这一期的形式与内容都会有一点特别，因为这次谈话是我委托在美国的朋友Greay来进行的。她在美国的Language Tutor刚好是一名设计师，而她本人也是某著名旅游网站的北美区签约作者，所以这么巧合的情况下，就有了这一期。

为了方便有一定英语基础的读者能了解到被访设计师的原意，所以本期内容采用了中英对照的方式来排版，也希望英语较好的读者能给我们指出翻译当中需要改进的地方。

需要先说明的是，本次采访到的Kent并不是前三期所接触到的那类设计师，相比之下，Kent的工作其实类似于我们国内的机械设计工程师或电子工程师之类。但我认为，国内的工业设计师正好缺乏的就是对机械、电子方面工作的了解，而这又是工业设计当中相当重要的环节，所以这方面的视角和观点在我看来是有借鉴和学习的价值的。

以下为本期访谈正文：

Hi, Kent. Please describe your study, work experience, and what you are currently doing?

I studied mechanical engineering at UCLA, and went on to get a master’s degree in the same at Santa Clara University. I have worked at an electrical power plant, a brewery, and as an electronic assembly worker for a startup. I currently am a mechanical design engineer at KLA-Tencor.

Hi，Kent，请介绍一下你的学习和工作经历吧。

我是在加州大学洛杉矶分校（UCLA）学的机械工程，然后在Santa Clara大学拿到了这个专业的研究生学位。以前曾在电力厂、酿酒厂都工作过，还为一个初创公司做过电子装配的工作。现在在KLA-Tencor（半导体设备公司）做机械设计工程师。

Please describe your working process; what kinds of tools and methods have you used?

I use CAD software a lot in my designs.  Being able to manipulate individual parts, down to the individual screw, will let me see how everything goes together.  I also try to structure the model in way so that it goes together the same way that I would build it.

说说你工作的流程以及平时会用到的工具吧？

通常我都用CAD软件来进行设计。它使我可以操控各个独立的部分，甚至细小到每颗螺丝钉，看它们如何配置。同时我还可以用建模的方式使各个部件像我希望的那样构筑在一起。

What parts are the most important?

The most important thing is to make sure that design can be made and serviced easily.  This means knowing whom your customer is, in my case the manufacturing team.  If I satisfy them, I know I did my job correctly.

最重要的部分是什么呢？

最重要是要确保我们的设计可以最终被制造出来，并且能够方便地为客户提供服务。这就意味着你要明确地知道你的客户是谁，于我而言，制造团队是我的客户。如果我能使他们满意，那么我的工作就是正确的。

Could you describe your favorite or most interesting project, which you have done?

One of my favorite projects was a redesign of some existing door assemblies.

说说你自己曾经做过的比较喜欢的项目呢？

我最喜欢的项目之一是对现有一些门组件进行重新设计。

What was the most difficult part of this project? How did you solve it?

The most challenging part was working with someone else’s CAD model.Everyone has his or her own distinct way of creating a 3D model, and learning to work within the model without upsetting it completely can be a challenge.It also opened my eyes to different ways of modeling.Overall, this is a good experience.

这个项目中你觉得最难的部分是什么？怎么解决的？

我觉得最具挑战的部分就是要基于其他人的CAD模型去工作。因为每个人都有自己独特的3D建模方式，而我们需要学习他人的方式并且不去破坏已有的模型，这对我来说是个挑战。当然这同时也能让我打开眼界，学习用不同方式建模。总之这是一个很好的经验。

Do you have any experience in dealing with designers from different countries?

Not directly, sometimes I need to incorporate components from companies outside of the United States.

工作中有没有同其他国家设计师合作的经历？

我跟他们的合作并不直接，但是有时候也需要同美国以外的同事配合。

Could you give some examples, share your feelings about this cooperation?

The difficulty there is trying to communicate the interfaces and having them understand what i think is the most important piece of information.  One example was when I was trying to create a bracket for a small circuit board.  I could not seem to communicate to the person I was buying it from how important knowing the positions of the mounting holes was.  It took a lot of back and forth to finally get the information.  If it was not for other people involved in the project, I am sure I would have chosen a different circuit board with a more communicative company.

可否给一些例子来分享下跟他们搭档的感受？

最难的部分是交流沟通，努力让他们理解我所想的，这是最重要的部分。比如说，有一次我试图搭建一个小电路板支架，但我似乎不能很好地跟对方沟通我多么需要知道一个安装孔的位置。这花费了我很长的时间来反复沟通信息。如果不是为了这个项目的其他人，我相信我更愿意选择一个可以有更多交流的公司的电路板。

What is the key difference that makes designers different from others?

