Mao Mao: Design for ordinary people丨Faces

Located in Shancheng Alley, Be Here Space is housed in what was once a school building. It now serves as a public art center. The use of frames as a decorative element won this place a prominent Red Dot Award and embodies the concept of its designer, Mao Mao.

Be Here Space. [Photo provided by Mao Mao]

"Frames are frequently seen when we use a camera, so I used them to invite people to take pictures, to create, and to participate in the here and now. Also, this familiar element can easily connect people with the art space," said Mao. He believes that art should involve ordinary people more, and as a designer, the idea of 'designs for ordinary people' is his original aspiration.

Be Here Space. [Photo/Guo Shuyu]

Frames are used in logos and posters in the art center. [Photo/Guo Shuyu]

Born to a family of intellectuals, Mao had been exposed to the arts from an early age. "I started learning painting and calligraphy in primary school. It was all about traditional fine art until middle school, when I saw the mind-blowing artworks of Cai Guoqiang," Mao recalled. This was when he first started thinking about working in the artistic field. Cai is a contemporary Chinese artist that is renowned for his dramatic installations and use of gunpowder as a medium.

Mao Mao is a designer and visual artist. He has won over 200 awards worldwide. [Photo provided by Mao Mao]

Mao's passion for art was followed by the conceptualization of design. "As a kid, I liked collecting things, such as CD sleeves and candy wrappers. They looked beautiful and made me happy. I didn't realize it was the good designs of the items that brought me joy until I knew the concept of design in high school," said Mao. His childhood experience initially shaped his idea of design, which is to present beauty to people.

In 2022, his work Xilankapu won a New York Type Directors Club (TDC) award, which is the longest-running and most prestigious award in the global typography and type design sphere.

Xilankapu is a time-honored hand-woven brocade in China with abstract images of natural and geometric patterns. Mao's work reinterprets its classic colors and pattern structure and presents a modern visual effect. The graphic was then imprinted onto carpets, bags, and other daily items.

"Heritage and traditional culture should retain their essence and substantial features. It is also important to refine and innovate them to really connect with people, to create something that fits into daily life and a modern aesthetic," Mao said.

Xilankapu graphic. [Photo provided by Mao Mao]

After being raised in the neighboring Hunan Province and living in other megacities, Mao finally settled down in Chongqing 9 years ago. He found that the city had a unique charm, especially its people.

"Ordinary people are a substantial source of my inspiration and I always walk around the city, talking to strangers. The people I met in Chongqing were patient, enthusiastic, and open to conversations. Sometimes we could talk for a whole afternoon, and they told me about their thoughts, life, and even relationships. This is a treasure that I appreciate a lot," Mao said.

After 7 years living in Chongqing, Mao opened his design studio to provide branding and visual services. The decision can be traced back to the influence made by Sato Kashiwa, a Japanese designer who reshaped big-name companies such as Uniqlo and 7-Eleven with his design and branding strategies.

Maos Mao's Design studio in Liangjiang New Area. [Photo provided by Mao Mao]

The power of design and Sato Kashiwa's story inspired Mao. Good visual products and branding strategies are significant for a company to establish connections with its customers and grow in the market. "Chongqing makes great products, and I hope to help local companies thrive in a bigger market. After all, that is where the value of design lies, to serve the public and enable a better life," stated Mao.