Interview with Xuefei Wang

Negotiabbles is a design studio based in the United States. We are a group of professional designers with diverse backgrounds joined by our passion for designing delightful experiences using AI. Our members come from backgrounds of hci, architecture, education, and motion design.

To me, design is the process of creating experiences that are problem-solving, delightful, and validated through user testing. The design artifacts could be a variety of media, whether physical spaces, physical, or digital products.

I enjoy designing for products that solve a need I resonate with. The experience of working on Negotiabble was memorable because it served to teach the skill of negotiation that I find meaningful, which is a core life skill I learned and practiced when I entered adulthood.

My favorite design is American architect Frank Gehry’s Prairie-style homes. He designed homes that are human-centered, inviting in nature, and each design decision is made thoughtfully and deliberately, from the material and color of the structures, down to the chairs and decorations.

I designed a digital tutor dashboard for an EdTech company, enabling math tutors to track students' learning performance, in-class behaviors, and growth trends, which helped the math tutors spend less time on manual tracking and more time on actual instruction.

My favorite tool is Figma. As a UX designer, I rely on it for everything from low-fidelity wireframes to high-fidelity interactive prototypes when mapping out the learner journey. It also makes collaboration seamless: I can share a live link with stakeholders, gather comments directly on the design, and iterate in real time instead of going back and forth over static screenshots. I really love its clean, intuitive product UX, which keeps design files organized and easy to navigate, even across complex, multi-screen projects.

I feel most creative when I'm in a room in person, brainstorming with other designers. There's something about that live, back-and-forth energy building on someone's half-formed idea, or being challenged to think differently that sparks ideas I wouldn't come up with on my own. I really believe in the power of colliding ideas: when different perspectives bump into each other in real time, it often leads to solutions that are more creative than what any one person could have designed alone.

When I'm designing, I focus most on usability and user flow first. Before I think about visuals, I want to make sure the interaction itself makes sense that a user can move through a task intuitively, without unnecessary friction or confusion. I usually start with wireframes or a rough prototype in Figma to test the flow before investing time in visual design.

Design brings up a mix of emotions for me, honestly. In the early stages, brainstorming, sketching, exploring ideas, I feel a lot of curiosity and excitement, especially when I'm collaborating with other designers and ideas start building on each other. There's also a bit of productive tension during that phase, since I'm often holding multiple possibilities in my head at once before narrowing down.

When a design I've worked on is finally realized, whether that's a prototype coming to life or a full product launch, I feel a real sense of pride and fulfillment, especially knowing that something I imagined and shaped is now actually helping people. But honestly, the strongest emotion is gratitude, for the people I collaborated with along the way, since design rarely happens in isolation. Seeing a final product reminds me how much of it came from other people's ideas, feedback, and iteration, not just my own.

A design is successful when it solves the user's problem so seamlessly that the user doesn't have to think about it. It's less about how polished something looks and more about whether it actually changes behavior or outcomes the way it's meant to and ideally, it's built in a way that can scale and evolve over time.

Usability comes first for me: can a user complete their task easily and intuitively, without confusion or unnecessary steps? I look at whether the flow makes sense, whether key actions are easy to find, and whether the user could get through the task without needing extra explanation or guesswork. If a design is visually polished but users struggle to figure out what to do, I consider that as a design without addressing the core needs, no matter how good it looks. Everything else, hierarchy, consistency, visual polish, matters, but only after I'm confident the design actually works for the user first.

Designers have a responsibility to create solutions that are not only useful, but also inclusive, ethical, and sustainable. Every design decision influences how people behave, make decisions, and interact with technology. As AI becomes more common, designers also play an important role in making complex systems transparent and trustworthy. Good design should improve people's lives while considering its long-term impact on society and the environment.

Design is becoming increasingly interdisciplinary. Today's designers work closely with AI, data, engineering, and research, making design less about creating interfaces and more about shaping intelligent systems and experiences. While new technologies continue to transform how we work, I believe human-centered thinking, curiosity, and critical judgment will remain the foundation of good design.

Our recent work has been exhibited through international design awards and exhibitions, providing opportunities to share our projects with a global audience. Looking ahead, I hope to participate in more exhibitions that encourage conversations around AI, human-centered design, and emerging technologies, bringing together designers, researchers, and the public.

Inspiration rarely comes from design alone. I enjoy learning from psychology, education, architecture, games, technology, and everyday observations. User interviews and conversations are often the greatest source of inspiration because they reveal unexpected needs and behaviors. Curiosity across different disciplines helps me discover new ways of solving familiar problems.

I would describe my design style as simple, thoughtful, and human-centered. I enjoy reducing complexity without oversimplifying the experience. My approach begins with understanding people's behaviors and goals, then exploring multiple concepts before refining them through testing and iteration. I believe the best interfaces often feel intuitive rather than attention-grabbing.

Living and studying in different cultural environments has broadened my perspective as a designer. Experiencing both Eastern and Western approaches to design, communication, and technology helps me recognize different user expectations and avoid designing for only one audience. That diversity has strengthened my ability to create products that are more inclusive and globally relevant.

I see design as a collaborative process rather than a service delivered at the end of development. I work closely with stakeholders, researchers, engineers, and product teams to understand both user needs and business objectives. Regular communication, rapid prototyping, and continuous feedback help ensure that design decisions remain aligned throughout the project.

