Today we’d like to introduce you to Yuying Liu.
Hi Yuying, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
During my undergraduate studies, I specialized in Visual Communication Design. In the process of refining and enriching my portfolio, I delved into diverse forms of artistic expression. I employed experimental design techniques to craft art installations, visual displays, emotional designs, collages, and more. However, after interning for over a year at internet and media companies post-graduation, I unearthed a fervor and fascination for the intricate interplay between art and business. This realization prompted me to pursue a master’s degree in Packaging, Identities, and Systems Design at Pratt Institute.
I found the journey of self-teaching 3D modeling and rendering software during my first year at Pratt to be incredibly rewarding. In a relatively short timeframe of one month, I not only learned but mastered Rhinoceros, Cinema 4D, and Keyshot. What added to the excitement was the discovery that I had developed a genuine affection for these tools and, subsequently, industrial design. This newfound passion led me to explore the realm of product design, encompassing both physical and digital products.
As I delved into UX thinking and UI design, I became enthralled by the systematic, logical, and challenging nature of the discipline. This fascination deepened through diverse projects and clients, solidifying my ultimate career goal—to become a Digital Product Designer.
My life is akin to an adventure characterized by a continuous pursuit of knowledge and a commitment to living a vibrant and colorful existence. This philosophy is integral to my graduate study experience. I embrace the inevitability of making mistakes in the quest to discover my passion, recognizing them as opportunities for growth. The moment I chose to remain in New York—a city that is both beautiful and alluring yet challenging—I understood that an entirely new adventure had commenced.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Actually, it hasn’t been a straightforward path. I’ve been studying art and design for six years, with almost two years of internship experience. The primary challenge has been finding a professional direction that aligns with my passion. Additionally, being an interdisciplinary enthusiast, exploring different design categories has often required me to be self-taught and self-guided. This has been a significant exercise in self-discipline and decision-making for me.
Fortunately, I’ve come to realize that with determination and the ability to persevere, any challenge can be overcome. I thoroughly enjoy the process of solving one problem after another, experiencing the sense of achievement and satisfaction that comes with it. Specifically, witnessing interesting design projects come to life under my guidance and attempting bold combinations of designs from various disciplines brings me immense joy and excitement.
This has been my academic journey, but in the professional realm, I’ve discovered the importance of communication, collaboration, and honing soft skills like asking clear questions, describing issues effectively, and efficiently prioritizing tasks. These skills, although equally crucial, were things I had to learn from scratch through experience. In many ways, I consider myself a hands-on, practical learner.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a multi-disciplinary Visual Designer specializing in Graphic Design, Branding, UI & UX Design, 3D design, Motion Graphics, Experiential Design, Typography, Product and Packaging Design, Design Systems, and Publication Design.
My learning process has always been combined with practical experience. I love exploring new techniques and mixing different disciplines to find more possibilities. I would call myself a processual designer, usually I dive deep into my projects at the research stage and the visual experiments stage. But from the perspective of a visual designer, I also care about the aesthetics and integrity of the final result. My capstone project might be a good example for this — a combination of speculative design, industrial design, narrative motion graphics, and infographic. I spent a semester doing the front-end investigation to write my Capstone paper, and that includes primary/secondary research, focus group interview/survey, and I came up with insights and guiding principles for the project. I like things to be organized and planned.
Due to some projects I undertook in my coursework focusing on comprehensive design systems, I found that the ability to break down project objectives into specific requirements and problems, addressing them one by one, is an important skill whether during graduate school or in the workplace. The communication and collaboration abilities are crucial as well, that is what I learned from my internship at iQIYI, a leading power in the online video industry in China; I got the chance to work closely with cross-functional teams, including software engineers and developers, product managers, and senior designers, to ensure the successful execution of design projects, and this was a fascinating and challenging experience for me.
At this current stage, as a recent graduate and junior designer exploring different directions while honing my skills, I see myself as a versatile team player. At a multi-disciplinary design studio in New York, I got the chance to actively participate in the initial phases of project research as well as the later execution stages, leveraging my abilities to deliver work. In the next three years or so, I plan to focus on refining two to three specific interests and strengths, becoming more specialized and dedicated in those areas.
We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
Something surprising that many people may not know about me is that, in addition to my design background, I have a strong interest in music. I play the piano and harmonica and have been doing so since my childhood, and I really love singing, sometimes I record my covers and share them on social platforms, and I also enjoy going to karaoke with friends. This musical inclination not only provides me with a unique perspective when approaching design projects, incorporating elements of rhythm and harmony, but it also serves as a creative outlet that fuels my innovative thinking, my empathic and emotional side.
In addition, I am also a big fan of niche music, live house music, and sci-fi films like Tenet or Interstellar, a coffee lover, and a dog lover.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.yuyingliu00.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colagelir/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yuying-liu-887126235/
