Interview with Qi Sun

My path into design began through a fascination with the relationship between people, systems, and environments. I initially studied architecture, where I became deeply interested not only in physical spaces, but also in how design influences behavior, emotion, and human interaction. Over time, that interest evolved from physical environments into digital experiences and intelligent systems. What originally drew me to design was the idea that good design has the ability to reduce friction between people and complexity. Whether through architecture, interaction design, or artificial intelligence systems, I have always been motivated by creating experiences that help people feel more capable, informed, and connected rather than overwhelmed by technology.

My design process is guided by three core priorities: research, iteration, and human-centered empathy. I believe strong design should not only solve usability problems, but also consider how people emotionally experience the products and systems they interact with. I pay close attention to whether users feel confident, understood, and comfortable while using a product, especially when designing complex digital experiences.
I typically begin a project with sketches, concept exploration, and systems thinking before moving into digital prototyping and interaction design. I enjoy using both traditional ideation methods and modern design technologies to explore ideas in depth, test assumptions, and refine workflows through continuous iteration.
Across all of my projects, I aim to create experiences that make complexity feel intuitive and accessible. Whether working on AI-integrated platforms, collaborative systems, or interface design, I approach each project with a balance of analytical thinking, experimentation, and empathy for the people using the final product.

Designing feels both analytical and emotional to me at the same time. I enjoy the process of transforming abstract ideas into experiences that are not only functional, but also meaningful and intuitive for people. Much of my work involves balancing logic, systems thinking, and human emotion within the same design process.
The most exciting phase for me is exploration and concept development. At that stage, every possibility feels open, and there is a strong sense of curiosity and optimism in discovering what a project could become. I enjoy experimenting with different interaction models, visual systems, and ways of simplifying complexity through design.
What fulfills me most is seeing people genuinely connect with and benefit from the products I create. When a design helps users feel more capable, comfortable, or inspired, it gives me a strong sense of purpose. For me, good design is not only about aesthetics or efficiency, but also about creating experiences that positively impact how people interact with technology and information.

My background in research and analytical thinking has strongly shaped the way I approach design. Through academic work in human-computer interaction, educational technology, and AI-related research, I developed the ability to investigate complex problems systematically and translate insights into practical design solutions. Research has taught me to look beyond surface-level aesthetics and focus on understanding behavior, systems, and user needs at a deeper level.
Outside of digital design, pottery has also influenced my creative process in an unexpected way. Working with ceramics taught me patience, sensitivity to form and material, and the importance of balance between structure and imperfection. It reminds me that design is not only about efficiency, but also about creating experiences that feel human and emotionally resonant.
I am also deeply interested in psychology and human behavior, which continues to influence how I think about interaction design and user experience. Curiosity about how people think, feel, and make decisions has helped me design products that are not only functional, but also intuitive and emotionally aware. I believe designers today benefit greatly from interdisciplinary knowledge, especially in areas such as psychology, communication, and systems thinking, because technology increasingly shapes human behavior and everyday experiences.

My growth path has gradually evolved from designing individual interfaces toward thinking about larger systems, emerging technologies, and the future relationship between humans and intelligent environments. I hope to continue growing as a multidisciplinary designer who bridges technology, research, and human experience.
In the future, I would like to work on projects that shape the next generation of AI-integrated products and digital ecosystems. I am especially interested in designing intelligent systems that feel more natural, emotionally aware, and collaborative rather than purely functional. I believe the future of design will involve creating relationships between humans and technology, not just interfaces.
I am also drawn to the idea of building products and design systems that can evolve over time and become part of people’s everyday lives in meaningful ways. Some of the projects I dream about involve adaptive environments, AI-assisted creative tools, wearable or spatial interfaces, and collaborative digital platforms that blur the boundaries between technology, creativity, and human behavior.

One of the most important skills young designers should develop is communication. Great design is not only about creating strong visuals or interfaces, but also about being able to explain ideas clearly, collaborate with different teams, and understand people from different perspectives. Many design problems are actually communication problems in disguise.
I would also encourage early-career designers to stay curious and learn broadly instead of limiting themselves to a single discipline. Some of the most valuable insights often come from outside design itself — psychology, technology, business, research, architecture, art, or even everyday observation. The more perspectives you understand, the more original and adaptable your work becomes.

