1Please give us a brief bio of yourself and your creative background.
I am a multidisciplinary designer, artist, and curator based in New York City. My practice revolves around challenging human exceptionalism, promoting discussions on our interconnectedness with the environment, and paying homage to the earth. I am dedicated to healing, connection, and empowerment through transformative journeys that involve the mind, body, spirit, and place. I strive to offer fresh perspectives on human existence through multi-sensory experiences and collective storytelling. In addition to my artistic endeavors, I specialize in product and experience design, merging aesthetic elegance with functional innovation. I collaborate with clients from various industries to create meaningful and captivating user experiences. My designs are shaped by my deep understanding of human behavior, allowing me to craft experiences that truly resonate with people. I have worked with clients in the technology, health, finance, fashion, and entertainment industries.
2What made you become/why did you choose to become a creative?
This might sound cliché but since childhood, I've always loved coming up with unconventional ideas to create new things and also express my thoughts and feelings through artistic expression. As I grew older, I started to care much about what others are thinking and feeling. As a designer, I hope to leverage my creativity to foster communication and encourage positive change.
3Tell us more about your business/company, job profile, and what you do.
I'm currently a visual designer at Code and Theory, a digital-first agency that lives at the intersection of creativity and technology. As a strategically-driven company, we solve consumer and business problems with end-to-end solutions that flex to meet the needs of today’s ever-changing digital landscape.
4What does “creativity” mean to you?
"Creativity", to me, means to always be curious and observant. I believe if we have a genuine interest in our surroundings, creativity comes naturally.
5To you, what makes a “creative” idea and/or design?
A "creative" idea is original and imaginative. It doesn't have to be huge or ground-breaking, but smart and flexible.
6Tell us about your creative and/or design process.
I usually start with a mind map that helps me branch out related keywords and unlearn a subject. Then I'd conduct research, where I start forming my initial ideas. After synthesizing the information from the research, I like to make minimum viable prototypes to invite people to participate in the design process.
This will help challenge my assumptions, and better understand people’s behavior and need. Because at the end of the day, I’m designing for the people, and they often are the greatest source of inspiration.
7What's your favorite part of the creative process and why?
My favorite part of the creative process is interacting with people who try out the work in the making process. I see all creative work as an ongoing journey. As long as someone is still using or thinking of the thing, it is always a work-in-progress with endless potential. It's very fulfilling to be immersed in the iterative process where you can see the users' reactions.
8Describe your creative style and its main characteristics.
Collaborative, participatory and intentional.
9Do you think your country and its cultural heritage has an impact on your creativity process?
Absolutely. Cultural influence has always been not only a part of my work but the root of my inspiration. Growing up in both the East and the West helps me perceive information from multiple perspectives and encourage me to approach things from an alternative angle.
10Congratulations! As the winner of the 2022 MUSE Creative Awards, what does it mean to you and your company and team to receive this award distinction?
Thank you! It's an honor to receive the MUSE award for my thesis project, Ceremony Planning. The creative journey of this project has brought me so much joy and let me encounter so many amazing people. I'm forever grateful and hope to continue on this journey.
11Can you explain a bit about the winning work you entered into the 2022 MUSE Creative Awards, and why you chose to enter this project?
Nowadays, as we invent more human-centered products, I believe it's important to take a step back and enter a state of reconnection to our life and nature. I hope to invite a broader audience to take a moment to think about the land which enables us to live and to remind ourselves to give back.