Deng Zhi-Zong: Redefining Beauty Through the Lens of Authenticity

Winner interviews

January 31, 2025

Deng Zhi-Zong: Redefining Beauty Through the Lens of Authenticity

At No-Line Design, founder Deng Zhi-Zong believes that creation is less about technique and more about what lies beneath—messages, spirit, and substance. His latest project, “Before & After,” has earned recognition in the Retail Interior, Hair Salon category at the INT Interior Design Awards. By cleverly using a single wall to represent the transformation of a haircut, he demonstrates how design can inspire fresh perspectives on seemingly everyday acts.

Project Spotlight: Before & After

Inside No-Line Design’s award-winning “Before & After”

Located in New Taipei City, Taiwan, Before & After showcases a unique concept inspired by the process of a haircut. The salon’s waiting area preserves the old wall’s peeling concrete, paint, and wallpaper, mirroring a client’s disheveled hair before a cut. In the main haircutting space, excess cement and paint are removed, and the wall is painted a pure white to symbolize newly “dyed hair.” This playful yet meaningful design choice not only highlights the salon’s functional areas but also invites customers to experience the before-and-after transformation in a literal, tangible way.

Interview with Deng Zhi-Zong

Deng Zhi-Zong

1. Can you share the story of your journey into interior design? How did your background shape your creative practice?

Deng Zhi-Zong: From a young age, I aspired to become an artist. Throughout my growth, I accumulated a wide range of skills and professional knowledge, which I absorbed and integrated into my creative process. Over time, these elements became an inseparable part of my work.

For me, the essence of creation isn’t about showcasing technical prowess. What truly matters is the message, spirit, and substance you aim to convey through those techniques. It’s about how these methods and forms can be used to inspire or assist others in meaningful ways.

2. What was the brief for your winning project, and how did it inspire your creative approach?

Deng Zhi-Zong: We used the concept of “before & after.”

Before (Waiting Area): We used the original wall as the decorative material. We deliberately preserved everything on the original wall—peeling concrete, patchy paint, broken wallpaper—mirroring how someone’s hair looks messy before a haircut.
After (Haircutting Area): We dismantled and cut away excess cement, paint, and wallpaper on the original wall to symbolize a hairdresser trimming off the client’s excess hair. Finally, we painted the retouched wall a pure white color, akin to dyeing hair.

3. What challenges did you encounter while bringing your vision to life, and how did you overcome them?

Deng Zhi-Zong: Budget is always the greatest challenge! Some projects come with generous budgets, while others are extremely limited. Completing a project within a tight budget is a real test of creativity, resourcefulness, and problem-solving skills. It pushes you to think outside the box, find innovative solutions, and ensure you don’t compromise on quality or design integrity.

4. What sparked your passion for interior design, and how has your creative journey evolved?

Deng Zhi-Zong: I’ve always had a deep love for the arts—whether it’s architecture, interior design, sculpture, music, or painting. This passion feels innate, almost like a natural instinct. It’s etched into my DNA, shaping who I am and how I approach my work.

5. How would you describe your design philosophy and the principles that most influence your creative decisions?

Deng Zhi-Zong: Beauty is everywhere—it’s omnipresent. What matters is having the right perspective to truly see and appreciate the world.

For me, the essence of No-Line Design lies in its ability to enhance how people experience life. It’s about helping individuals open their eyes, elevate their awareness, and deepen their perception. Through design, we can inspire people to rediscover the world with a fresh perspective and engage with it in entirely new and meaningful ways.

6. Of all the projects you’ve worked on, which one holds a special place in your heart, and why?

Deng Zhi-Zong: Every project holds equal significance to me, much like a mother caring for her child. Each one is nurtured with the same level of attention, passion, and dedication.

7. How do you stay ahead of emerging design trends and integrate them into your work?

Deng Zhi-Zong: It’s essential to deeply understand the client and approach the design process with empathy. Every user is unique, and because of this individuality, each space becomes one-of-a-kind. That distinctiveness comes directly from the uniqueness of the user.

When design decisions are tailored to each person, the work transcends trends and becomes timeless, because there are no two identical individuals in the world.

8. How do you continue to grow as a designer? Are there particular learning experiences that have influenced your professional development?

Deng Zhi-Zong: A true designer is like a mirror, faithfully reflecting everything that stands before it without imposing anything upon it. Every time something appears in front of the mirror, it’s different. The key is to observe carefully and authentically bring out its essence.

9. How do you balance your client’s needs with your personal style, and how has this approach evolved over your career?

Deng Zhi-Zong: No-Line Design has no defined style, because style can be a form of limitation. It stifles imagination and discourages thoughtful exploration. Adhering to a style is like copy-pasting—applying the same concept to different individuals. We avoid duplication in any form.

So there’s no question of balancing between client needs and style. The only task is to truly listen—whether it’s practical, functional, emotional, or spiritual—and fulfill those needs authentically and uniquely.

10. How do you feel about receiving an INT Interior Design Award?

Deng Zhi-Zong: I am deeply grateful to INT for this recognition. It is an incredible honor to receive this award on such a prestigious platform. Thank you.

The Impact of Deng Zhi-Zong in Design

With Before & After, Deng Zhi-Zong underscores how a seemingly simple transformation—like a haircut—can become a powerful statement when translated into spatial design. By preserving the wall’s original state in the waiting area and then refining it in the haircutting zone, he conveys how design can bring new awareness to everyday activities. Deng’s commitment to authenticity, empathy, and individuality shines through, making No-Line Design a notable force in crafting spaces that resonate on a deeply personal level.

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Check out other inspiring projects:
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