What I would do would be focusing on: Prioritizing impact over pixels, try not just design beautiful interfaces; design to solve real business and human problems. True success is measured by concrete results, like cutting user drop-off or saving management time. Also never stop learning. Balance personal style with continuous learning. Stay closely connected with local design community and study how frontier teams are evolving.The biggest mistake to avoid is falling in love with the first solution. Always keep deep user empathy at the center of work.

My professional day starts during breakfast, where I catch up on the latest design news and chat with the local design community via Slack to stay connected and inspired. Because I work from home, I can dive quickly into my heads-down design time to focus on complex product challenges. During these hours, I map out user flows and iterate on interfaces. Coffee can make me happy throughout a work day.

Continuous learning is essential in design. I believe the best approach is to mix new industry trends with your own personal style. I get my inspiration from: Following top tech companies and how they design advanced AI workflows; Reviewing award-winning international designs as a jury member; Studying timeless design principles like functional minimalism.
Trends are important because they show how technology and user habits are changing. For example, the rise of AI tools completely changes how users expect to interact with software.
However, chasing every visual trend makes a product look dated quickly. Instead, I use trends to understand what users need today, but I apply them using my own structured design systems. This keeps my designs modern, clean, and useful for the long term.

Good design happens when you beautifully balance functional utility with deep empathy for the user. To me, a project is successful not just because it works flawlessly, but because it creates a meaningful emotional connection, proving that the designer genuinely cared about the person using it. My criteria for judging a design is simple: it must solve a real problem intuitively while eliminating user anxiety. The ultimate "aha!" moment is finding thoughtful, subtle details that anticipate a user’s needs before they even realize it. The biggest mistake is over-complicating a system with bloated features or ignoring accessibility, which makes a product feel cold and frustrating. Truly great design always looks effortless because it puts human feelings first.

A design is ready when it meets the specific project goal. Because digital products and user goals constantly change, a design is never truly "complete". There is always a way to improve it.
I decide a design is ready to ship when it solves the main user problem, fits technical limits, and hits baseline metrics. At that moment, I stop iterating and move on to production. However, I always keep an open mind to make earlier designs better based on new data. When we hit these goals, the design is a success, and we start planning the next improvement.

My biggest design work is DirectHub, a 0-1 self-service digital advertising web platform built specifically for small businesses. Initial Aspiration: Enterprise marketing tools are notoriously complex. My goal was to democratize digital advertising by replacing intimidating dashboards with an intuitive, human-centered workflow that non-technical users could easily navigate. How I Designed It: As the sole designer, I shaped the entire ecosystem—from automated onboarding and checkout to checkout flows and performance reports. Using the MUI design system, I built a highly visual, streamlined analytics dashboard to turn dense ad metrics into clear, actionable insights. Challenges & Impact: The primary challenge was balancing data density with simplicity. Overcoming this was deeply satisfying; the finalized design directly reduced user dropoff rate and cut internal team management time. DirectHub is my best work because it proves how strategic user experience drives tangible business growth. Currently, I am excited to build on this success by designing advanced, AI-driven workflows to automate ad setup and predict user intent, making the platform even more efficient.

I find Jenny Wen, currently leading design at Anthropic, is incredibly cool because of how she tackles complex, 0-1 product design in the AI era. Her insights on Lenny’s Podcast regarding how "the design process is dead" deeply resonate with me. She brilliantly articulates that while traditional pixel-pushing workflows are shifting due to automation, what matters most has not changed: rigorous craft, sharp product judgment, and the momentum of shipping. Her ability to design highly intuitive, trustworthy AI interfaces sets a benchmark for modern product design.

I am currently based in Denver, Colorado, where my lifestyle balances professional design work with some hands-on creativity. Outside of my work, I am an active ceramicist specializing in wheel throwing and traditional vessel forms. This practice has introduced wonderful, incremental changes to my life, teaching me patience, structural balance, and a deep appreciation for functional minimalism. Currently, I am designing digital advertising platforms. I truly believe good design is necessary for the advancement of society because it democratizes complicated technology, making powerful tools accessible and stress-free for everyday people.

I believe that great product design is a team sport. I am highly collaborative, open-minded, and easy to work with, constantly teaming up with engineers and product managers to launch design updates. When choosing people to work with, I look for deep user empathy, tech curiosity, and a strong drive to get things done. In my daily job, my responsibilities include leading new product designs from scratch, building clean data dashboards, and creating reusable design systems. The biggest challenge in our profession is turning messy, complicated backend data into simple, friendly screens that anyone can understand. To do this well, a good designer needs sharp analytical skills and a lot of emotional intelligence. At the end of the day, the core of my business philosophy is simple: we design to remove frustration, automate boring tasks, and make technology feel easy and helpful for everyday users.

