Sizhe Huang

I've always been deeply fascinated by art and design, a passion that began in my childhood with painting. This early interest led me to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Industrial Design, where I was intrigued by the blend of design and technology. After graduating, the growing prominence of interaction research and design—spurred by technological advancements and the rise of major tech companies—captivated my attention. To delve deeper, I joined the ArtCenter College of Design for a master's in Media Design Practices. There, I explored design methodologies in emerging technologies and developed critical perspective for my practice. Post-graduation, I began my career in UX/UI design, focusing primarily on apps and websites design. Yet, I felt a compelling urge to broaden my creative horizons beyond screen-based designs. This drive coincided with an opportunity to shift into the electric vehicle industry as a Product Designer, where I now design holistic experiences that integrate both software and hardware interactions. This role not only satisfies my creative aspirations but also positions me at the forefront of innovation in mobility.

'Design' is a profound symphony of art, science, and empathy. It's not merely about creating visually pleasing artifacts, but about crafting solutions that resonate deeply with human needs and emotions. Design is a dialogue between the creator and the user, wherein every line, color, and texture communicates a message, tells a story, or solves a problem. It's a relentless pursuit of balance between aesthetics and functionality, where innovation meets intuition. Ultimately, design is a commitment to enhancing lives, whether it's simplifying complex tasks, evoking emotions, or just adding a touch of beauty to the everyday. In its essence, design is a testament to human ingenuity and the desire to leave the world a touch more harmonious than we found it.

A 'successful' design is one that effortlessly blends into the user’s life, offering intuitive and accessible interactions while providing distinctive and delightful experiences. It should be user-centric, ensuring simplicity and ease of use, yet innovative enough to offer a unique, memorable engagement. Moreover, sustainability and inclusivity are pivotal, guaranteeing that the design is ethical and environmentally conscious, respecting all users and our planet alike.

Sustainability and Circular Design: With increasing global awareness of environmental issues, designers will prioritize sustainable materials, processes, and end-of-life considerations. Circular design – which focuses on creating products with a closed-loop lifecycle – will gain more prominence. Inclusive and Universal Design: The industry will see a more significant shift towards designing for all, regardless of age, gender, ability, or background. This approach will ensure products, spaces, and digital experiences are accessible to the broadest range of people. Digital and Physical Integration: The line between the physical and digital realms will blur further. With the rise of augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and mixed reality (MR), designers will craft integrated experiences that bridge both domains. Artificial Intelligence in Design: AI will play a more significant role, from automating repetitive tasks to aiding in design decisions and providing predictive insights. Tools like generative design, where AI suggests optimal designs based on specific parameters, will become more mainstream.

Naoto Fukasawa has been a significant influence on my design approach, particularly due to his philosophy of 'Design without Thought'. Fukasawa's ethos revolves around the idea that the best designs are those that seamlessly integrate into our lives, becoming almost invisible because of their intuitive nature. This principle resonates with me deeply. It has encouraged me to always strive for simplicity and to design solutions that effortlessly resonate with users, ensuring that they don’t have to think – they can just feel and use. His work serves as a constant reminder that design should not be intrusive but rather an innate extension of human behavior and environment.

My design style is deeply rooted in user empathy. I prioritize understanding and connecting with the user's perspective, ensuring that my designs resonate emotionally and functionally with them. Furthermore, I actively integrate emerging technologies into my work. For me, technology isn't merely a tool—it's a medium to drive positive societal change and enhance the quality of life for users. In essence, my designs bridge human emotion with the transformative power of technology.

My design process, inspired by the double-diamond method, intertwines systematic strategy and creative exploration to craft solutions that are not only innovative but also deeply resonant with user needs. Discovery: Beginning with identifying the problem or experience that requires enhancement, I immerse myself in user research, meticulously analyzing use cases and defining pain points to gain an empathetic understanding of user needs and contexts. Ideation: Leveraging insights from the discovery phase, I identify and weigh design opportunities, ensuring that generated ideas are thoughtfully aligned with identified pain points and user expectations. Design: This phase involves bringing ideas to life. I develop multiple ideations into detailed designs and interactive prototypes, ensuring they’re robust enough to be critically assessed in the subsequent phase. Testing: Engaging with users, I rigorously test the proposed design solutions, gathering invaluable feedback that is then funneled back into refinements and enhancements. Crucially, my design process is not linear but cyclical - constantly iterating and refining based on ongoing learnings and feedback, thereby ensuring solutions that are continually evolving and user-centric.

