Today we’d like to introduce you to Tongqi Lu.
Tongqi, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
The idea to bravely become an individual furniture designer and start a city well-being care brand was happened in 2020 summer. The most anxious COVID time.
My friends and I were lost in thought in a backyard of a broke house in Acadia, when suddenly a lemon fell to the ground, filling the air with a refreshing citrus scent. It felt like they had gotten a taste of sparkling water in a dry and hopeless desert.
Picking up the lemon, one friend said it smelled like mud — a wholesome, natural mud scent. Inspired, the friends took off their shoes and stepped onto the muddy ground in their bare feet. The soft mud, which nurtured the lemon, and the simple falling motion of the lemon were a gentle reminder to let go of anxiety concerning the future and to enjoy the power of facing the present.
At that moment, another lemon fell down and rolled to their feet. It was as if nature was trying to send them a message: success will come when the time is right. To bear fruit in the future, we must stay focused on the present.
Then I returned to my grown-up city in Shanghai open my first office with a new sense of inspiration and started an arts and design company called “Tickle Quo”. The name is drawn from the powerful yet simple message of the falling lemons. The crowd and fast path city life here make me believe on my goal even stronger. In 2021, our first collection is ready. I back to LA, bring the brand back to the city where nourished the brand. And we are planning to have our showroom/office open in 2024 in LA.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
No. Of course, it is not a smooth road. Peers warning that processes will stop due to lack of experience. Vendors usually do not have big interests in our tiny profits small-scale production line.
But we are also lucky. The city cares themes got huge support by friends, creative professionals and even local café stores supports. They donate their spirits and perspective, become our best brand representatives to networking. We got an online platform and local designed boutique that is willing to work with us.
And we are actively preparing our new collection for 2023. Vendors see our growth and the production collaborations are way smoother than before.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Designer Tongqi Lu, founder of TICKLE QUO, is inspired by the calming power of nature. The mountains blanketed in fog in fog and the gentle waves of the blue sea are a sharp contrast to the overwhelming city environment.
Tongqi Lu grew up in the city, Shanghai. The fast-paced lifestyle of the city forces people to lose touch with important moments. They don’t feel the changes of seasons, they forget to smell the coffee shop before the grab and go, and they lose connection with nature. It’s my passion to facilitate a greater sense of well-being in city life. I want to bring those sensorial experiences back by designing furniture and all areas of creative work. Her recent work is mainly focusing on “Organic + Industrial. She believed that There is always a way for us to bring those natural senses back within our concrete jungle environment.
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
Always listen and embrace people. For my personal perspective, designing a furniture is creating a new way of using space in our life. It is essential to work on details make sure the design reach its function goals.
During the processes, it is important go back and forth spending time with people who actually using the space. Make sure it fits their sensorial requirements. Without keep close with them, the final design may become a beauty products but hard to get really into the situation it designed for.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ticklequo.com/ https://tongqilu.com/
- Instagram: tickle.quo tongqilu.hana
