Designer: Zhang Zhoujie

Zhoujie Zhang (b. 1984 Ningbo, lives in Shanghai) earned his Master of Arts in Industrial Design at Central Saint Martins College (2010), London. He returned to Shanghai and established an in-house workshop shortly thereafter. Zhang’s designs have been widely exhibited to include Project Milano Mi Fa Male, during Milan Design Week (April 2009); 100% Design, London (September 2011); and, IMM [D3] Design Talents, Cologne (January 2012), among others. In the last three years, Zhang has acquired prestigious awards including the ELLE Deco Young Designer of the Year (2012), IF Design Award China (2007) and the SHDC 50/100 Young Talent of the Year (2012).

Designer Zhang Zhoujie

Zhoujie Zhang grew up in the Southeast of China. He studied Industrial Design at the China Academy of Art, and later, received a Masters of Art in Industrial Design from the prestigious Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design in London. In 2010, he founded his own studio in Shanghai to explore his design direction.

Zhoujie set out to produce his innovative steel designs, inspired by the progressive techniques he learned in London. He spent 18 months perfecting his trade – welding, cutting, polishing and manufacturing – gaining an intimate, step-by-step understanding of the manufacturing and production processes. In 2010, Zhoujie founded his own studio in Shanghai with an in-house workshop, to further explore the direction and intentions of his design.

At the age of 28, he has showcased his works at over 30 exhibitions, including London and Milan. During his first exhibition at 100% Design in London, Zhoujie’s digital furniture sold out in less than half an hour to collectors and gallery owners from around the world. In the last three years, Zhoujie has been honored with prestigious awards including the ELLE Deco Young Designer of the Year 2012, the IF Design AwardChina and the SHDC 50/100 Young Talent of the year.

As an independent designer, Zhoujie Zhang believes that good design is inspired by process. By continuously forming new concepts throughout the course of development and production, the creation is a constant progression of its evolution.

Zhoujie’s works and design principles are based on spontaneity, taken from the philosophies of Taoism. This philosophy reflects his understanding of ACTIONLESS, which pays respect to the logic of mathematics and the laws of a digital environment.

The Brass Collection is the first series of objects developed with Endless Forms, Zhoujie’s own digitalized fabrication system that generates an ever-changing family of objects. With a role as more of creator rather than designer, Zhoujie’s designs appear as though viewing the world through a kaleidoscope, looking at the infinite

Mashing Mesh #MS-1, 2016

Stainless Steel

31 1/2 × 98 2/5 × 7 1/10 in

80 × 250 × 18 cm

Edition 3/3 + 2AP

Heart Chair (SQN1-F2B) Brass, 2014

Brass

29 1/2 × 23 3/5 × 23 3/5 in

75 × 60 × 60 cm

Edition of 10 + 2AP

With his practice dedicated to the development of a digitalized fabrication system, Zhoujie’s goal has been to create a system with an ability to transform digital programs into real objects. In the near future, people will be able to participate in the creation; design a customized chair through the digital system and select different materials of their choice. This brand new, artificial intelligence design concept will fit better into the life and preferences of each individual, and, the interaction between product and human will be deepened. The process of design will evolve from single physical phase to a systematic level.

Zhoujie’s goal for his future collection of works is to engineer designs that utilize progressive elements such as macromolecular materials and titanium.

Mashing Mesh #MS-5, 2016

Stainless Steel

31 1/2 × 31 1/2 × 5 9/10 in

80 × 80 × 15 cm

Edition 3/3 + 2AP