S5 Design have been shortlisted for 1 Category in The International Hotel and Property Awards 2022, Read more about Founding Partner and Designer Daniel Fan below:

Name: Daniel Fan
Company: S5 Design
Position within company: Founding Partner & Designer
Website: http://www.s5design.cn/

Tell us a little about your background in design (education, experience, etc)
1993-1996, Jiangnan University, Department of Textile, and Industrial Art.
2006-2008, Master of Project Management, French National Institute of Science, Technology and Management.
S5 DESIGN: Founding Partner, Design director, Head of Shanghai Office of S5 Design
Cooperative Instructor of Master’s Degree, School of Design, Jiangnan University
Chinese Design Leaders List 2020 Outstanding Persons

How would you describe your personal interior design style?
A dramatic narrative style in which history and contemporary times are juxtaposed. The abstract and concrete are intertwined and overlapped, using contemporary design language to interpret traditional humanistic feelings.

Where does your design inspiration come from?
My design is inspired by life, and I put my personal experiences in life, such as traveling, reading, watching movies and exhibitions, into the design.

In what direction do you feel that design is moving towards in a general sense?
I think the two design directions of high technology (parametric design aesthetics) and high emotion (building emotional resonance) are development trends.

Name five key themes to consider when approaching design in 2022 and beyond.
1. Contemporary narratives of local culture,
2. New concepts of contemporary art,
3. Artificial intelligence,
4. Commercial development trends,
5. Spatial atmosphere experience

If you could offer one piece of advice when it comes to interior design schemes, what would it be?
I personally think that the emotions of the space are the core key, which transcends other things. Whether a space can move people’s hearts is determined by the emotions and emotions that it penetrates.

How important are The International Hotel & Property Awards as recognition of talent and achievement?
I think the recognition of the award is an affirmation of the direction of personal development and a positive psychological hint.

What projects are you currently working on?
There are currently three categories: catering, spa, and urban renewal.

What was your favourite project to work on and why?
My favorite is the project that combines local culture and current concepts. This type of project is of more interest to me.

What was your most challenging project to work on and why?
The most challenging project is the reconstruction of the block.

The block reconstruction project is more comprehensive, it crosses the professional type, and needs to solve the problem of community and regional revival. Its challenges come from the complexity of its various aspects, such as the status quo of the project, property relations, spatial relations, etc., and the most challenging is that it crosses our professional boundaries, spans multiple dimensions, and involves architecture Renovation, community life, surrounding formats, cultural display, landscape design…It requires us to expand our cognitive boundaries and carry out cross-industry cooperation.

Which products/services could you not live without when designing?
I think the service of brand and strategy is very important and indispensable, at least in the commercial space.

What are your aims and goals for the next twelve months?
I want to study more about the possibility of processing and using localized materials.

Final thoughts; tell us a little more about yourself and your daily inspirations:
My current inspiration comes from my daily text reading and life experience, especially text reading, even music, which will bring me some conceptual touches.

Your most treasured possession?
The most cherished thing is the relationship between people. The friendly and intimate relationship between people is what I think is the most real and one of the things I value most.

Your favourite holiday destination? Southern France, Sicily, Kyoto
Your favourite hotel, restaurant & bar? Bhutan AMAN, Samui Sixth Sense Hotel, Hong Kong Mott 32
Your favourite book, film & song? Book：<< Ren Jian Ci Hua>> Wang Guowei, Film： “True Grit” Coen brothers
Your favourite food and drink? Whisky & Tea
Your favourite way to spend an afternoon? drinking tea and chatting with friends by the sea or lake, in the natural scenery with water features.
If you weren’t a designer, what would you be? Open a tavern