PEGA BLOG » Blog Archive » 設計師專訪之Min Chi-環遊世界的”流浪插畫家”

一個在傳統廟會環境下長大，卻曾受西方教育影響深遠而獨自在美國待了七年的Min，是一個不喜歡平凡生活的設計工作者。從來不以”設計師”自稱的他，認為”師”這個字是他還承擔不起的地位象徵，他認為若每個從事設計的人都是設計師，那真正有名、厲害的那些大師算什麼? 或許是這樣的想法，引導著這位接觸設計多年卻永遠覺得還有好多東西想學，還有好多事情想做的設計師，不斷突破自我，卻又不斷設立新目標。

從小受哥哥的影響開始接觸畫畫，Min從自己最喜歡的漫畫開始，曾經將錄影帶暫停在某個畫面，拿出白報紙對著電視裡的畫面開始描繪，時間久了，就可以自己畫了，沒事喜歡拿起原子筆隨手畫人像，似乎逐漸成為一種習慣和興趣。高中在台灣學廣告設計，對Min的影響不大，反正跟著老師的教法畫就對了，沒有太多想法…畢業之後提早入伍當兵，20歲就進電玩雜誌社從事編輯的工作，短短三年就當上副總編輯，但或許是年紀太輕的關係，帶起人來總是不順利，加上一直覺得自己語言能力太差，因此興起了出國唸書的念頭。

對Min影響最大的人是近年來日本最熱門的企業家-軟體銀行創辦人孫正義先生。孫正義的求學及創業過程從美國開始，對當時的Min來說，美國就像是實現夢想的地方，是非去不可的，因此毅然決然隻身到美國念書。雖然英文不好，但他知道實現夢想的過程中，語言是必要條件，因此每當發現居住的環境有太多台灣人，他立刻申請其他學校，不擔心到新的環境需重新適應，Min的血液裡似乎留著不安分的靈魂，喜歡著流浪各地的生活。在學習語言的過程中，MIn對設計熱情似乎不會因為時空的轉換而改變，每到書店就會不自覺的翻起設計相關書籍，他知道，設計將會是他這一生都想做的事。

一年後，Min順利申請到美國非常知名的 College of Creative Studies (CCS) 並拿到一筆可觀的獎學金。對進入這間學校的人來說，大家最想唸的是汽車設計，畢竟在汽車工業似乎代表著美國文化的一環，而CCS就位於著名的汽車大城-底特律。原本對汽車設計一點興趣也沒有的Min，在一位日本朋友的發掘、鼓勵及魔鬼訓練下，竟在眾多學生中脫穎而出，而順利從產品設計轉為汽車設計，Min說汽車設計跟產品設計最大的不同點在於，畫汽車的過程中，對於reflection是非常講究的，它影響著設計出來的車子給人家的第一印象。

畢業後，Min留在美國實習了一段時間，待過大型公司也待過設計師個人工作室，最後陰錯陽差因為當年工作簽證提早額滿而喪失了留在美國的機會，失望的心情可想而知，對於一個習慣遷移、習慣西方世界思想的人來說，台灣絕對是個完全不一樣的地方。但既然決定回來也就釋懷了，進入汽車產業做了七個月的汽車設計，對於無法親手將自己設計的車子從頭到尾生產出來，一直是讓Min覺得可惜且遺憾的，他希望能找到一個工作環境，在那裡，設計師可以從材質挑選、到機構與工程討論、甚至看到自己的作品被量產出來的過程，因此，他進入了PEGA。在這裡他享受著實現夢想的過程，也交到志同道合的朋友，來自世界各地，或許不像在美國的生活那樣自由、漂泊，但心是自由的，生活也寬廣了起來。

Min，一個相信鬼神，也相信外星人存在，但更相信自己有能力可以改變未來的設計工作者，對設計的熱情，從汽車設計到工業設計，最後希望以”流浪插畫家”為名，環遊世界並將各地所見所聞用畫的記錄下來。

Min was born in the traditional environment where used to have a lot of temple ceremonies, but had been educated in western country for years. What’s the impact of this conflict on his personality? “I don’t think of myself a designer; I’m just a person who does design.” Min said. He thinks if he is called a “designer,” what about those who design master pieces and have received world attention?

Influenced by his brother, Min started to do drawings when he was little. He used to pause the video and sit in front of TV to trace the picture of cartoon. As time goes by, drawing seems to become one of his hobbies. Min studied advertising design in Taiwan when he’s in senior high. At the time, he didn’t learn much from school because everyone just followed what teacher said and didn’t have to think too much. He hadn’t been inspired until he went to US.

Min spent almost a year to improve English speaking capability. He asked himself to live as far away from Taiwanese as possible so that he could learn better English. He knows what he wants to do and follows his dream no matter what it takes. And, he seems very happy with his living in the States, traveled around, gotten adapted to different cities, and made a lot of friends from around the world. From the deepest part of Min, he needs freedom and he needs inspiration from freedom.

He graduated from College of Creative Studies (CCS) in Detroit and majored in motor design. After graduated from the university, Min had been working in several companies and studios for internship designing conceptual devices, lamps, drills, and something more. Once he thought that he might get the chance to stay in the States enjoying life. Unfortunately, something happened and broke his dream-H1 visa quota was full. So he couldn’t stay there working and had to come back to Taiwan.

Min worked for a Japanese motor company as a motor designer for several months. The problem is he would never get the chance to realize his work by involving every step of developing the concept. This is definately not a design wants. He had been dreaming working in some place where a designer can develop an idea from searching for materials, solving engineering problems, and even getting involved in the manufacturing process. So that you have something be to proud of and let people know more about your products.

Now, Min is working in PEGA as an industrial designer. He enjoys the environment he works, likes the people he met, and concentrates on his projects and works. It may not be as free as he used to be in the States, but he can realize his dreams here, and which is the most important of him.