by the connection between humans and objects - how people interact with things and the environments around them. These interactions create emotions and meanings, turning everyday objects into something more profound and personal. What fascinates me most is how each person’s unique background and perspective shapes these connections. The same object can evoke entirely different reactions or stories depending on who engages with it, making every moment of interaction unique. This dynamic relationship between people and objects is a constant source of inspiration for my work, driving me to design pieces that foster meaningful experiences and connections.”
What themes do you pursue? Is there an underlying message in your work?
“The theme in my work is enhancing the ways people connect - with each other, their surroundings, and the objects they interact with. I aim to design objects that go beyond functionality, inspiring people to engage with them and, in doing so, experience different emotions and perspectives. I hope my work acts as a metaphorical lens, allowing people to see their world in new and unexpected ways. When you interact with my designs, I want you to touch something that evokes a memory, to see something from multiple angles, and to discover beauty in the everyday moments of life.”
How would you describe your work?
“I would describe my work as an interactive media - object that invite people to engage with them physically and emotionally. One example is my recent project, Liminal, a furniture piece that functions not only as a room divider but also as a medium for exploration. It encourages users to move, rotate, and touch it, revealing new perspectives and experiences. Through its translucent fabric, Liminal creates poetic lighting effects while offering glimpses of the environment and people behind it. This interplay of light, shadow, and form conveys the idea that objects and spaces can have many facets, depending on how we choose to interact with them. I aim to inspire people to view the world with curiosity, finding beauty in its many layers and perspectives.”
Which artists influence you most?
“One designer who greatly influences my creativity is Oki Sato, the founder of Nendo. I am fascinated by his ability to create minimalistic yet interactive designs that engage users in subtle and meaningful ways which resonates deeply with my design approach. I admire how he blends functionality with playfulness, creating objects that encourage users to interact and explore their environments from different perspectives. Much like Sato’s work, I strive to design objects that creates curiosity and emotional connection, offering experiences that evolve with each touch, glance, or movement.”
“The theme in my work is enhancing the ways people connect - with each other, their surroundings, and the objects they interact with.”
What is your creative process like?
“My creative process begins with exploration and inspiration, often through wandering the city or taking walks in nature. I find that stepping away from a workspace and observing the world around me helps spark new ideas. From there, I begin sketching or working directly with materials to shape and refine my concepts. Once I have a clear direction, such as understanding how people will interact with the object - whether through touch, sound, or light - I focus on prototyping. This phase allows me to explore the product's dimensions and its relationship to the environment or space. Through prototyping, I can visualize how the design will function in the real world, iterating and adjusting as needed to ensure it aligns with the initial vision and goals.”
What is an artist’s role in society and how do you see that evolving?
“I believe art has the power to change the way people experience and feel about their lives. As an industrial designer, my role is like a lens that helps people see how life can be different through the objects they interact with. Art and design can make people think in new ways or add value to their daily routines through different forms of expression. To me, artists help society connect with things that might seem unrelated at first. That ability to bring things together in unexpected ways is what makes art so fascinating. Looking ahead, I think the role of artists and designers will continue to grow. As technology advances, art will become more interactive, immersive, and connected to our everyday lives. We’ll see new ways for people to experience art through digital media, augmented reality, or other new technologies, creating even deeper connections between people and the world around them.”
Have you had any noteworthy exhibitions you'd like to share?
“I’ve exhibited at the Unmaking, Making, Remaking’ Exhibition at SoMMwhere, 48 Ludlow St, NYC in 2023 as well as at the ‘Things To Life With’ booth at Wanted Design at ICFF NYC in 2023.”
Website: www.chungweiwang.com
