Today we’d like to introduce you to Qihang Fan
Hi Qihang, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Curiosity is my nature. That’s why I started my design journey in architecture, but I am now working as a user experience designer and product developer for augmented reality surgical applications at Arthrex, which is a medical manufacturing company. Architecture is such a rich discipline that I had the freedom to explore both engineering and artistic practices. I had a lot of opportunities to explore emerging technologies and try advanced techniques. I developed AR (augmented reality) applications, conducted research on AI (artificial intelligence) practices, built websites independently, and explored parametric design along the way. Sometimes, I enjoyed architecture rendering production, trying new 3d software, now color palettes, and different compositions to create impressive images and animations (surprisingly, although a lot of people may scoff at visual aesthetics, the truth is everyone would be attracted by good visuals naturally in the first place.) Besides that, I like physical fabrications as well. Robotics, woodworking, 3d printing, and laser cutting are all involved. By the time I graduated with my Master’s Degree in Architecture from the Southern California Insititute of Architecture, I had carried a comprehensive toolkit with all kinds of design and prototype skills that any designer could think of (laugh – you would never know which one is useful and which one is not, though).
Usually, architecture students would join architecture companies after graduation. But I decided to take the risk, starting my career outside architecture. Because I knew I wanted to engage with cutting-edge technologies that the architecture industry couldn’t offer. I spent months building my portfolio website, showcasing my product design and UX (user experience) related works. Luckily, with all my accumulated experience, plus my UX, HCI (human-centered interaction), and human ergonomics design skills, I joined a research and development team at Arthrex. Currently, I design and develop AR applications for surgical procedures and healthcare.
Meanwhile, as a thriving independent developer, I built a website called “Four Typologies.” This open-source artistic digital media website emphasizes the importance of inclusive design, aiming to bring immersive spatial experience, architecture design thinking, and fashion concepts to everyone without advanced devices. I’m proud that this product has been recognized with 15+ international awards so far. I could never have imagined accomplishing this achievement by the time I built it. Passion is my only initiation (honestly speaking, I’m happy but surprised too).
So, the takeaway – it is my inexhaustible curiosity that motivates me to keep trying new things and learning new knowledge (well, muddling through seems to be more accurate). My curiosity does not seem to fade, but it grows stronger now. I plan to learn more about engineering and have been admitted to a Master’s in Computer and Information Technology at the University of Pennsylvania this fall. I’m excited about my unpredictable future path.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Wow, that’s right on point! Unfortunately, even though blockers are always expected, they will most likely be more challenging than the original expectation. My biggest struggles were two primarily – architecture study and career change to product design.
Indeed, I enjoyed my architecture study, but mainly after the project was completed. Curiosity is a double-edged sword—if you want to enjoy exploring new techniques, you need to detach from the academic agenda voluntarily and get used to the self-education process. We are lucky to live in the era of the Internet. There are infinite resources online. However, I struggled with overwhelming information and screen-based tutorials that lacked face-to-face interactions. Not to mention fighting with the nature of laziness. I need to execute my plan meticulously to meet the deadline that I set up ahead (which is antihuman!)
Preparing for my career change was the other struggle. As a new grad, finding a job in a familiar industry is tough already. It was a nightmare-level task for me to secure my career change and successfully find a job back then. I spent days and nights polishing my portfolio and preparing for interviews, meanwhile suffering from anxiety and self-doubt constantly due to endless interview rejections. I’m fortunate to have my family and friends on my back, supporting me along the way (laugh – mentally, though) until I find my current position.
My personal discovery – unknowns were the origin of the struggle. I always asked myself what-ifs – what if this doesn’t work, or what if it fails. Actually, they are all false assumptions before happening. I’m a believer in acting before thinking (well, legally and reasonably, of course), because I know I’ve failed if I do not try. Believe me, you will be unstoppable as long as you manage the fear of unknowns.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
In general, my expertise spectrum ranges from art and design to development.
I started my academic study in architecture and reshaped my career as a product designer, primarily focusing on UX and HCI. I’m skilled in traditional user experience methodologies and designing apps and websites for screen-based devices. Besides that, I’m thrilled about products utilizing cutting-edge technologies. I built for robotics, ML (machine learning), and spatial interactions (so much fun). I enjoy my current role in designing and developing an augmented reality system to support surgical procedures. Our team is in a unique pioneer position, pushing the boundary of cutting-edge technology application commercialization in the medical and healthcare industry.
Although I specialize in design, I deeply acknowledge that the difference between design and fantasy is the practicality and realization. I value creativity and aesthetics, but neither is valuable without being achieved from papers. For example, when I worked on hardware-related projects, my design concept was grounded in my prototypes. I researched various sensors and tried to validate them through breadboard prototypes built with Arduino and Python. The same applies to software design workflow. I learned C# in Unity to evaluate my design ideations about the physical desktop spatial interactions for extended reality applications through Quest 2 interactive prototypes. My accumulated multidisciplinary knowledge in art, design, and engineering allows me to make decisions from a larger picture. As a result, I eventually built an award-winning open-sourced website, “Four Typologies,” independently, all from scratch.
If you browse my project history following the time sequence (at https://www.qihangfan.com/ if you are interested), you will be surprised that my early work all emphasized visual aesthetics. I used to be a poet, believing in the power of concepts, communications, and impressions. Gradually, I became a painter, polishing all kinds of techniques to curate the audience experience piece by piece. Now, I’m a cook, spending days and nights understanding ingredients and delivering tasty dishes to people in need.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
In retrospect, I realize that my crucial decisions are all guided by my passion (which is encouraged by my parents). I don’t overthink because I know I will hesitate if I do so. I try because I know I will regret it if I give up. I persist because I believe my path is correct. Different people will encounter different challenges, which require support of all kinds. But your inexhaustible passion will always help you out.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.qihangfan.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fqhang/
