Xinming Liu

Specialized in Toy Design.

Xinming Liu

About Xinming Liu

  • Winner of the A' Design Award.
  • Specialized in Toy Design.
  • Original Design.
  • Creative, Diligent and Innovative.
  • All Designs
  • Toy
Dunhuang Lute Cultural Storytelling Trendy Toys

Dunhuang Lute Cultural Storytelling Trendy Toys

Toy Design

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Designer of the Day Interview with Xinming Liu

Could you please tell us about your experience as a designer, artist, architect or creator?
I studied Communication Design at Pratt Institute in New York after completing a visual arts degree in China. I've worked with media, health, and lifestyle brands, designing everything from editorial illustrations to product systems.
How did you become a designer?
I’ve always been drawn to storytelling. Design became the path where I could combine visuals, emotions, and purpose.
What are your priorities, technique and style when designing?
I value emotional clarity, sustainability, and cultural context. I combine hand sketches with digital tools like Rhino and Adobe.
Which emotions do you feel when designing?
The spark of the first idea excites me the most. But deep satisfaction comes when the design emotionally connects with others.
What particular aspects of your background shaped you as a designer?
Curiosity, empathy, and writing skills. Storytelling across mediums shaped how I understand design as communication.
What is your growth path? What are your future plans? What is your dream design project?
From visual work to brand systems, I now explore how design can change behavior. I hope to build a design studio bridging East and West, with values at its core.
What are your advices to designers who are at the beginning of their career?
Stay curious and don’t be afraid to start small. Listen more, compare less, and find your own rhythm.
You are truly successful as a designer, what do you suggest to fellow designers, artists and architects?
Be honest with your values. Tools和风格都会更新，但初心不能忘。
What is your day to day look like?
I start my day reading or sketching. I balance design work with walks, tea, and journaling to stay grounded.
How do you keep up with latest design trends? To what extent do design trends matter?
I observe trends but don’t chase them. My design is more about long-term resonance than short-term appeal.
How do you know if a product or project is well designed? How do you define good design?
Good design feels inevitable and leaves a memory. I value emotional impact and thoughtful structure.
How do you decide if your design is ready?
When the intent is clear and the piece feels self-contained, I let go. But I always leave room for future evolution.
What is your biggest design work?
My modular sustainable makeup kit. It bridges cultural storytelling with responsible beauty.
Who is your favourite designer?
Kenya Hara for his philosophical restraint. Also Tadao Ando—his silence speaks volumes.
Would you tell us a bit about your lifestyle and culture?
I live between cultures—Chinese heritage and Western training. Nature, poetry, and solitude are important in my daily rituals.
Would you tell us more about your work culture and business philosophy?
I value collaboration rooted in trust. Whether working alone or with partners, clarity and respect are non-negotiable.
What are your philanthropic contributions to society as a designer, artist and architect?
I’ve volunteered for mental health design initiatives and often mentor young creatives. Design is how I give back.
What positive experiences you had when you attend the A’ Design Award?
It gave my work international visibility, helped me reflect, and opened doors to new audiences. Awards aren't just about competition—they’re opportunities to share values.

Extended Interview with Xinming Liu

Could you please tell us about your experience as a designer, artist, architect or creator?
I studied Communication Design at Pratt Institute in New York. Before that, I completed my undergraduate degree in visual arts at Tsinghua University in China. This cross-cultural experience deeply shaped my design thinking.
How did you become a designer?
I’m motivated by the desire to connect ideas and people visually. Design helps me express things that words can’t fully capture.
What are your priorities, technique and style when designing?
It was a personal choice. I've always been drawn to creating things and communicating visually.
Which emotions do you feel when designing?
I work across editorial, packaging, and experience design. I’d love to explore more sustainable product systems in the future.
What particular aspects of your background shaped you as a designer?
Stay curious and observe deeply. Keep designing with purpose and don’t be afraid to challenge norms.
What is your growth path? What are your future plans? What is your dream design project?
A good designer solves problems; a great one reshapes how we see the world.
What are your advices to designers who are at the beginning of their career?
A really good design is intuitive, meaningful, and resonates emotionally. I value clarity and impact.
You are truly successful as a designer, what do you suggest to fellow designers, artists and architects?
Good design elevates everyday life and fosters better communication. It adds lasting value to both product and user experience.
What is your day to day look like?
I would design educational tools for children in underserved areas. I believe design can nurture empathy and imagination.
How do you keep up with latest design trends? To what extent do design trends matter?
A modular storytelling space that blends illustration, sound, and interactive design. It would be a space of wonder.
How do you know if a product or project is well designed? How do you define good design?
Empathy. I try to stand in the user’s shoes before touching a pen.
How do you decide if your design is ready?
I admire Kenya Hara, Kazuyo Sejima, and Stefan Sagmeister. They embrace emptiness, emotion, and eccentricity.
What is your biggest design work?
MUJI’s visual system—it’s humble, coherent, and quietly revolutionary.
Who is your favourite designer?
My modular makeup kit NeoBamoo. It combines sustainability, emotional value, and traditional craft.
Would you tell us a bit about your lifestyle and culture?
Keep looking, keep listening. I always ask for feedback from people outside the design world.
Would you tell us more about your work culture and business philosophy?
I might be a writer or cultural researcher—still telling stories.
What are your philanthropic contributions to society as a designer, artist and architect?
Design is thoughtful care. It’s how we shape emotions, time, and behavior.
What positive experiences you had when you attend the A’ Design Award?
My mother and my partner. They gave me both freedom and grounding.

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