Interview with Alex (Qian) Wan for Ling from United States

Ever since I was a child, my passion for art and design has burned brightly within me. This lifelong dedication to the world of design has not only driven my career but has also been a constant source of inspiration and fulfillment.

Creativity in design involves the ability to think outside of the box, take risks, and explore new possibilities. It can involve the use of various mediums and techniques to express ideas and convey messages in a visually compelling and engaging way.

A creative idea or design is one that captures the imagination, stimulates thought, and evokes an emotional response from its audience. It is a solution that is both functional and aesthetically pleasing, while also being original and innovative in its approach.

The creative and design process for product designers involves research, ideation, prototyping, testing, refinement, implementation, and launch. The process aims to identify user needs, generate ideas, create prototypes, test with users, refine the design, implement it, and launch the final product. Collaboration with other team members is crucial to ensure the product meets the needs of the target audience and is successful in the market.

Ideation and testing!

I like to create something creative and collaborative.

Ling is an educational chatbot that operates on mobile devices, specifically designed to assist Chinese international students in promoting equity, diversity, and inclusion. By offering real-time inquiry functions and access to learning resources, Ling aims to empower these students to recognize and prevent instances of discrimination and harassment they may encounter.

The driving force behind the concept was the rise of racism and violence towards Asians as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. This is particularly concerning for Chinese international students between the ages of 18-25 who are entering a new cultural environment that may be vastly different from their own. These students may not immediately recognize instances of racial discrimination or harassment directed towards them, even if they are subtle in nature.

However, it is important to note that these experiences can still be just as detrimental to their overall health and well-being.

The topic itself is very challenging. As a designer, we are bound to face similar challenges and it is important to embrace the challenge.

Inclusivity, open-mindedness and creativity!

Technology-wise, it will be filled with AI-powered tools which will change the design process.

Don’t be afraid of any challenge you are about to face because kicking things off is the hardest thing and you have already overcome it, the hard work is already over!

In the creative industry, being open-minded is the key to success. Don’t be afraid of the different opinion.