Interview with Zihao Yu from China

My passion for design stems from my childhood days of drawing, extending through high school. I enjoyed observing everyday objects around me, from artworks to furniture and even architectural structures, marveling at how designers solve problems and create new lifestyles. This inspired me to pursue a career in design.

I am currently enrolled in the School of Home Furnishing and Art Design at Central South University of Forestry and Technology. My research focus lies in furniture design, with a heightened emphasis on addressing genuine user needs becoming the central point of my attention.

Design is a process of discovering, analyzing, and solving problems. It is a combination of innovation, empathy, and aesthetics that makes connections.

My favorite concept in design is human-centered design because everything we encounter has been designed in some way. Focusing on people becomes the main theme of future design development, helping to identify and address pain points that resonate with designs, and connecting people from different backgrounds.

Good design is about solving problems directly, and meaningfully.

I'm not sure I've established a specific design style yet; I'm still exploring myself. In my design projects, my goal is to combine innovation with technology to create things that truly meet people's needs, prioritizing human-centricity over innovation for the sake of innovation.

My design process involves a series of design research steps. First, I focus on different demographics, adept at identifying their habits and pain points. Then, I analyze existing issues and examine potential problems that may arise during the design process.

In China, there is a concept called "humanistic care." I believe that integrating this concept into product design can effectively clarify the relationship between people and products, which has also influenced my design approach.

I am truly honored to have received the 2023 MUSE Design Awards, which demonstrates the recognition and support of my design by the IAA.

With the advent of the Information Age and the era of Artificial Intelligence, human scientific and technological advances are progressing rapidly. Increasingly, there is a focus on personalized customization and product designs tailored to specific demographics.

E-EARS is an intelligent eyewear designed for the hearing impaired. This smart eyewear provides features such as AR digital lens interaction, hazard alerts, and music vibration media functions. Combining style with functionality, allows the hearing impaired to better integrate into daily life and enhance their quality of life.

I believe the biggest challenge is identifying the genuine pain points of specific demographics and finding ways to analyze and address these pain points.

This encourages and emboldens my learning, inspiring me to explore more opportunities on the path of future design.

Solve real-world problems, prioritize people, and break boundaries.

China's science and technology are advancing rapidly, requiring more and more people to adapt to it. Many designers are actively integrating designs that meet people's real needs.

Today, with the rapid development of artificial intelligence, which can handle many tasks, designers are constantly pondering, questioning, and becoming more innovative.

Stay passionate, stay grounded, stay innovative.

Identify and analyze problems.

I once dreamed of becoming a fashion designer.

My friends, family, and teachers who have tirelessly nurtured me have continuously supported me on my design journey, inspiring my creativity.

Being excited and facing challenges.

Thank you to the IAA for awarding me and for providing encouragement and support!