Meet Xianxi Liao of Boston

Today we’d like to introduce you to Xianxi Liao.

Hi Xianxi, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I came to the U.S. from China when I was 17. At first, like many others, I followed my family’s advice and studied biology. But an unexpected art class changed everything—it opened a world that made me forget time, a world I knew I wanted to stay in.

Later, I studied Studio Art at the University of Vermont and earned my Master’s degree in Packaging, Identities and Systems Design at Pratt Institute in New York. These years gave me not only technical training but also a way to see design as both problem-solving and storytelling.

Today, I work across UI/UX and visual design, leading the creative direction of projects like Motrip and HIPOND. Whether it is a digital interface or a brand identity, I see design as a language—one that can connect people across cultures, just as I move between Chinese and English in my own life. My path has been full of surprises, but what carries me forward is curiosity: about how far I can go, and what beauty or value I might bring into the world through my work.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It hasn’t always been a smooth road. When I first arrived in the U.S. as a teenager, I was learning not only a new language and culture but also searching for who I truly wanted to become. Leaving biology for art was a turning point—both freeing and difficult, because it meant stepping away from certainty and into the unknown.

Since then, my path has often felt like beginning again and again. Each new project, each shift in direction required me to learn quickly, to absorb new tools, and to rebuild my voice in unfamiliar ground. In recent years, the pace of change—whether in the job market or in the rise of new technologies—has asked me to adapt even faster. I’ve learned to see these forces not as threats but as instruments I can play with, ways to expand myself and deepen my practice.

As someone far from home, building a life in a different country, I’ve come to understand survival not just as persistence, but as a kind of quiet resilience—listening carefully, finding belonging in unexpected places, and allowing struggle itself to shape the rhythm of my journey. What once felt like obstacles now feel more like pauses in music, moments that make the song fuller, richer, and more alive.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
My work lives at the intersection of UI/UX and visual design. On one hand, I design digital experiences—mobile apps, platforms, and responsive interfaces that are intuitive and human-centered. On the other, I also lead the visual and graphic design side, shaping the overall look and feel, from brand identity to packaging and communication. For me, these two sides are not separate; they echo each other, and together they create a more complete story.

I’m proud of projects like Motrip, a travel app for solo travelers, and HIPOND, a community e-commerce platform for students and young professionals. Both began as ideas with no shape, and I had the chance to guide them from 0 to 1—turning abstract needs into design systems, flows, and identities people can actually use and connect with. Along the way, I’ve been fortunate to receive recognition, including the French Design Award (Gold) for packaging innovation, and as part of design teams, multiple UI/UX awards such as the London Design Award, C2A (Creative Communication Award), and IDA (International Design Awards).

What sets me apart, I think, is my background and perspective. I move between cultures and languages, and I see design in the same way—not just as problem-solving, but as a form of translation, of creating bridges. I’m less interested in making something trendy than in making something that feels true, that helps people find clarity, belonging, or even a little beauty in the everyday.

Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
One thing I would like to share is a phrase that has stayed with me: keep going. Two of my professors once told me something similar—that even if your efforts don’t bring the results you hope for right away, as long as you keep going, those results will come. What matters most in the meantime is patience, persistence, and faith in the process.

I carry those words with me, especially in moments of uncertainty. To me, “keep going” is not only about career or design—it is about life itself, about continuing to move forward even when the path is unclear, and trusting that each step has meaning.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.xianxiliao.design/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/xianxi-liao/