Young Designer Spotlight: The Thoughtful Innovation of Bangzishu Huang

Being recognized in the NY Product Design Awards is a huge honor and a significant milestone in my design journey. I would’ve never imagined that I would have been able to get an award at such a prestigious competition. It validates all the effort, research, and creativity I put behind each of my projects, while still reminding me of the responsibility that comes with design. This recognition will motivate me to continue exploring the depths of design and continuously push myself to create meaningful products.

This achievement has opened many new doors for me as a young and aspiring designer. It has given my work more visibility, allowing me to connect with other innovators and mentors who share the same passion for design as me. This achievement has also allowed me to have some confidence to chase larger and more ambitious projects.

Experimentation is at the core of my creative process when I’m designing. It helps me discover new possibilities and refine ideas that will go further than I expect. At the beginning of every design, I will test different forms, materials, and functions to see how they can work together, sometimes in unexpected ways. 

For example, when I was developing ResQ Capsule, I experimented with modular components and compact geometry in order to make sure the design was functional and streamlined. Through a lot of trial and error, I was able to find out how balance, practicality, and proportion can come together and make a product that’s impactful for all.

The most unusual source of inspiration I’ve drawn from was the structure of the human spine. This is my inspiration for one of the current projects I am working on. I was able to study how the human spine naturally balances flexibility and support. I’m still working on applying the structure to my work by finding a way to translate a biological structure into a functional design. But this process taught me that inspiration can come from anywhere, especially from nature’s own engineering.

One thing I wish more people understood about the design process is that it’s rarely a straight line. It can be a very messy process, full of sketches, failed prototypes, and, most importantly, unexpected turns. It is exactly amidst the chaos that the best ideas often emerge. Design isn’t exactly about the perfect execution straight from the start. 

It’s more about exploration, adaptation, and discovery throughout the whole process. A lot of the time, the final design is completely different from your original idea, and that is what makes the design process so meaningful.

I approach the balance between meeting client expectations and staying true to my ideas through open communication and adaptability. I see design as a collaboration, instead of one designer doing everything. Keeping transparency allows you to understand your client's expectations while still retaining your creative vision to find your own expression in the work. 

Focusing on the shared purpose behind each project helps you to align both your and your client's perspectives. By being flexible but still grounded to my own core design values, I’m able to craft outcomes that show purpose and impact.

When I was initially prototyping FlexiBowl, I came across the challenge of actually getting the 3-1 structure functioning, while still keeping it simple and minimalistic for users. I tried many different types of designs and locking mechanisms, and after about 1-2 weeks of trial and error, I was able to use the dovetail track and magnet locking mechanism to achieve the goal. 

Also, when I started working on ResQ Capsule, a problem that would frequently come up was that the whole design wasn’t very compact, and the life buoy wouldn’t deploy very quickly. Later, I was inspired by the cylinder shape of bottles, inspiring me to morph my design into a capsule-like shape, and to deal with the deployment time for the life buoy, I created a pull tab mechanism. 

When I hit a creative block, I try to step away from my work momentarily and give myself some time to reset. I usually listen to music, take a walk, and fully immerse myself in my surroundings. Observing the simple details such as light, textures, or the motion of everything helps me see things from a new perspective. All those quiet moments very often spark new ideas and continuously remind me why I love designing so much in the first place.

I often turn my own inconveniences and observations of everyday struggles into fuel for my designs. By experiencing problems firsthand, I am able to emphasize with others better and think about how designs can genuinely make life easier and safer. I constantly try to channel real-world insights into my designs, making practical and meaningful solutions. 

I always ensure that my product will be able to help improve an aspect of life, whether it’s functionality, accessibility or sustainability. Personally, I think design is most powerful when it comes from lived experiences and empathy. 

My advice to aspiring designers is not to be afraid of stepping outside your comfort zone and to truly believe in your own ideas, even if they aren’t conventional. Every project’s challenges present a chance to learn, experiment, and grow. At the same time, I think it’s equally important to stay humble and keep improving. 

I’m still learning every day, and I am taking in new things daily, especially as I’m not a very experienced designer yet. Design is a continuous journey, and the more you embrace uncertainty, the more you’ll discover what you’re capable of creating.

If I could collaborate with any designer, it would certainly be James Dyson. I really admire how he combines engineering precision with bold creativity to solve everyday problems in truly unexpected ways. The dedication he has to experimentation and constant refinement of his works reflects the type of design I aspire to be. Working alongside someone like him would be an incredible opportunity to learn how to push boundaries, rethink conventions and blend innovations with real-world impacts.

One question I wish people would ask me is whether I truly believe that I can make an impact as a high school designer, and my answer will always be yes, absolutely yes. Age doesn’t define creativity or purpose. What really matters is the passion and persistence you hold. I’ve learned that when you believe in your vision more than anything else, you can create meaningful change no matter where you start and who you are.