Interview with Jinyun Li | A Multidisciplinary Designer from the United States

I'm Jinyun Li, a multidisciplinary designer with a strong foundation in UX design. I hold an MFA degree from Parsons School of Design, where I deepened my understanding of design thinking and user-centered approaches. I am currently working as a UX designer, but my interests span various creative fields, including film, fashion, digital art, and installation.

My journey into design was sparked by my curiosity about how art and technology can blend to solve real-world problems and create meaningful experiences. Early on, I was inspired by how user-centered design could influence behavior and improve everyday life. As I explored various mediums—film, game, and UI/UX—I realized that my passion lay in creating engaging, intuitive interfaces that shape how people interact with products.

The versatility of UX design, particularly how it intersects with emerging technologies like AI, motivates me to continually evolve and push the boundaries of what's possible in my industry.

In my current role as a UX designer, I focus on creating user-centered experiences for digital products, from conception to implementation. I collaborate with cross-functional teams, including developers, product managers, and other designers, to ensure that the user experience aligns with both the business goals and the needs of the audience.

My style of work is rooted in a user-centered, iterative design process. I believe in deeply understanding the needs, behaviors, and pain points of the user before starting any project. I prefer a collaborative approach, where constant feedback and communication with cross-functional teams allow the project to evolve in the best direction. I also enjoy experimenting with various mediums because it gives me a broader perspective and the flexibility to innovate.

This approach has greatly benefited my career, as it enables me to work fluidly across different industries while maintaining a strong user focus. Additionally, being adaptable to new tools and trends helps me stay ahead in this fast-paced industry, while my collaborative approach ensures I’m always learning from and contributing to my team’s success.

My ideation process begins with research and empathy-building. I always start by thoroughly understanding the target audience, the problem we’re solving, and the broader context of the project. From there, I move into brainstorming, where I explore a wide range of ideas—no matter how unconventional they may seem at first. I like to sketch and create low-fidelity prototypes to test concepts quickly.

Collaboration plays a key role in this phase. I believe the best ideas often come from diverse perspectives, so I make it a point to involve team members early in the process. After gathering feedback, I refine the concepts, focusing on those that are feasible while still addressing user needs effectively. Iteration is vital; I continuously test, tweak, and evolve the design until it meets both user and business objectives. This cyclical process allows me to stay creative while ensuring that the end product is functional and user-centric.

Winning the Gold Award at the NYX Awards is an incredible honor for me. It’s a validation of all the hard work, creativity, and dedication I put into this project. For me personally, it’s a reminder of why I chose this career path—to create meaningful, intuitive designs that connect with users.

Creative Freedom and Innovation: These industries thrive on creativity and innovation, allowing professionals like me to experiment with new ideas, design approaches, and cutting-edge technologies. The constant need to push boundaries and think outside the box keeps the work exciting and fresh.

Impactful Storytelling: I love how these industries enable us to craft meaningful narratives that connect with people on an emotional level. Whether through UX design, media campaigns, or visual storytelling, there's an opportunity to influence perceptions and behaviors, which is incredibly rewarding.

The Ever-Evolving Landscape: The fast-paced nature of marketing, media, and communications means there is always something new to learn. The constant evolution of trends, platforms, and technologies challenges me to stay adaptable and continually grow, keeping me engaged and motivated to improve.

Join design communities that can improve your concepts through peer feedback. Engaging with mentors or colleagues for diverse perspectives can also help elevate ideas.

AI will become more embedded in how we create, target, and deliver content. From personalized user experiences to automated campaign management, AI will enable designers and marketers to work smarter and more efficiently, providing hyper-customized solutions at scale.

Don’t be afraid to take risks, trust your instincts, and surround yourself with people who inspire you to grow. Keep pushing boundaries, stay curious, and most importantly, enjoy the ride! After all, design is meant to be fun and transformative.

I’d just like to add how grateful I am for the opportunity to share my journey and experiences. Winning the Gold Award at the NYX Design Awards has been a truly humbling experience, and it’s inspired me to continue pushing the limits of what’s possible in design. I believe that in this ever-evolving industry, it’s important to stay curious, collaborate with others, and never stop learning.