Interview with Mengyu Cao

I believe design has the power to make a difference—simplifying, improving, and serving people effectively.
I love art, but I’m more drawn to design that serves people and spaces, rather than solely as a means of self-expression.

I chose to become a designer intentionally, selecting my majors in school with a clear vision of pursuing this path.

I encourage young designers to constantly explore, discover, experience, and learn.

A great designer is inspiring. Their designs have a soul—they are powerful, warm, empathetic, and innovative, leaving a lasting emotional and intellectual impact.

A truly good design goes beyond functionality and aesthetics; it seamlessly integrates purpose, and emotional resonance.

Good design enhances people’s lives both emotionally and physically. It addresses practical needs while creating experiences that inspire, comfort, and delight.

I enjoy designing culture-related projects as they allow me to immerse myself in the culture and help spread design so more people can feel and experience it.

My secret ingredients are pouring your heart into it and embracing the power of iteration.

Step into real life to experience and discover.

If I hadn’t become a designer, I think I would have become an archaeologist.

Design is both a skill and a tool for creating, improving, and inspiring.

My experience and my passion.

AI-assisted design feels like the next chapter, but I’m also eager to explore how we can preserve design with heart, soul, and craftsmanship.

Always from research.

Design sets the trends.

Technology is a tool that helps design faster and more efficiently.

Shaping the emotional, functional, and aesthetic experience of a space, product, or visual.

green, home, hotpot, summer, my dog, Dole

See the impact and the feedback from users and audiences.

As a child, I loved designing clothes for my dolls. Now, I design all sorts of things.

YiQi Hanzi offers a unique and visually engaging approach to learning Chinese characters. They employ design thinking and drawings to break down complex characters, their radicals, and components, while providing insights into their historical and cultural significance.

Design is both a skill and a tool for creating, improving, and inspiring.

I enjoy designing culture-related projects as they allow me to immerse myself in the culture and help spread design so more people can feel and experience it.

Probably a logo when I was a Graphic Design student.

My favorites are still pen and paper.

When I drive, I think a lot.

The early research and digging. The more thorough the early research and exploration, the smoother the later process becomes.

Excited, frustrated, satisfied

It serves the goal and the purpose. It's successful for both end users and clients.

A truly good design goes beyond functionality and aesthetics; it seamlessly integrates purpose and emotional resonance.

Designers have significant responsibilities toward society and the environment, as our work shapes the way people live, interact, and experience the world. We need to bring inclusivity, empathy, and ethical impact to the society. And make sure to hold sustainability and resource efficiency during our design.

From my experience, things I see and hear. I prioritize discovering new things, experiencing, learning.

I live in San Francisco. I come from China. Chines culture has always been part of my design.

I always start my design with research to get to know the subject really well, to fully understand the goal and purpose. Then it's many rounds of diverging and converging, a lot of iterations and feedback loop.

Creativity and innovation, Problem solving, and Empathy.