First of all, the well-known Chinese tea would not have existed without the invention of the weave, an ancient bamboo-weaving technique used to construct sieves for oolong tea-rolling. Second, Chinese tea culture and bamboo culture are connected. Third, the "oolong weave" was born out of functionality, and therefore, the beauty that stems from the designs which it inspires is, ultimately, also a result of functionality, Shi says.

Devoted to using bamboo and other natural materials in his works, Shi says he believes "a good design is not merely about aesthetics, it should also be a carrier of creative wisdom."

In his search for a harmonized approach to material, craftsmanship and cultural essence at this time of resource scarcity, Shi boasts more than 30 works that have won top awards on the international design stage: such as the Red Dot Design Award, iF Design Awards and a German Design Award. His bamboo and ceramic designs in particular have won most of the awards, as well as the China Red Star Design Award and the Taiwan Golden Pin Design Award.