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Interview with Yiyao Nie |
Home > Designer Interviews > Yiyao Nie |
Editor Frank Scott (FS) from DesignPRWire has interviewed designer Yiyao Nie (YN) for A’ Design Award and Competition. You can access the full profile of Yiyao Nie by clicking here.
FS: Could you please tell us more about your art and design background? What made you become an artist/designer? Have you always wanted to be a designer?
YN: I think I didn’t know that one day I would become a designer or artist when I was young. When I was a child, I found myself having a strong ability to connect to the environment around me, empathize with people’s emotions, and express my feelings through all kinds of mediums. So it just naturally turns out to be the path I pursue. When I was in college, I studied digital media technology, which is an interdisciplinary field combining art, design, and technology. After my undergrad, I continued to pursue my graduate degree in the interactive media field and started to explore the broader concept of interactivity. I believe that interactivity is a fluid medium that connects people together, connecting people with the environment and with the machine. And as a designer, I could design and create interactivity which could help us shape and build a better world.
FS: What is "design" for you?
YN: Design is a mindset to see the world, a medium to build the world, and a distinctive metric to gauge the world. In this process, I communicate and understand people and the world surrounding me more, and more importantly, understand myself more.
FS: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
YN: I like to design interactive and storytelling works that could invite audiences to become not only an observer, but also a participant and influencer in the work, at the same time, bringing beautiful, delightful, and unique experiences.
FS: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
YN: I like designs that could tell a good story, bring people sparkling and help them live a better life. More importantly, the technique it uses should feel natural, intuitive, and seamless.
FS: What was the first thing you designed for a company?
YN: That was 5 years ago. I was a technical artist working for a big game company. I created and designed the plants and trees in the game the company was working on at that time (laugh).
FS: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
YN: For me, I think material/platform/technology is not the most important thing. I choose different materials and technology based on different projects. For me, the concept always comes first. Technology serves for the art, design, and concept.
FS: When do you feel the most creative?
YN: When I, as a vulnerable human being, start to feel empathetic and get connected to the world, I transform these emotions into something beautiful and strong.
FS: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
YN: I focus more on if the design could bring delight and spark to people, or if the design could bring social good.
FS: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
YN: I feel that I’m in the mental flow, grabbing sparks from the flow.
FS: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
YN: I feel a sense of fulfillment and feel like my incubated child is finally born.
FS: What makes a design successful?
YN: Know and understand your audiences and provide what you think it’s the best for them.
FS: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
YN: I will see which category of design it belongs to. Different categories of design have different nature. Following nature is important.
FS: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
YN: Designer is responsible for creating imagination and positive possibilities for the future of our society and environment. It’s leading where we go by designing the blueprint.
FS: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
YN: The future of design is nature friendly, sustainability, and seamless integration of tech, art, and all other fields which will need to have more cross-field interdisciplinary collaboration infusion.
FS: When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
YN: It was last year before the covid quarantine in New York. I’m open to anywhere in the world, probably in the near future, SF Bay Area and China would have higher chances.
FS: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
YN: Coming from daily life, people observation, and nature experiences, emotional and mental flow.
FS: How would you describe your design style? What made you explore more this style and what are the main characteristics of your style? What's your approach to design?
YN: Simplicity is my design style, seamlessly integrating tech, art, and design.
FS: Where do you live? Do you feel the cultural heritage of your country affects your designs? What are the pros and cons during designing as a result of living in your country?
YN: I am from China. China has a resourceful cultural heritage and more than 5000 years of history. The art style and history from different dynasties always bring me inspiration and open my imagination.
FS: Can you talk a little about your design process?
YN: Figuring out what I want to express and convey is the first step. Any great design comes from a great mind and concept. After that, it’s getting inspiration and doing research. And finally designing and iterating.
FS: What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?
YN: 3D printer, Mac(Pro)/iMac, Apple Pencil, VR/AR Headset, Paper & Pencil & Brush.
FS: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
YN: “Be aware of the place where you are brought to tears. That’s where I am, and that’s where your treasure is. ”
FS: What is your "golden rule" in design?
YN: “Simplicity, simplicity, simplicity”
FS: What skills are most important for a designer?
YN: Empathy, Curiosity, Diligent, Talent
FS: Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
YN: To be honest, when I’m in my mental flow, It’s hard for me to stop and I don’t want to stop.
FS: What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?
YN: Does it really help or impact audiences?
FS: What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
YN: From Creative thinking, to incubate a new product or experience and finally prototype them. I enjoy the process of incubating new things and being able to make them real, not just think and design, but also bring them into life.
FS: What are your future plans? What is next for you?
YN: I guess it’s probably to have a bigger impact as a designer and could influence more people.
FS: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
YN: It depends on different projects. I have experience and a good time working both as a team and individually.
FS: Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
YN: I have, but let’s stay tuned :)
FS: How can people contact you?
YN: Welcome to contact me by my email: nieyiyao@gmail.com, or follow my Instagram: yiyao.design
FS: Thank you for providing us with this opportunity to interview you.
A’ Design Award and Competitions grants rights to press members and bloggers to use parts of this interview. This interview is provided as it is; DesignPRWire and A' Design Award and Competitions cannot be held responsible for the answers given by participating designers.
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