Having the drive to see something through to the end.  Either by practical knowledge or a relentless drive a designer will be able to produce their vision.  In school, I was asked to complete a lot of bookwork, which is very different from practical design.  Since I started working 3+ years ago, I look back on how many of my designs are now in production, I now seem myself as someone who can complete a task.

你认为设计师和其他人最主要的不同是什么？

我认为作为设计师，是有将事情进行到底的精神。无论是通过实用知识的推动或是一种残酷方式的推动，设计师都可以提高他们的视野。在学校里，我们通常被要求完成很多书本上的工作，但其实这与实际的设计有很大区别。我工作三年多，现在回过头来看，已经有很多我的设计投入到了生产阶段，所以我将自己看成是可以完成任务的人。

Who are your favorite designers? Why?

I’m not familiar with many designers, but I can show you some products that I like.

I use this egg beater at least once a week, and it makes my eggs very tasty!  I like the weight, the smoothness of the operation, and that it separates for ease of cleaning.  egg beater.

I also like this ice cube tray.  It is fashionable right now to have big ice spheres to use in drinks.  Spheres have the lowest surface area to volume ratio, so wont melt as fast. These make big ice.  ice cube tray

你最喜欢的设计师是谁？为什么？

我对设计师并不是很了解。但是我可以给你说一些我喜欢的平时会用到的产品。

比如这个打蛋器，我每周都会用到，它使我的鸡蛋变得非常美味。我喜欢这个设计的重量，也很容易操作，同时这种分开的设计，使得它非常便于清洗。

我还喜欢一种冰块托盘，我们通常都爱在饮品里面加很大的冰球。球体和空气接触的面积最小，所以冰块不会很快融化，这个冰托盘就可以做大的冰块。

What country’s culture do you like best?

I am an American, and have been to few other parts of the world.  I would say that I like American culture the best.

你比较喜欢哪个国家的文化呢？

我是一个美国人，也去过一些其他国家，但是我想我还是最喜欢美国文化。

Why?

I think it is a common criticism that American culture lacks depth, but that is really only half the story.  American culture is very open and new, and it is very possible to be selective in the things you enjoy.  For instance, I enjoy going to American Football games, and going to fine art museums as well.  I am free to pick what interests me.

为什么？

我知道现在社会上有一种声音是批评美国文化的，说美国文化缺乏深度，但我想这只是看到了一半的情况。美国文化是非常开放、新颖的，不管你喜欢什么，它都可以为你提供很多样化的选择。比如，我喜欢看美式足球，同时也喜欢美术博物馆。我可以自由地选择自己感兴趣的事情。

Do you know of any designs from China?

I am sorry, I do not know of any designers from china.  If you recommend some, I would love to check them out.

了解中国的设计吗？

实在抱歉，我不了解中国的设计师，如果你推荐一些，我很乐意去看看。

What do you usually do in your spare time?

I like to surf, play games, cook, and swim.  I like being in the water the most, but it takes a lot of time to find a place to do it.  I am usually too busy to spend a lot of time swimming or surfing.

在你闲暇时间都会做什么？

我喜欢冲浪，玩游戏，做饭，游泳。我最喜欢水上运动，但是这需要我用很多地时间去到一个地方去玩儿。通常会忙到没有太多时间游泳和冲浪。

If you do not do design, what do you want to do? Why?

I would like to be a lawyer.  When I was younger I was argumentative, and used that to develop a good sense for rhetoric.  I also have a pretty perceptive, analytical mind.

如果不做设计的话，你会想要做什么?为什么？

我会想做一名律师。因为我很小的时候就有思辨的能力，基于此也有比较好的修辞表达能力。同时，我还有一个非常敏锐、善于分析的头脑。

Please ask a question for another designer.

Are you ever surprised by how well a design comes out?  Are you ever disappointed?

请向下一个设计师提出你的问题？

你曾为一个好设计的诞生欣喜若狂过吗？有失望过吗？

本期访谈内容就到这里。

同时也向大家推荐一个聚合了大量一线工业设计大牛的微信公众号：设计疯人院（微信号：madider），院里上周末在深圳之上LOFT举行了一次为期两天的设计师线下大PARTY，大咖云集，讨论热烈，详情请查阅疯人院公众号。

下一期的设计师，是国内一家正倍受关注的设计公司的联合创始人，如果你有什么问题想向设计师提问，可以在公众号里给我留言。

本文也发布于微信订阅号『SUiTHiNK』及知乎专栏。

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