Interview with Yuxi Liu

Yuxi Liu ("YL") interviewed on Tuesday, 9 May.

Could you please tell us about your experience as a designer, artist, architect or creator?

YL : I began my undergraduate studies in graphic design at SVA - School of Visual Arts in New York in 2016. I set up my own design studio after my undergraduate, and I did a lot of freelance jobs. The clients include but are not limited to Tencent, NYEAA, ESOCCO, MAGA, MacDella Cooper Foundation, ShaynaRose Interiors, etc. In 2019, I continued my Master's Studies at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn USA. During these 6 years of study and design, I fell madly in love with design and art. And, I always believed I am a talented designer. After I graduated, I got my first full-time job in a Design Agency in New York, and I have been working here for 3 years now. I was responsible for the leading design of our creative group and led the designers to complete many excellent design projects

How did you become a designer?

YL : My trajectory as a designer and artist started when I was 5 years old. As a child, my love for the arts was expressed through freehand drawing, classical piano, and dancing lessons. I continued my interest. I have ever been a lover of art and becoming a designer provides me to express all my feelings and my artistic side through my artwork.

What are your priorities, technique and style when designing?

YL : My design habit is to spend most of my energy on brainstorming and sketching. Before starting the design, I should fully develop my inspiration and brain. In the design experiment, from a variety of ways to try. Different combinations of media and materials can create different effects. In terms of effective presentation, the design's functional, aesthetic, and creative aspects should be considered and measured. Design is constantly changing and reflecting to become better and better.

Which emotions do you feel when designing?

YL : I feel free. I can be myself and this is way too important for me. I think every project lets me create a better path for future work. My inspiration many times comes from nature. Also from social problems, from my daily routine, and from the people who I work with.

What particular aspects of your background shaped you as a designer?

YL : I'm a lifelong art lover. I'm a designer, an illustrator, and a design teacher. My perfectionist characteristic pushes me to keep learning new trends in various fields, including design and fashion. All those aspects have shaped me as a passionate graphic designer.

What is your growth path? What are your future plans? What is your dream design project?

YL : I began my undergraduate studies in graphic design at SVA - School of Visual Arts in New York. After graduation, I continued my Master's Studies at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn NY. During these 6 years of study and design, I fell madly in love with design and art. I got my first full-time job in a Design Agency in New York after leaving school. My works focus on the fields of visual identity, UI/UX, product and packaging design, and environmental graphic design. I always seek innovative approaches to convey values and messages through the power of design. In the future, I hope to continue to deepen my design attainments and abilities. Exposure to different areas of design projects, including but not limited to product design, interior design, and UI/UX design. I hope I can set up my own design company in the near future.

What are your advices to designers who are at the beginning of their career?

YL : Be brave and confident. Hard work never betrays you.

You are truly successful as a designer, what do you suggest to fellow designers, artists and architects?

YL : I think I have only one suggestion to my fellow designers: Stay out of your comfort zone and keep moving on. Sometimes we can satisfy what we've done already and stop moving on to the next level. That is the one thing that we should avoid as creative professionals.

What is your day to day look like?

YL : After waking up, I prepare my breakfast and take the train to reach my office to do all my business tasks and whatever needs to get done. I usually try to have a day each week for relaxing and reading some design books or movies.

How do you keep up with latest design trends? To what extent do design trends matter?

YL : I always stick with my own personal design style.

How do you know if a product or project is well designed? How do you define good design?

YL : Instead of seeking to follow a trend, I always stick with my own personal design style and try to create particular approaches for each type of client. Perhaps a trend for me is innovation in the methodologies we apply and being disruptive when designing.

How do you decide if your design is ready?

YL : A good design should serve the target customer well, and balance functionality and aesthetics. Everyone has a particular opinion of what the design presented， but the design style should focus on the brief and the client's needs.

What is your biggest design work?

YL : I love learning about new technologies and trying to apply them to my artwork. I believe that the progress of technology can serve designers to present their works better. I created "Dear Home Museum, " a constantly updated interior design virtual exhibition during the pandemic. My goal is to increase people's interest and ability in interior design. Dear Home as a virtual museum platform brings endless Interior design inspirations and ideas; The museum has a unique, fun design learning program that allows people to experience the fun of design in a game. Participants can create a virtual space on the platform, exhibit their original interior design works, and share their stories in different display forms. I believe design is not out of reach, everyone can do their home design. The museum is also an educational platform to show new design inspirations and to express people's love for home. participants can get design inspiration, elevate design passion and skills, and build personal design styles on the platform. ​

Who is your favourite designer?

YL : My favorite designer is Dieter Rams, his “Ten Principles for Good Design” is really inspiring.

Would you tell us a bit about your lifestyle and culture?

YL : I live in New York, a city full of art and diverse cultures. My ideas and designs are always affected by the city I am living. This bustling city fills my mind with new things and cultures every day. I keep getting inspired. But sometimes I need to go to the peaceful countryside to change my mind. Peace and nature give me different inspirations.

What are your philanthropic contributions to society as a designer, artist and architect?

YL : I hope that my creative work will bring energy and joy to people's lives and contribute to a healthier world. At the same time, I hope some of my product design and service design can serve the target group well. A good designer is also a problem solver, and I want my designs to provide more effective functionality while providing aesthetics.

What positive experiences you had when you attend the A’ Design Award?

YL : A‘Design Award is a good platform for designers to find design inspiration and make artistic exchanges. I am very honored to see the excellent works of designers from all over the world here.

Yuxi Liu Profile