preface II Have to Say

Recently I write some prefaces or forewords for a number of books or magazines almost every month, such written works make me have more concerns, because the prefaces and forewords are the overall summary of books, it's quite easy to mislead readers if the work done is not quite appropriate. I also know that I myself is very emotional, and I followed my true inner feelings to write essays. Ever since I began to write essays, I had never disobeyed my conscience and social morality, nor write for money.

I can't remember how many essays I've written since I began seven years ago. Nowadays the editorial standards are higher and higher, and the readers are having more sophisticated taste, so it's hard to please them if the work is not done by following true feelings. Meanwhile those interior design publications are uneven in quality, thus it's more and more difficult to find a really good book, and I'm almost out of good words to say when I was invited to write some prefaces and forewords. I still remember this year I wrote a preface without high recommendation with some of my personal opinions on the quality of the book layout and design. It's unbelievable that there's such brave editor that put every word I wrote published. I really admire the courage, and I have to admit I underestimated the editors.

People tend to put some good words when it comes to forewords and prefaces, and most of the books about design have similar forewords and prefaces, thus which are ignored, and the readers will go through the content and make their own judgement to determine the quality of the work, and then decide whether to buy it or not. Ever since I started writing forewords five years ago, some publisher friends told me that I already had some design fans for writing essays, and also told me there are many designers who look at the essays I wrote and then decide whether to buy the book. Amitabha, I have to say, don't blame me if the book is not the best seller because of the forewords I wrote. People have to be careful to let a person like me who speak for the truth to write the prefaces, as I will cheer for the good books and trash the bad ones definitely. This one has no difference, I won't change my views for design works. Don't blame me if it's not sold well! I take sometime travelling abroad every year, and also visit the home of many foreign friends, appreciate many awesome buildings, see a lot of great interior design. What impressed me the most is a mansion of a U.S. friend, which is more than 1,000 square meters with dense forest surrounded and refreshing indoor decorations - totally natural, and it's one of the best I've ever seen for years.

I also find some natural harmony design in this book, which is the highlight and the reason why I mark 70 points after I read through. Don't blame me, actually not many domestic books worth 60 points in my opinion.

The content of this book is very rich, but not all is fabulous. An interior designer is to make a concrete building into an exotic life works of art, and an interior design photographer is to express the interior moving lines, and the art editor is to focus on design and foil with composition of expression, only the combination of these several aspects can provide readers real enjoyment.

Serious attitude is the key to our design! Based on it and maintaining a sincere heart can ensure that walking at night, you won't be worried about encountering a ghost!

Xiao Aihua

2012.06