Haoyu Sun
1. Congratulations on winning the London Design Awards! Can you introduce yourself and share about what inspired you to pursue design as a career?
I’m Haoyu Sun, a visual artist and curator based in London and China. I work with traditional craftsmanship like jade, velvet flowers, filigree, and natural silk, transforming them into wearable art. I was inspired by seeing how these techniques carry cultural stories and wanting to bring them into a contemporary, global context.
2. What does being recognised in the London Design Awards mean to you?
It’s a recognition that my work resonates beyond cultural boundaries and can communicate heritage through contemporary art. It also validates the risk of blending fashion and visual art.
3. How has this achievement impacted your career, team, or agency, and what opportunities has it brought so far?
It strengthened my position as a leader in curatorial and collaborative projects. Since the award, I’ve led over 20 exhibitions, including collaborations with artists from Europe, China, and Japan, and established partnerships for London Design Festival projects.
4. What role does experimentation play in your creative process? Can you share an example?
Experimentation is central. For example, I combined velvet flowers with filigree and natural gemstones in one wearable piece, testing movement, texture, and weight until it felt alive and expressive.
5. What's the most unusual source of inspiration you've ever drawn from for a project?
Old traditional festival costumes and antique jewelry often inspire unexpected textures and layering techniques in my pieces.
6. What’s one thing you wish more people understood about the design process?
That design is not just aesthetics—it's storytelling. Each element carries meaning, especially when working with heritage techniques.
7. How do you navigate the balance between meeting client expectations and staying true to your ideas?
I always communicate my vision clearly and suggest adaptations that honor the craft while satisfying functional or commercial needs. Dialogue is key.
8. What were the challenges you faced while working on your award-winning design, and how did you overcome them?
Managing delicate materials like filigree and velvet flowers for wearable pieces is tricky. I overcame it by prototyping multiple times and refining assembly techniques.
9. How do you recharge your creativity when you hit a creative block?
I step away from the studio, visit museums or nature, and immerse myself in other artists’ work. Often, ideas come from unexpected connections.
10. What personal values or experiences do you infuse into your designs?
Respect for cultural heritage, attention to craft, and a belief that art can bridge communities and inspire dialogue.
11. What is an advice that you would you give to aspiring designers aiming for success?
Learn deeply about materials and history, stay curious, and don’t be afraid to experiment with combining tradition and modernity.
12. If you could collaborate with any designer, past or present, who would it be and why?
I would love to collaborate with Alexander McQueen to explore theatrical storytelling in wearable art, blending craft with performance.
13. What's one question you wish people would ask you about your work, and what's your answer?
People often ask about materials. I wish they asked: “What story does this piece tell?” Each work is meant to carry a narrative, not just decoration.
