Interview with Yidan Xie from China

Since I was a child, I have had a deep interest in art. I used classic pen and paper instruments at the time. I've learnt to use digital media tools and utilize numerous approaches to express my whimsy about the world and my life as a result of continual learning. I can immerse myself in the creative process with tremendous enjoyment and a sense of accomplishment. I intend to pursue a creative path in the future.

Currently, I am working for Cisco System where I have been employed for about four years. As a Visual Designer, I am primarily responsible for the creation and maintenance of the company's illustration library, the definition and execution of motion guidelines, and the production of animation explainers that present monthly-released product enhancements.

I believe that creativity is an extremely valuable skill that can be lost if it is not carefully nurtured. If we lose our creativity, we may have to compete with robots, computers, and artificial intelligence for some opportunities.

The smallest things in life frequently cause my thoughts to wander and form bizarre associations such as how a cup of coffee might cause me to fantasize about chocolate lakes. Myths and stories fascinate me and I have an exceptional passion for mysterious creatures such as many types of dragons.

In general, I sketch my ideas in a notepad before refining them using digital technology on a computer. If it is a commercial work, I will conduct additional research on client groups, market data, and competitor products, among others.

My favorite phase is the sketching phase since it allows me to unleash my creativity and ignite inspiration. After a series of refining and polishing, the results of this stage are often amazing. Initially, the ideas may appear tiny or even a little bit ridiculous but after a series of deepening and refining, the results are frequently astounding.

Relaxed, cheerful, friendly, imaginative and passionate about life.

Some influence but not much. Because my creativity after work is mainly focused on commercial products, I must have a certain awareness of their customer groups. Instead, I will learn about the countries and cultures of the users, build empathy through artistic expression and then contribute to the financial success of the product.

I am thrilled to win this honor, which serves as recognition of my achievements. I am delighted and grateful to my team for their support and encouragement, and I am happy to share the good news with them. Likewise, this accolade (Cisco Illustration Library) belongs to our XDi team and Cisco because they provide me with a platform and place to create as well as the chance to shine!

My commercial piece, Cisco Illustration Library, was awarded a gold medal, while my other commercial work, Kaishan Inspiration, was awarded a platinum medal. I chose them because they not only reflect one of the peaks of my artistic talent but also have received positive feedback in a corporate context and I have a lot of faith in them.

For Cisco Illustration Library, "diversification" is the greatest challenge. Not only must the age, skin color, body shape, hair style, posture, and gender of the characters be considered in order to achieve the ideal balance but the Inclusive group must also be considered in order to provide users with a diverse and inclusive product image. Before creating a new character, I will examine the existing characters' data information and add any missing elements.

Excellent help! This award boosted my confidence and bolstered my conviction that I am a brilliant designer. I will continue on this path and produce even superior commercial works in the future.

Imagination, freedom and openness.

I believe Eastern culture is unique in the creative industry. After spending four years studying and working in the United States, I returned to China and began working for Cisco Systems. I have always been surrounded by a fairly "American" environment.

I am the sole member of our department who lives in China. Having been exposed to both Western and Eastern culture, I believe that with increasing cultural interchange and communication, Eastern and Western cultures are influencing each other and countries are also influencing one another.

Wow, what a big question! I don't think I'll be able to indicate the path for the entire industry, but based on my expertise and views, the future challenge for all vision-related designers is how to employ AI technology for creative sublimation.

First, remain active and self-assured, never give up, and trust in your potential.

Second, learn how to advertise yourself.

Third, continue to manage and update your portfolio, since there are always possibilities for those who are prepared.

Behance, Dribble, Figama community and Vimeo are highly recommended by nearly all creative professionals.

YouTube technical tutorial because it is often necessary to grasp certain software approaches in order to implement one's ideas.

Some paid online courses or boot camps, if you wish to enhance your talents further.

Regardless, the most essential thing is to keep learning.

I believe my cats possess some type of mystical power over me. After submitting my work, I would give them additional cans of cat food!

Maybe… I inspire me. I appear to be a self-motivated individual. In certain situations, I rely on my intuition and judgment and many of my past experiences have shaped me into the person I aspire to be. Rarely am I inspired by others but I can sense and comprehend those who vibrate at the same frequency as myself.

Never stop learning and never give up.

Instead than harming oneself with inferiority, it is preferable to place the responsibility on others with self-assurance.

I own three cats, enjoy dairy products, and have the INTJ personality type (introversion, intuition, thinking, judgement).