Hsin Yu Hsu
1. Congratulations on winning the London Design Awards! Can you introduce yourself and share about what inspired you to pursue design as a career?
In my childhood, there wasn’t really a place I called “home”. No fixed place to stay, and no place I felt belonged. Up until I started my own interior design business, and till this moment, every step along the way has made me deeply understand that great design is the magic that makes a house a home because it brings a strong sense of belonging, rather than just a physical space!
I found my passion towards interior design during the process of crafting my own place. I also love to see how I can help people complete their life stories and fulfil their dreams through my designs. This is what brings me to where I am today!
2. What does being recognised in the London Design Awards mean to you?
For me, receiving recognition from the interior design industry for a profession I truly love not only affirms my design vision for the future but also marks a significant milestone in my ten-year journey. As I continue my practice, I will stay true to my original intention—helping clients bring their ideal homes to life.
3. How has this achievement impacted your career, team, or agency, and what opportunities has it brought so far?
Having established a clear direction for myself and my team, we will focus even more on the creative development of our work in the future.
4. What role does experimentation play in your creative process? Can you share an example?
When it comes to experimental design and material applications, I’m often the initiator, excitedly sharing my ideas with the construction team. In one project, I envisioned a semi-height TV wall that would be slim, distinctive, and serve as a visual focal point of the space.
I ultimately brought this idea to life using curved panels combined with grille slats, creating a design that appeared simple at first glance but was rich in detail. The result not only enhanced the living room’s presence but also exceeded the client’s expectations.
5. What's the most unusual source of inspiration you've ever drawn from for a project?
I’ve once drawn design inspiration from a dream. In the dream, I walked into a house and entered a hallway with symmetrically placed windows on both sides. At the far end of the corridor was a door, and in the middle stood a gracefully curved screen—its height and width shifting as I moved.
Suddenly, the space began to distort; everything started to morph in rhythm—doors, windows, screens, and floors transformed collectively into ovals, squares, and circles. It felt as though the space was demonstrating its versatility, evoking a range of emotions. That dream later inspired me to incorporate square elements into the design of a client’s home.
6. What’s one thing you wish more people understood about the design process?
From design to execution, there are countless details that need to be overcome and refined. I hope more people can understand that in this process, even the slightest adjustment—a colour block, a proportion, or a single line—can have a ripple effect on the entire space.
7. How do you navigate the balance between meeting client expectations and staying true to your ideas?
When a client’s expectations go beyond the original design style, I often take a step back with them to revisit the initial proposal and design concept, clearly explaining the design’s intent, the depth behind the colour palette, and the overall harmony of the furnishings and décor. While the design process should be free of boundaries, the execution of design must respect certain frameworks.
Based on my past experience, the ideal collaborations happen when the client defines the overall style direction—especially in terms of lifestyle and living habits—while I take the lead on the design, materials, colour scheme, furniture, and styling. That, to me, is the best kind of partnership.
8. What were the challenges you faced while working on your award-winning design, and how did you overcome them?
This project was located in a super high-rise steel-structured building. During the design process, we not only had to comply with existing building regulations but also needed to reconfigure the layout. These factors placed significant constraints on material selection and partition planning, presenting multiple challenges for our design team.
After extensive research and consultation, we ultimately found materials that met both regulatory requirements and our overall design vision. This experience has better prepared us for handling similar cases in the future.
9. How do you recharge your creativity when you hit a creative block?
I reconnect with the energy of life through the ecosystems of nature, and discover the richness of different cultures through my travels. Moments of inspiration and creativity often emerge from everyday life and the world around us.
10. What personal values or experiences do you infuse into your designs?
Most people may only have a few chances to renovate their homes in a lifetime. With the spirit of "ichi-go ichi-e"—treasuring each unique encounter—we aim to bring each resident’s needs into the space, allowing them to experience happiness through everyday living.
For a family, the home becomes a place where connections are woven between members; for an individual, it becomes a space for inner belonging and emotional healing.
11. What is an advice that you would you give to aspiring designers aiming for success?
This industry requires time and experience to grow. Continuous learning is an inherent part of the profession, but the one constant is staying focused and dedicated to doing every project well.
12. If you could collaborate with any designer, past or present, who would it be and why?
Piero Lissoni and Chuan-Yung Kuan(關傳雍)—one a master of minimalism, the other a symbol of elegance and comfort. They both express detail through simplicity, highlight personal character in design, and create elegance and comfort through spatial framing.
This perfectly aligns with my vision of what a home should be. If given the opportunity to observe or participate in the full design and execution process with these two masters, it would be invaluable nourishment for my practice and a rare experience in my life.
13. What's one question you wish people would ask you about your work, and what's your answer?
My company’s name, “Ruo Yin” (meaning “Subtle Presence”), represents the flow of air between windows, the movement of light and shadow under the sun, and the practice of visual subtraction within a space. It also reflects the intentional use of negative space in circulation paths, the emphasis on focal points in key views, and the expression of harmonious resonance in details.
These principles form the core of my design philosophy. By holding firmly to this core, I ensure that each project—regardless of its distinct style—carries a unified and consistent spirit.
