Today we’d like to introduce you to Ming Li Chang.
Hi Ming, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Hi, my name is Ming-Li Chang. I am a spatial/furniture designer currently based in the Pasadena area. I graduated from ArtCenter College of Design in 2021. After graduating, I worked in the design industry for two years, specifically in furniture and home goods. Since fall of 2023, I have been enrolled back at ArtCenter to pursue a master’s degree in Spatial Experience Design while running my own freelance projects working with both furniture and spaces. I grew up in a culturally diverse community in Shanghai, China, and I have always wondered what a young Chinese designer could do to redefine what “made in China” symbolizes.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
In 2023, I participated in multiple large-scale exhibition shows for personal furniture pieces, hoping to push myself as a brand and a studio. The industry and scope of the exhibition can be quite overwhelming. Communicating with people around the world and being able to convey my ideas through to different cultures can also be quite difficult. I had the great opportunity to talk about my design on stage in front of a very prestigious crowd, but I remember that experiencing being probably the most nervous I’ve ever been in my life. It takes a lot to understand and apply the takeaways you are able to grasp during design exhibition shows. On top of that, the travel, the stress, the pressure, although extremely motivating, can still be quite stressful.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
As a designer, I am a divergent thinker who approaches the decision-making process through trial and error, finding value in every idea. Decisions are based on taking insights to ideate concepts that have a clean, approachable aesthetic without being overcomplicated. I hope that by illustrating convincing narratives, I want to bring ideas to life in a way that others might say “I could’ve done that”. I have a deep respect for my culture’s rich heritage and craftsmanship, and I see design as a way to change the narrative of what Chinese design is. I like to discover my heritage through furniture and spatial design with projects like a Chinese independent movie and art space called “The Luminary” and a Ming dynasty-inspired guest chair called “Lotus.” I also like to explore areas and phenomenon that intrigue me, such as the “Namti” side table inspired by a bridge structure stuck between a valley in Southern China.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
I think design is currently at the forefront of many conversations, and that will only continue to grow in the next decade. We talk a lot about artificial intelligence in design, but a lot of the opinions are negative. I believe that with the ever-growing tech, media, and AI space, people will only be more sensitive towards good design. Design will be more on the demand as it is becoming more and more common for people to be able to realize the possibilities of design through the internet and AI. Artificial intelligence brings exposure to art and design in a new light, and hopefully, people’s sensibility towards well-designed objects will change over the years. I believe that the younger generation will grow up being more exposed to beautiful objects and spaces through the internet and will have a stronger sensibility for aesthetics. We are already seeing a fast-changing design landscape in east Asian countries just through the fact that young professionals are able to fulfill their design curiosities with their own growing income.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.minglidesign.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ming_li_chang/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ming-li-chang-07772b17b/