I believe that we have the responsibility to give back to the communities that support us. I strongly advocate for designers involving themselves in humanitarian projects, as human-centered design can solve critical real-world issues. I am highly passionate about mentorship and supporting the next generation of talent. I actively give back to the global design community by serving as an expert jury member and peer reviewer for international design awards and academic conferences, where I help evaluate and uplift innovative work from young designers worldwide. Looking ahead, I would love the opportunity to do pro bono design work for non-profits or community organizations if the right chance arises. Ultimately, what I love most about good design is its ability to empower people, and supporting young designers is the best way to ensure that our industry continues to create positive, human-first impact.

My experience with the A’ Design Award has been exceptionally professional and detail-oriented. Being selected as Designer of the Day is a tremendous honor that provides an invaluable global platform. I enjoyed seeing the work of other international designers, which allowed me to learn a great deal.
Participating in design awards provides objective, peer-reviewed proof that my work meets international standards. It offers extensive media coverage and exhibition opportunities that elevate a designer's profile. It also helps transform a portfolio into a proven record of international achievements, crucial for career mobility.
Competitions are highly relevant because they establish benchmarks for excellence.

I currently work as a Product Designer at AdCellerant, where I lead product design initiatives for digital advertising platforms and AI-supported workflows. My work includes designing onboarding systems, automation experiences, reporting dashboards, and scalable design systems.
Alongside my professional work, I also pursue independent research and experimental design projects focused on AI, adaptive interfaces, and human-centered interaction design.

For me, design is the process of transforming complex systems into intuitive human experiences. Good design should make advanced technology feel understandable, efficient, and accessible. I believe design plays an increasingly important role in shaping how people interact with artificial intelligence and digital systems.

I most enjoy designing AI-driven platforms, intelligent workflows, and data-intensive systems. I am especially interested in projects where design can simplify complexity and improve how people interact with technology. I enjoy creating products that combine functionality, research, and emotional understanding.

One of my favorite projects is an experimental art project, Your Soul as a Training Set, which exposes that nowadays people use AI for emotional support, while the AI system harvests human vulnerability for training tokens and profit, while at the same time, real human connections drift further away.
I particularly like how we used color in this project. presents color as a predatory echo. Soft magenta as false warmth, a promised understanding. Yet this bloom is not generative; it is absorbent. It digests vulnerability, spiraling out of control into heavy, volatile chaos. The self is deconstructed from presence into fragmented darkness. This is color not as life, but as relentless, mechanical calculation.

One of my earliest professional projects was designing an AI novel generation platform. The product allowed users to generate and continue writing novels with AI assistance, while also building a collaborative community where users could continue and expand each other’s stories. I designed the interaction flows, creative writing experience, and community participation systems to make AI-assisted storytelling feel intuitive and engaging. The project helped me better understand how human creativity and artificial intelligence can work together in interactive digital environments. That experience also deepened my interest in human-centered AI design and intelligent interaction systems.

My favorite technologies are AI systems, adaptive interfaces, and data visualization tools. I am particularly interested in how AI can support personalized and trustworthy user experiences. I also enjoy working with Figma, prototyping tools, and emerging generative AI technologies.

I usually feel the most creative after deep research and observation. Creativity often comes when I fully understand users, their frustrations, and the context around a problem. I also get inspired when I ask AI to generate unconventionaltional ideas, museum visits, conversations, and experimental prototyping.

I focus most on usability, clarity, and visual aesthetics. I believe users should feel guided naturally through a product without confusion. I also pay close attention to accessibility and scalability.

It is both analytical and emotional at the same time. I enjoy the process of transforming abstract ideas into something functional and meaningful.

It feels rewarding to see a design become a real product that people actively use. I especially value moments when users say a product made something easier, faster, or less stressful for them. That is when design becomes truly meaningful.

A successful design solves a real problem in a clear and elegant way. It should create value for users while also supporting broader business or social goals. Good design should feel intuitive, efficient, and trustworthy.

I first look at clarity and usability. Even visually impressive designs fail if users cannot understand or navigate them easily. I also evaluate whether the design genuinely improves the user experience instead of adding unnecessary complexity.

Designers have a responsibility to create ethical, accessible, and human-centered systems. As technology becomes more integrated into daily life, designers influence how people think, behave, and interact with information. I believe designers should prioritize inclusivity, transparency, and responsible AI practices.

