Lucille Huang
1. Please give us a brief bio of yourself and your background.
Before entering the design industry, I studied psychology and marketing and worked in marketing and business. I attended Consumer Electronics Show every year, an annual trade show featuring inventions and new technology, and was inspired to change my career path from business to a focus in design. I started researching, studying, and using my skills in psychology and business to develop solutions to people
2. What made you become/why did you choose to become a product designer?
I became a product designer because I love exploring the possibilities of design, discovering new solutions driven by technology, and thinking about why it happens, how to do it, when , where can use it, what is and who will use it.
3. Tell us more about your business/company, job profile, and what you do.
I am currently independent. I successfully changed my career path from marketing to design, built up an Enterprise platform for LearningPal last year, completed a master
4. What does “design” mean to you?
Design can define problems and offer all-encompassing solutions that can be easily integrated into our everyday lives, whether in software, hardware, or a combination of forms. Most importantly, the design encourages creative and critical thinking and communication.
5. What’s your favorite kind of design and why?
My favorite kind of design is modern and minimalism. I am deeply inspired by an Italian contemporary furniture brand - Minotti, the French luxury brand - Hermes, and the Renaissance man Leonardo da Vinci. Their designs and innovations have pushed the envelope. All three have experimented with impressive long-standing silhouettes, which is arguably the aspect of technique design that I enjoy the most. I use those styles in my design and bring a minimalist, modern, innovative, and simple but powerful solution to the table.
6. To you, what makes a “good” design?
Good design is a design that has intention behind it. Whether it offers visuals, like a decoration; functionality, like an application; or material, like 100% cashmere, it should have a valuable impact that satisfies people.
7. Describe your design style and its main characteristics.
I am known for my innovative use of mobile apps, for creating interactive UX and navigation combined with visual interactions, for conducting thorough research and analysis of user behavior, and for delivering emotional storytelling. I often hear my work identified as
8. Tell us about your design process.
When working alone, I do tons of research and analysis and use metrics to prove my design is successful. When I
9. Do you think your country and its cultural heritage has an impact on your design process?
Absolutely. I grew up in Taiwan and traveled throughout Asia before relocating to the United States. As a designer, I seek solutions that fit both Eastern and Western cultures.
10. Congratulations! As the winner of the 2022 NY Product Design Awards, what does it mean to you and your company and team to receive this award distinction?
Winning the 2022 NY Product Design Award for Medical & Scientific Equipment collection was remarkable and humbling. To receive such a prestigious award alongside well-known and established companies was incredibly validating. It means a lot to me, and I still cannot believe it! It gives me more confidence in my designs, thoughts, problems, research, strategies, findings, visuals, solutions, measurement, practices, etc. It boosts my design passion and energy for different types of designs. I am proud but am also so thankful for the award and the experience.
11. Can you explain a bit about the winning work you entered into the 2022 NY Product Design Awards, and why you chose to enter this project?
NEUROME (/nyuor
12. What was the biggest challenge with this project?
The biggest challenge with this project was creating the charts users reference to see their stress levels, emotions, and anxiety levels. It required a lot of research on a very subjective topic.
13. How has winning an award developed your practice/career?
Winning a New York Product Design Award has definitely given me a boost of confidence. It is such a huge honor, and I know it will help propel my practice and career forward.
14. What are your top three (3) favorite things about our industry?
First, I love being inspired by the creativity of other artists and designers.
Second, I love that this industry tackles problems head-on. We are not afraid of a challenge, and we are why society continues to advance.
Lastly, this industry is filled with awesome people. I have been fortunate to have been surrounded by talented, kind, and really inspiring people in the technology and design industry.
15. What makes your country specifically, unique in the design industry?
I think the
16. Where do you see the evolution of design industry going over the next 5-10 years?
The metaverse is here to stay. We will continue to see more virtual reality design in different sectors. Products will become smaller and lighter to support VR, either in glasses or lens form. Privacy issues will continue to grow.
17. If you were a student entering this industry or an aspiring NY Product Design Awards submitter, what advice would you give them?
Do not be afraid to try new things. Even if you do not immediately succeed, you will learn so much from the process.
18. What resources would you recommend to someone who wants to improve their skills in the design industry?
Prior to the pandemic, I attended events, conferences, and exhibitions in-person to learn and ask questions of other companies and designers. In the last two years, however, I
19. Tell us something you have never told anyone else.
I like to reach out online to industry experts and designers I
20. Who has inspired you in your life and why?
My family, friends, and colleagues constantly inspire me. I also appreciate how they let me use them as guinea pigs for my most recent products.
21. What is your key to success? Any parting words of wisdom?
My key to success is to just try. Do not be afraid of not knowing how to do something, and you only learn by trying and practicing your craft. I believe that passion and curiosity can bring some great ideas for everyone, not just about design itself.
