Interview with Yihan Luo and Matt Zheng

From an early age, I’ve been fascinated by how design can translate invisible emotions and complex systems into something tangible that people can feel and interact with. I became a designer because I see design as a bridge — connecting technology, humanity, and imagination. What motivates me most is the power of design to change behaviors, inspire empathy, and shape a more inclusive future.

My journey began with curiosity about how everyday experiences could be improved through thoughtful interaction — from the way people learn through AR/VR storytelling to how AI can help everyone express creativity. For me, design is not only about aesthetics or usability, but about creating meaningful impact — making technology more human, cities more sustainable, and creativity more accessible to everyone.

I definitely chose to become a designer. No one forced me into it — in fact, it was a path I carved out for myself because I was always drawn to observing people and imagining how things could work better. Design felt like the perfect way to connect creativity with problem-solving.

I design interactive experiences that connect technology, art, and human emotion. My work spans across AI music creation, AR/VR education, and robotics design, where I focus on how digital systems can become more intuitive, inclusive, and meaningful for people.

Going forward, I’d like to design more speculative and cross-disciplinary projects — works that question our relationship with technology and invite people to imagine alternative futures. Whether through sound, movement, or narrative, I want my designs to spark curiosity and reflection, not just function.

For young designers, I think the key is to stay curious and fearless — keep asking why things are the way they are, and imagine how they could be better.
Second, don’t rush to follow trends. Instead, build your own point of view — something that reflects your values, experiences, and the kind of world you want to help create. Design isn’t about fame or aesthetics alone; it’s about seeing what others overlook and giving it form, meaning, and purpose.
Finally, keep making, even when no one is watching. Every sketch, prototype, and failure adds up to your voice as a designer. Legends aren’t born overnight — they grow from years of caring deeply and creating consistently.

A good designer solves problems beautifully. A great designer questions why the problem exists in the first place — and redesigns the system around it.

A really good design goes beyond solving problems — it creates meaning. It’s not just functional or beautiful, but intuitively right, as if it could only exist that way. I evaluate good design by how deeply it connects with people: whether it brings clarity, evokes emotion, and leaves a lasting impact. To me, the best designs feel effortless yet thoughtful — they quietly improve life, spark reflection, or inspire imagination without needing to explain themselves.

Good design is not about polish — it’s about intention. It shapes how people feel, behave, and remember. When design is done right, it makes technology human and turns function into emotion. I believe everyone should invest in good design because it’s the quiet force that builds trust, meaning, and connection. It doesn’t just make things look better — it makes them matter.

If I had the time, I’d design something that helps people breathe again in a world that moves too fast — maybe an experience where technology listens instead of speaks. I’d design for people who feel too connected yet quietly alone, something that reminds them of emotion, rhythm, and stillness. It wouldn’t be about function or trend — it would be about feeling alive again, where design becomes a small moment of peace between humans and the future.

My dream project would be to create an AI that composes music from emotion — not from data or prompts, but from the subtle, invisible states of being human. I want to build a system that listens beyond words — to your mood, your rhythm, your silence — and turns that into sound. Music that grows and evolves with you, almost like a living reflection of your inner world. For me, this isn’t about replacing musicians, but about expanding how we create and feel through AI — letting technology become a mirror for emotion, not just a tool for production.

My secret ingredient is emotion — I design from feeling first, logic second. I don’t chase trends or perfection; I chase honesty. I think the best designs come from moments when something touches you deeply and you can’t help but turn it into form. For me, it’s about sensing energy — human, emotional, invisible — and shaping it into an experience people can feel. That’s the real recipe: to design with soul, not control.