Design is becoming increasingly interdisciplinary. Today, designers need to understand technology, psychology, business, and ethics in addition to visual communication. I believe the future of design will involve AI collaboration, adaptive interfaces, and more personalized digital experiences. Human-centered AI design will become especially important.

Recently, my work has primarily been presented through international design awards, publications, and digital showcases rather than physical exhibitions. My projects have received recognition from awards such as the iF Design Award and the French Design Award. I have an upcoming exhibition in Athens in September. I hope to participate in more international exhibitions in the future, especially those related to AI and interactive design.

My inspiration mainly comes from human behavior, emerging technology, modern art, and daily observation. I am interested in how people adapt to systems and how design can reduce friction in those interactions. Research papers, museums, films, conversations, and real-world user problems also inspire me a lot.

I would describe my style as clean, research-driven, and human-centered. I like balancing minimal visual systems with thoughtful interaction details. My architectural background also influences my preference for structure, hierarchy, and spatial clarity.

I currently live in Denver. Growing up in China and later studying and working in the United States gave me a cross-cultural perspective on design. I think this combination helps me approach problems from both global and local viewpoints. It also helps me design for diverse users and communication styles.

I currently work as an in house designer for a company. I usually work closely with product managers, engineers, researchers, and stakeholders throughout the product development process. I value clear communication and iterative collaboration.

Companies should involve designers early in the decision-making process instead of treating design as only visual decoration. A good designer is someone who understands users, business goals, and systems thinking at the same time.

My process usually starts with research and problem definition. After understanding user needs and business goals, I move into information architecture, wireframing, prototyping, testing, and iteration. I believe design should be iterative and evidence-based.

Some of my favorite items are ceramic works, architectural books, carefully designed tea ware, lighting objects, and my computer. I appreciate objects that combine functionality with emotional or cultural meaning.

A typical day includes discussions and heads-down designing time. I also spend time reading research papers and exploring new AI tools and technologies. Outside work, I enjoy ceramics and visual arts.

Stay curious and focus on understanding people, not just interfaces. Technology changes quickly, but empathy and critical thinking remain essential. I also encourage young designers to learn beyond design, including psychology, engineering, and culture.

One positive is that design allows you to directly shape how people experience the world. It is rewarding to create products that improve lives. One challenge is balancing creativity, business needs, technical constraints, and timelines at the same time.

Always design for humans first. Technology should support people, not overwhelm them.

Empathy, problem-solving, communication, systems thinking, and adaptability are extremely important. Designers also need to continuously learning because technology evolves very quickly.

I mainly use Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, Framer, Webflow, prototyping tools, AI-assisted tools, and research methods such as interviews and usability testing. I also use coding and AI tools to better collaborate with engineers and rapidly prototype ideas.

I usually break large projects into smaller milestones and prioritize based on urgency and impact. I also rely heavily on iterative workflows and communication to avoid unnecessary delays.

It depends on the scale and complexity of the project. Some interfaces can be designed within weeks, while larger systems may require months of research, iteration, and collaboration. Iteration is always part of the process.

People often ask how AI will change the future of design and whether AI can replace designers. I believe AI will become a collaborative tool, but human judgment, empathy, and ethics will remain essential.

One of my most important experiences was leading 0–1 product design projects where I had to define workflows, systems, and user experiences from the ground up. Those experiences taught me how to combine strategy, research, and execution.

My work has involved collaboration with companies in advertising technology, healthcare, education, and AI-related industries.

I most enjoy projects that combine emerging technology with meaningful human impact. I especially like designing systems that simplify complexity and make advanced technology more accessible.

I plan to continue exploring human-centered AI systems, adaptive interfaces, and interactive technologies. I also hope to contribute to establishing more ethical and trustworthy standards for AI-driven experiences.

I am comfortable working both independently and collaboratively. I have experience leading projects as a sole designer as well as collaborating with cross-functional teams including engineers, researchers, and product managers.

I am currently iterating on an advertising platform I’ve been working on. Also working on some research projects related to AI-assisted interaction systems, adaptive interfaces, and intelligent workflows. I’m also exploring some ideas on interactive art projects.

People can contact me through my LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/qi-sun-designer/, or email qisundesigner@gmail.com for collaborations.

I believe design is becoming one of the most important ways humans interact with rapidly evolving technology. As AI systems become more powerful, designers have an increasing responsibility to create experiences that are ethical, understandable, and human-centered.