Meet Dennis Tsai | Industrial Designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Dennis Tsai and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Dennis, why did you pursue a creative career?
I decided to pursue a creative career at a very young age, probably around 14 years old.

I developed a deep appreciation for beautiful objects thanks to my mother. While she is not academically trained or a practicing artist by any means, she has the talent for creating elegant things, whether it is oil paint, ballpoint pen sketching, interior decoration, or ikebana (Japanese flower arrangement). This influence has given me a solid foundation to build my creative path on top of it. I fell in love with just drawing with a ballpoint pen and a piece of paper. I had more doodles than lecture notes in my textbook. I enjoy visualizing all the crazy things in my mind, whether they are monsters, cars, or characters.

With this passion, turning it into a career was the most natural decision. During my time in design school, I learned that objects can not only be beautiful but also useful at the same time. That is when I decided to use my creativity to create objects that help people to live better and to work smarter.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I learned the following things along the way. While they may seem simple, they affected my design career and design choices immensely.

1. The importance of hard work and persistence: Building a successful career as an industrial designer takes a lot of effort and dedication. I learned that success does not come easily and that it requires a lot of hard work and persistence to overcome obstacles and achieve goals.

2. The value of networking: building relationships with other designers, manufacturers, and clients is crucial for success in the industry. I am still trying to get better at effective networking and build valuable connections in the design community.

3. The need to stay current: The design industry is constantly evolving. I learned that it is important to stay informed about new technologies, materials, and design trends to remain relevant and competitive.

4. The importance of sustainability and social responsibility: I, as socially responsible industrial designer, learned that it is important to consider the environmental and social impact of my designs and that I could make a positive impact through their work.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I recommend Montrose in Houston. It has plenty of restaurants and bars to hangout. It is also a creative area with lots of thrift stores to walk around and explore. The area is also close to downtown, where all the museums are. I highly recommend Museum of Fine Arts. It has a great collection of classical and modern art. It was one of the best museums I have been to. Tickets are very affordable, too!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would like to shout out to my parents. They unconditionally supported my decision to move to the U.S. to pursue my design career. They knew very little about the design industry, but they always have faith in me and believe that I will create a successful path for myself. I also felt very fortunate that I have a designer cousin who has given me a lot of guidance along the path and encourages me when I encounter problems.

Website: www.dennis-tsai.com