I am an interdisciplinary designer, specializing in forging the future of user experiences. Currently, I am contributing to Lucid Motors where I am passionate about weaving seamless experiences into the user's interconnected lifestyle, ensuring that every interaction is intuitive and enriching. With a foundation in Industrial Design from my undergraduate studies and a Master’s Degree in Media Design from the ArtCenter College of Design, I navigate skillfully between physical and digital mediums, crafting immersive experiences that resonate with users. My design approach is staunchly user-centric, ensuring that every creation is not only functional and innovative but also emotionally impactful and aligned with user needs and expectations. My interests span across mobility, IoT (Internet of Things) and social platforms, always with an aim to explore how these domains can intersect to create novel, meaningful, and integrated user experiences. At the core of my work lies a belief in the transformative power of design, bridging technological advancements with deeply human experiences.

From a young age, painting became a powerful medium for me to express myself, allowing me to communicate through aesthetic visuals. As I matured, my fascination grew in merging aesthetics with emerging technology, exploring how these elements could intertwine to create something innovative and impactful. My innate qualities of being a keen observer and an active listener catalyzed my excitement about utilizing design as a tool to resolve issues and enhance people’s lives. This enthusiasm propelled me to pursue academic journeys in both undergraduate and graduate studies, where I immersed myself in design theory while also unleashing my creativity. Upon graduation, I embraced the role of a designer with zeal, applying my academic learnings to real-world scenarios. I derive immense satisfaction from collaborating with others, bringing designs to life that not only embody aesthetic and technological integration but also have the power to positively alter everyday experiences for people.

A truly good design transcends mere aesthetics to achieve a harmonious balance between form and function, where each element is purposeful and enhances the user's experience. At its core, good design solves problems efficiently and elegantly, making life simpler, more enjoyable, or more meaningful. It is intuitive and accessible, ensuring that users can interact with it seamlessly, regardless of their background or ability level. Furthermore, good design is sustainable; it considers the entire lifecycle of the product, including its impact on the environment and society. Evaluating good design involves several key criteria: functionality, user experience, aesthetic value, sustainability, and innovation. Functionality tests whether the design effectively performs its intended purpose. User experience assesses how easily and pleasantly users can interact with the design, including accessibility for all potential users. Aesthetic value looks at how the elements of design—such as color, shape, and form—coalesce to create an appealing product. Sustainability considers if the design minimizes environmental impact and promotes ecological health. Finally, innovation evaluates the design's originality and its contribution to pushing boundaries in its field. A design that excels in these areas is not just good; it’s exceptional, setting standards and driving progress in design thinking.

My key to success in design is rooted in a potent mix of unyielding curiosity, relentless dedication, and deep empathy. This unique blend serves as the bedrock of my approach, guiding my creative process and decision-making at every turn. Curiosity is my compass—it drives me to continuously explore new ideas, learn from others, and challenge the status quo. This perpetual quest for knowledge ensures that my designs remain innovative and that I never become complacent. It fuels my ability to anticipate trends and to think critically about how emerging technologies can be harnessed to enhance design solutions. Dedication, on the other hand, is my anchor. It provides the resilience needed to tackle complex challenges and the persistence to iteratively refine my work until it meets—and often exceeds—my standards of excellence. It’s this dedication that sees projects through to their successful completion, no matter the obstacles encountered along the way. Above all, empathy is my secret ingredient; it is the heart of my design philosophy. By putting myself in the shoes of others, I ensure that my designs are not just aesthetically pleasing or functionally apt, but truly resonant with users. Empathy reminds me that design is ultimately about people. It's about understanding their needs, alleviating their pains, and enhancing their lives. The true measure of success in design, therefore, isn’t just found in accolades or achievements, but in the positive impacts that my work has on individual experiences. This empathetic approach ensures that my designs are meaningful, user-centered, and genuinely transformative.

Naoto Fukasawa has been a significant influence on my design approach, particularly due to his philosophy of 'Design without Thought'. Fukasawa's ethos revolves around the idea that the best designs are those that seamlessly integrate into our lives, becoming almost invisible because of their intuitive nature. This principle resonates with me deeply. It has encouraged me to always strive for simplicity and to design solutions that effortlessly resonate with users, ensuring that they don’t have to think – they can just feel and use. His work serves as a constant reminder that design should not be intrusive but rather an innate extension of human behavior and environment.

'Design' is a profound symphony of art, science, and empathy. It's not merely about creating visually pleasing artifacts, but about crafting solutions that resonate deeply with human needs and emotions. Design is a dialogue between the creator and the user, wherein every line, color, and texture communicates a message, tells a story, or solves a problem. It's a relentless pursuit of balance between aesthetics and functionality, where innovation meets intuition. Ultimately, design is a commitment to enhancing lives, whether it's simplifying complex tasks, evoking emotions, or just adding a touch of beauty to the everyday. In its essence, design is a testament to human ingenuity and the desire to leave the world a touch more harmonious than we found it.