The best partnerships begin with trust and open communication. Companies should involve designers early instead of treating design as a final polishing step. When selecting a designer, I recommend looking beyond visual aesthetics to understand how they think, solve problems, collaborate with others, and make decisions based on research and user needs.

My process usually begins with understanding the problem through research, observation, and conversation. After identifying key opportunities, I explore multiple concepts, create prototypes, and validate them through feedback and testing. Design is rarely linear, so I expect several rounds of iteration before arriving at a solution that balances user experience, technical feasibility, and business goals.

I appreciate everyday objects that quietly solve problems well. Some of my favorites include a mechanical keyboard for its thoughtful tactile experience, an iPad for sketching and reading, a well-designed desk lamp that creates a comfortable workspace, a simple notebook for organizing ideas, and a cast-iron Dutch oven that combines durability, function, and timeless design. They remind me that good design is often found in products we use every day.

Every day is a balance between research, design, collaboration, and learning. I usually spend my mornings on focused work such as exploring ideas, creating prototypes, or refining interactions. The rest of the day often involves discussions with teammates, gathering feedback, and aligning design with technical and product goals.
I also dedicate time to learning. With AI changing the design field so quickly, I enjoy exploring new tools, reading research, and looking beyond design for inspiration, from psychology to games and everyday experiences. I like ending the day by reflecting on what I learned and what questions are worth exploring next.

Focus on understanding people before designing for them. Trends and tools change quickly, but curiosity, empathy, and critical thinking remain valuable throughout a designer's career.
I also encourage young designers to learn beyond design. Fields like psychology, education, and technology often inspire more original ideas than studying interfaces alone. Finally, embrace AI as a creative partner, but never let it replace your own judgment. The best designers are defined by the questions they ask, not just the tools they use.

The most rewarding part of design is creating experiences that make people's lives a little easier or more meaningful. Seeing an idea become a real product is always exciting.
The challenge is that design rarely has a single correct answer. Every project involves balancing user needs, business goals, technical constraints, and limited time. While that uncertainty can be demanding, it is also what makes design an endlessly interesting profession where there is always something new to learn.

Always design for people, not for features. Every design decision should solve a real problem or improve someone's experience. If a feature adds complexity without creating meaningful value, it is usually better left out. Simplicity is not about removing functionality—it is about making the right functionality feel natural.

Curiosity is the most important skill because it drives continuous learning. Strong communication is equally essential, since designers need to collaborate across different disciplines and explain the reasoning behind their decisions. Finally, empathy and critical thinking help designers understand people's needs and translate them into practical solutions.

My primary design tools include Figma for interface design and prototyping, along with AI tools that help with research, brainstorming, and rapid iteration. Beyond software, I draw inspiration from psychology, behavioral science, games, architecture, and everyday observations. Conversations with users and teammates are often just as valuable as any digital tool.

I usually divide projects into small milestones instead of focusing only on the final outcome. Early stages are dedicated to exploration, while later stages emphasize refinement and validation. I also reserve time for feedback throughout the process, because identifying issues early is much more efficient than making large revisions at the end.

There is no fixed timeline because every project is different. A simple concept may take only a few weeks, while more complex products involving research, testing, and multiple iterations can take several months. Rather than aiming for speed alone, I believe successful design comes from continuous learning and refinement throughout the process.

One of the questions I hear most often is how we balance creativity with practical constraints. My answer is that good design is rarely about choosing one over the other. The most successful solutions are those that satisfy user needs while remaining feasible, sustainable, and aligned with business goals.

One of the most valuable experiences has been working on interdisciplinary projects where designers, engineers, researchers, and stakeholders collaborate from the beginning. Those experiences reinforced that great products are built through continuous communication and shared problem-solving rather than isolated design decisions.

Our work spans startups, technology companies, educational initiatives, and research-driven projects. While some collaborations remain confidential, they all share a common goal of creating thoughtful, human-centered digital experiences.

I enjoy designing products that combine emerging technology with meaningful human impact. Projects involving AI, education, healthcare, or interactive learning are especially rewarding because they present complex challenges while offering opportunities to create lasting value for users.

We hope to continue exploring how AI can support more intuitive, inclusive, and engaging digital experiences. Alongside new product collaborations, we also look forward to expanding our research and experimenting with new interaction paradigms that help people learn, communicate, and make better decisions.

Most of our projects are collaborative. We believe the best ideas emerge when designers, researchers, engineers, and domain experts contribute their different perspectives. Collaboration not only strengthens the final outcome but also encourages continuous learning throughout the design process.

We are currently exploring several concepts related to AI-assisted interaction, personalized user experiences, and intelligent design systems. While it is too early to share details, these projects continue our interest in making advanced technology more approachable, transparent, and human-centered.

The easiest way to connect with us is through our LinkedIn. We are always happy to discuss design, research, collaborations, and opportunities to create meaningful products together.

Design is ultimately about understanding people. Technologies, platforms, and trends will continue to change, but curiosity, empathy, and a willingness to keep learning remain at the heart of every successful project. We hope our work encourages conversations about how thoughtful design can create more positive and accessible experiences for everyone.