Interview with Guan Bai Chen from United States

I find joy and appreciation in well-executed designs in various aspects of life.

I currently hold the position of Product Designer at TikTok, where my primary focus is on crafting innovative augmented reality (AR) products.

Design, to me, is the harmonious blend of utility and aesthetics—creating things that are both useful and beautiful.

MUJI! For its simplicity and high-quality design.

Simple, intuitive, and feasible.

Simple and intuitive to humans!

My typical process commences with observation, followed by comprehensive market research, wire-framing, prototyping, user testing, peer review, and ultimately, the finalization stage.

In my home country, we've seamlessly integrated technology into our lives, creating a harmonious coexistence. When I design, I instinctively turn to technology as a tool, envisioning it as a means to enhance and adapt to human experiences.

This holds a special place in our hearts, motivating us to wholeheartedly embrace technology in our design process. It's not just about using it; it's about exploring the human touch and envisioning the endless potential that augmented reality (AR) technology can bring to our lives.

We've observed a declining resonance with museums, particularly among the younger generations. Yet, museums play a vital role in preserving culture and fostering a sense of community. This has led our team to contemplate the possibility of utilizing technology to rekindle the connection between Generation Z and the rich cultural experiences museums offer.

Unlike the familiar realms of mobile and desktop technologies, AR wearables are an uncharted territory, lacking established best practices. To truly unlock their potential, we delved into understanding how these devices could interact with people. Ensuring our project wasn't just a flight of fancy, we took the time to investigate the current limitations of AR wearables and anticipate what technological strides might occur in the next five years.

This initial phase of knowledge-building was crucial before we could wholeheartedly immerse ourselves in the design process.

I aspire for it to function as a platform that not only provides visibility to the world of design but also serves as an inspiration for more designers to become part of the AR community.

Creativity, empathy and diversity.

My country stands as a consumer hardware manufacturing hub, breathing life into physical product designs. Achieving perfection in the minutiae of a product demands that designers journey to my country, gaining a comprehensive understanding of the intricacies involved in bringing a product to fruition.

Design is an ever-evolving force, expanding across realms such as architecture, transportation, and consumer hardware and software. Its essence lies in humanizing emerging trends and movements. Looking ahead, I envision design continuing this transformative role in the next decade, perhaps even delving into the realm of making artificial intelligence more humane.

Stay connected with the design community! Get inspired and get innovated!

Start side projects that truly interest you.

I would bury my head in my Shiba Inu and took a deep breath! It's my source of my creativity.

My parents. They have always encouraged me to pursue what interests me.

Stay humble. Stay foolish.

Let's continue to make this world a better place with design!