A Dialogue with Gavin Gao: |
The Academy of Art university landscape architecture graduate student discuss his passion and inspiration. |
Gavin Gao was interested in the spatial relationships in three-dimensional formats when he was young. "Architecture, Landscape Architecture, and Interior design are all close to our daily life, so I decided to study architecture when I first entered the college," he said. He likes drawing, and have studied drawing for more than 20 years, and he also is interested in traveling. In his spare time, he travels to different places to see different kinds of scenery, talk to different people and listen to different kinds of stories using his pen and sketchbook. He likes to document these stories for inspiration; because he thinks good design projects always come from personal experience and everyday life.
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When I asked him how to get inspiration, he said," By not only just focusing on the major field but also pay attention to the details of life and finding their connections. Keep drawing sketches and developing the idea, and you will find the inspiration."
Gao has tried lots of different kinds of design styles such as classic, modern, future, and natural, but he is still too young and has not designed enough projects, so he does not have a favorite yet. When he feels pressure, drawing can help him calm down. Gao also likes to go to some places alone, such as the countryside or seaside without any disturbance. |
"Architecture, interior design, especially landscape architecture, do not satisfy the basic demand for people. They need to solve some problems for all human beings, such as reducing the urban heat island effect, being more energy-efficient, improving environment quality by using new technology, materials, and design techniques," he said.
Drawing is not only a hobby for him, but also a significant rendering technique in design. Although nowadays, the computer is becoming a common tool in design, he still adheres to using free hand drawing to express his design idea. In his opinion, drawing is full of more personality and emotions than digital programs. His current project is to re-design Buchanan Street in Japantown, San Francisco, and he is trying to create a new, modern, safe neighborhood for citizens to participate in, relax and enjoy. |
Gao thinks there are a variety of connections between interior and fashion design. Different environments have different atmospheres, and a different atmosphere conveys different feelings and emotions.
"For fashion design, or even other art, you put them in different conditions, and you may get different effects," Gao said. " Our job is to create the special, unique and unparalleled space for fashion, combining architecture and fashion as a whole." |
Photo by Gavin Gao
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