Alie Chang prefers "environmental designer" to other job titles such as
"TV host" or "high-tech CEO", although her multiple talents have resulted in
remarkable achievements in all of these fields.
"The essence of my designs is to bring a spiritual perspective to material
life," says Chang, a Los Angeles-based designer and president of Alie Design
Inc. "A good design aims for the right choices and creative solutions, but that
does not always mean it must be necessarily more expensive."
Chang came to Beijing in late May to attend 2006 Olay Women's World
Excellence Awards. Ten other elite Chinese women, including Singapore's Jennie
Chua and table tennis player Zhang Yining, descended upon the Chinese capital to
receive awards for their achievements in business, social services, art and
sports.
Chang was the only recipient from the United States, and her design
background distinguished her from the other winners. The awards made her feel
like she was a part of China's economic development, she said in a one-minute
speech, adding that the prize marked the culmination of her "individual
struggles" over the years.
Chang says she would be glad to share the concepts of interior and
environmental design with her Chinese peers in the future.
"A home is a refuge from the chaotic world, and the most challenging part of
a design is to create a unique and distinct image that reflects the owner's
philosophy of life," she says.
"Each home should have its own characteristics and mystique. It should
reflect something in one's past, one's present, and in some way project one's
future."
Over the past 30 years, Alie Chang has become one of the most renowned and
respected leaders in a field dominated by men.
Chang has received a great deal of praise for her achievements in design and
her contributions to California and Los Angeles. The State of California
specially honoured her on August 12, 1990 by designating her birthday as "Alie
Chang Day."
She attributes her success to "threefold creativity and excellence." This has
helped her keep up with her male peers in the United States.
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