Tao Ma is an emerging name in the field of design. We have already witnessed some of his creative talent in his Bracelet phone I, Bracelet phone II, Roll phone, the redesigned Roll phone, the Quartz telephone and USB E-lighter to name a few. His domain of knowledge is quite vast regarding the processes and feasibilities of product.

Wanna know more about his latent abilities? Well, you’ll have to scroll down from here,

1. When did you decide to pursue design as a career and how did you go about it? We’d love to hear your story.

Tao Ma: My major in university was environment design. However I was enthusiastic about industrial design (ID) and determined to take it as my life long career, being a non-ID major, I took part in many interesting ID design contests and cherished them as good opportunities to learn and to improve. Time had been hard for me after graduation, struggling in the ID market. I persisted and finally got the chance to work on the master’s programme in ID. It is turning better now. The strong desire to design and flashes of idea always stay with me, which is the driving force of my career and the source of every fun in my life.

2. What is ‘zomatao’ all about?

Tao Ma: It is made up of Zoo –I love animals and zoo seems like the paradise to me, and MaTao–my name.

3. How would you label/categorize your work?

Tao Ma: My work falls into diverse categories because of my wide range of interest. However I would say my electronic gadgets may be the most original and special.

4. What is innovation to you - design, technology or the creative processes itself?

Tao Ma: Ideally I would like to take all aspects of innovation into consideration, design, technology and creative process, all of them. But to a specific design, different aspects need to be focused. Currently I think I am laying more emphasis on design.

5. If you had to point to the most impressive feature about the new product design, what would it be?

Tao Ma: I think they should bring people fun and convenience.

6. Do you have a signature style? If yes, what are the hallmarks of your style?

Tao Ma: This is a spring which is combination of M and T. I would like to be a little spring in a machine which brings comfort to people. Bringing comfort to life is also what my designs try to achieve.

7. Do you think there’s something you’re most proud of so far, one particular project that came off really well?

Tao Ma: If I have to pick one, I’d say the bracelet phone. I like it very much.

8. What particular challenges do you think designers face these days?

Tao Ma: You need to compromise different factors in order to come up with original ideas and at the same time to satisfy the globalizing market.

Naveen: Do you think that the touch screen phones are the future?

Tao Ma: It is the future of telephone technology but not necessarily the future of telephone.

Naveen: In your webpage you have mentioned, ‘power of imagination’, do we assume that your ‘power of imagination’ is instrumental in all your creative aspects?

Tao Ma: Exactly, the fun of creation lies in the process of imagination, which fills every step of design.

Naveen: Concept devices are great, as they give you an idea about what designers can do when they don’t have to be concerned about the mundane stuff. How far is this thing true?

Tao Ma: More often than not, concept devices require high R&D cost. They have great potential in the market though. For instance, I’ve received many letters showing interest in buying my bracelet cell phone.

12. Where do you see yourself, let’s say, five years from now?

Tao Ma: No idea.

13. Any words of wisdom, you’d like to leave for our readers?

Tao Ma: Never give up your dream. Never give up trying.

14. Finally, we would like to have your thoughts on the Instablogs News Network and all its related sites. Which one is your favorite?

Tao Ma: I like your website for its sensitivity to electronic products as well as the attention and encouragement you extend to young designers like me.

A few questions in quick succession:

1. Describe yourself in one word?

Tao Ma: Perseverance.

2. What kind of music do you prefer?

Tao Ma: Rock’n'Roll, RAP.

3. What is the best moment of a day?

Tao Ma: The moment before bedtime. A lot of interesting thoughts and creative ideas pop into my mind.

4. If not a designer, Tao Ma would have been?

Tao Ma: Possibly an archaeologist. I’ve always been interested in history.

5. Who would you like to design something for?

Tao Ma: Angelina Jolie.

6. If given a chance, what would you change about the world?

Tao Ma: I think I’ll just try my best to do a better job in industrial design.

Before signing off, I’d like to thank Tao Ma for sparing out time for this fantastic interview and would like to wish him luck for all his future endeavors.82511