Qilin Lei Explores the Diversity of Beauty in InHealth

As a designer, I have always sought to explore how creativity can be integrated with commerce and culture through design. I aim to create work that makes a tangible impact within the industry. This competition offers an opportunity to engage with outstanding designers from around the world.

Winning would enhance my professional recognition within the international design community, opening doors to future collaborations and career growth. To me, an award represents both validation of past efforts and motivation to continually push boundaries—creating work with even greater influence.

My work draws inspiration from my appreciation of artist Jenny Saville’s piece Propped. She portrays women’s real bodies, challenging the patriarchal society and the mass media’s entrenched aesthetic that equates thinness with beauty. Since the 1980s, this singular ideal has been reinforced, and even today, many women remain anxious about their bodies, pursuing external standards through dieting, medication, and other means.

Against this backdrop, I sought to explore through design: Can beauty be defined solely by a particular body shape? The creative process itself became a reflection of my relationship with society. I wanted design to transcend mere visual expression, becoming a dialogue that invites people to reconsider the diversity of beauty. I believe this embodies a sense of breakthrough and inclusivity within today’s industry.

Design is not only about serving commerce and aesthetics; it can also serve as a medium for addressing social issues, encouraging the public to question and think critically, thereby giving design deeper social value.

I believe the project stands out because it addresses the widespread body image anxiety prevalent today, particularly the challenges women face under societal aesthetic pressures. Rather than focusing solely on visual design, I aim to promote a more positive and healthy lifestyle through this project.

My approach combines “traditional light cuisine” with “Chinese culinary culture,” integrating innovative interpretations of Chinese light dining into the design. This transforms healthy eating from a notion of deprivation into a lifestyle that balances nutrition, cultural identity, and aesthetic experience.

This interdisciplinary approach enables the project to move beyond surface-level aesthetics to influence everyday choices, imbuing the design with social awareness and cultural depth. It is this integration of design, culture, and lifestyle that gives the project its distinctiveness in a highly competitive field.

The biggest challenge was integrating traditional Chinese cuisine with modern light dining concepts while maintaining a balance between health and aesthetics. In the early stages, both ingredient pairings and visual presentation fell short of expectations. To address this, I conducted multiple rounds of user research and experimentation, collaborating closely with nutritionists and chefs to make continuous refinements.

Ultimately, I developed a solution that combines innovation, visual appeal, and health principles, while also gaining valuable experience in cross-disciplinary collaboration and the importance of rapid iteration.

This award represents recognition of my design capabilities and philosophy. I hope it will open more international collaboration opportunities for my career development while providing professional validation for my team and partners. So far, it has already brought new collaborative projects and industry exchanges, giving me greater confidence to continue exploring innovative design.

What struck me most was when an audience member told me, “Your work made me realize beauty shouldn’t be confined to a single standard. I’ve started trying to live in a healthier, more confident way.” Feedback like this makes me feel that design truly holds social impact—it’s not just about visual presentation, but about inspiring people to think and act differently.

I believe that achieving similar success requires curiosity and keen observation—drawing inspiration from everyday life and societal issues. At the same time, it’s important to embrace interdisciplinary integration by blending design, aesthetics, business, and social value to infuse your work with deeper meaning.

Continuous iteration and user feedback are essential, as ongoing refinement helps your creations mature. Finally, cultivate patience and perseverance, and have the courage to face challenges and learn from failure.

I believe the creative industry is becoming increasingly cross-disciplinary, diverse, and global. Design now extends beyond aesthetics or visual expression, emphasizing the integration of user experience, commercial value, and social impact. Digitalization, sustainability, and cultural diversity are reshaping the boundaries of design, requiring designers to find balance between innovation and social responsibility.

Looking ahead, I aspire to position myself as an interdisciplinary and forward-thinking designer. While continuing to focus on interface and brand design, I also aim to explore social issues and lifestyle improvements through design. I hope my work embodies beauty, functionality, and social value, creating meaningful impact on the global stage through cross-cultural and cross-industry collaboration.

I encourage aspiring designers to experiment boldly without being limited by the fear of imperfection or failure. Entering competitions is not just about winning awards—it’s an opportunity to test your skills, learn, and grow. Through continuous iteration, gathering feedback, and engaging with others, you can gradually build confidence, expand your perspective, and unlock new career opportunities.

I want to tell fellow creatives, marketers, and advertising professionals: creativity never exists in isolation. It grows through observation, communication, and connection.

I dedicate this achievement to my team and partners. Throughout this project, my ability to bring creative ideas to life and overcome challenges relied heavily on the professional support and interdisciplinary collaboration of my team members. Every step—from working with nutritionists and chefs to conducting user research and visual iterations—was made possible through their dedication.

This recognition belongs not only to me but to everyone behind the scenes. Their expertise, patience, and creativity were indispensable in driving the project’s success.

My work conveys the message that “you don’t need to explain who you are,” encouraging everyone to embrace their authentic selves.

This statement highlights the importance of self-identity and staying true to oneself. In my work, I address issues surrounding body image anxiety and healthy eating among women, aiming to spark reflection on society’s rigid beauty standards through design. I hope to inspire people to respect and embrace their own bodies and lifestyles.

This aligns perfectly with G.E.M.’s advocacy for “being yourself”—courageously facing who you are, free from external definitions, and making confidence and authenticity essential parts of life.

I plan to continue deepening my expertise in design and begin establishing my own brand. Through this brand, I aim to integrate my understanding of user experience, visual aesthetics, and social value into tangible products. My goal is to help more people recognize the power of design and appreciate the value of combining innovation with everyday living.

This marks both a new creative beginning for me and an opportunity to put my ideas into practice while expanding my influence.