Interview with Yuanying He

To me, design is both an ornament and a method for problem-solving; it is the enduring human pursuit of beauty. Design fuses functionality with artistry, playing an indispensable role in contemporary society. It is also a way of seeing, representing a process through which designers transform the world through their own lens to give form to chaos. It involves translating the unformed into the visible, distilling sensory experiences into concrete shapes, and converting internal entropy into an existence that others can perceive and touch. I personally believe that excellent design does not forcefully impose meaning; rather, it creates a "container" capable of carrying meaning with the appropriate lightness, allowing viewers to pour their own life experiences into it.

I feel most creative in moments of total silence. When the world goes quiet, I listen to my inner voice, and it guides me on how to proceed.

I focus on the harmony between commercial function and aesthetic balance. To me, design is a collaborative discipline for solving problems, so I prioritize practical utility and effective communication.

Design is a process where rationality and sensibility intertwine. It involves emotions that demand expression while requiring disciplined restraint.

I always feel that it could be better. In my eyes, there is always room for further refinement.

I consider visual comfort first. I personally believe that the best design is like a gentle rain that moisturizes things silently, influencing the viewer without being intrusive.

Designers have a responsibility to lead and refine public aesthetics. Design should return to its essence, which is honest and effective communication. It must be clear, visually consistent, and credible, avoiding any exaggeration or false induction. By upholding professional ethics and educating the public through dialogue, designers can reshape industry habits and gradually influence the perception of beauty.

Most of my inspiration stems from daily life and serendipity. Stimulating creativity requires an enduring curiosity toward the world and a willingness to flow with the nature of things. By naturally holding onto hope and love for life, one discovers inspiration everywhere. I try to maintain a state of "relaxed and open attention," noticing the subtle shifts in my surroundings. For me, the most reliable source of creativity is "permission" to create something without a specific destination, allowing myself to follow a tiny thread of an idea even if I do not yet know where it leads.

My creative process usually begins with a sketch or a few lines in a memo, followed by rapid exploration: fragmented visual snippets, color tests, and typographic experiments. I allow the work to reveal its true face rather than forcing it into a preconceived mold. At certain stages, the work often appears chaotic and uncertain, but I have learned to trust this "messy middle" rather than intervening too early to "save" it. The final stage is subtraction. I relentlessly prune the unnecessary until every remaining detail feels indispensable. In this entire process, the most difficult part is not the "creation" itself, but deciding what must be discarded.

On my days off, I usually get up at a reasonable time and avoid checking my phone first thing. I like to start the day with some studying or work, and I usually cook all my meals myself. In the afternoon, I work on my projects, then go out for a walk in the park. Evenings are for watching a film or documentary, or reading a bit before bed.

If something can be removed without losing meaning, remove it. If something must be added to preserve clarity, add it without hesitation. The work isn't about you. The work is about what the viewer encounters when they meet it.

I enjoy working in an open and flexible environment, because it gives ideas more room to grow.

I hope to keep learning and continue exploring.

I tend to work independently. For me, working on a project alone can also be a meaningful way to think through ideas.

I am currently creating a series of interactive visual works that use code and frame by frame animation to translate emotions and everyday observations. Most of the inspiration comes from subtle and incidental moments in daily life, including images, feelings, and experiences that often go unnoticed. For me, making work is also a process of collecting and organizing. I start by gathering fragments, then gradually piece them together and transform them into different forms.

For professional inquiries and collaborations, the best way to reach me is via email at yuen97515@gmail.com. I am also active on both Instagram and Xiaohongshu (RED) under the handle K3ntiv3. I use Instagram as a visual diary for my latest 3D modeling and illustration work, while Xiaohongshu serves as a dedicated space for my visual programming experiments and real-time design process.

I have always seen design as a process of experimentation rather than a search for fixed answers. Receiving this award feels like the beginning of a new stage in the practice I have been developing over the past few years. In the future, I hope to stay open to unfamiliar systems, mediums, and ways of thinking.