10 Questions with Mingyue Qu

Mingyue Qu is a forward-thinking product designer renowned for her innovative approach to integrating technology with user-centric design to create immersive digital experiences. With a foundation in tangible product design, Mingyue transitioned to digital platforms, where she excels in blending sensory technology with interactive elements. Her work focuses on enhancing user engagement through personalized and adaptive content. Currently leading projects at Ezze Live, Mingyue is instrumental in evolving the e-commerce landscape for vintage and sneaker enthusiasts, making significant impacts on culture and commerce. Her commitment to sustainability and accessibility in design is evident in her approach to creating inclusive products that respect environmental concerns.

www.qumingyue.com

ARTIST STATEMENT

As an artist and designer, Mingyue Qu is driven by a passion to bridge the gap between technology and daily human interactions through design that is both innovative and responsive. Her goal is to create environments where technology enhances the user experience in intuitive and meaningful ways. Each of her projects, from wearable devices to large-scale interactive installations, is designed with the user in mind, focusing on creating accessible and engaging platforms. Mingyue strives to push the boundaries of what technology can do for us, making it a more inclusive and integral part of our lives while ensuring that her designs promote sustainability and practicality.

INTERVIEW

First of all, introduce yourself to our readers. How are you and how did you first get interested in design? 

Hello, I'm Mingyue Qu, a dedicated Product Designer at Ezze Live, where I lead a range of innovative projects. My journey into design was ignited by my passion for the arts. Initially, I engaged deeply with interactive installations and wearable devices, creating pieces that offered audiences direct and unique sensory experiences. This early work helped me see the significant impact thoughtful design can have on everyday interactions, prompting me to shift from pure art to a more targeted design discipline. Motivated by a desire to merge creativity with functionality, I strive to develop solutions that captivate and serve practical purposes. I see product design as a dynamic field where creativity intersects with strategy, making each project a crucial link between user needs, technological advancements, and business objectives. My approach blends artistic sensibility with strategic vision, enabling me to produce innovative, user-centered designs that enhance interactions and enrich user experiences.

Can you share some key influences or experiences from your background in design that have shaped your approach to art making?

My approach to art has been profoundly shaped by my work with interactive installations and wearable devices, particularly through projects like the 'Awesome Interactive Boards' and 'Third Eyes.' These projects underscore the power of sensory-driven interaction and narrative construction, transforming passive viewing into active participation and engagement. This dynamic involvement in art has encouraged me to view it not just as an observation but as an interactive experience that evokes emotions and provokes thought. 
From a design perspective, my experience with digital platforms, especially in UX/UI design for Ezze Live's e-commerce solutions, has further influenced my approach. Managing complex projects has deepened my understanding of user needs, business objectives, and technological capabilities. Utilizing tools like Figma, Sketch, and Adobe XD, I have crafted interfaces that seamlessly blend aesthetics with functionality, enhancing user engagement and efficiency. This integration of design elements reinforces my belief that effective design not only looks appealing but also fulfills practical purposes, creating meaningful and intuitive interactions between users and technology.

What inspired you to focus on integrating sensory technology with interactive elements in your designs?

My inspiration to focus on integrating sensory technology with interactive elements in my designs stems from a deep interest in how humans interact with their environments and the potential for technology to enhance these interactions. Early in my career, I was captivated by how interactive installations could transform a passive viewer into an active participant. This realization sparked my desire to create designs that are not just observed or used but truly experienced. Projects like my 'Awesome Interactive Boards' were pivotal in shaping this approach. This project involved creating a physical installation that actively engaged participants, using sensory-driven interactions to forge a deeper connection between the artwork and the audience. The interaction wasn't just about observing; it was about feeling, responding, and becoming part of the creation process. Moreover, rapid advancements in technology have continually opened new doors for enhancing user experiences through sensory inputs. Utilizing tools and platforms like Arduino for physical computing and Unity for creating immersive environments, I've been able to experiment with integrating various sensory inputs—such as touch, sound, and visual cues—into user interfaces to make them more intuitive and engaging. The goal is to make technology more accessible and enjoyable, enhancing everyday interactions with a layer of engagement that feels natural and compelling.

Sustainability and accessibility are central to your design philosophy. Can you give examples of how these principles are reflected in your recent projects?

Sustainability and accessibility are central to my design philosophy, and the 'Awesome Interactive Board' is a prime example of how these principles are integrated into my work.
The design of the Awesome Interactive Board emphasizes environmental responsibility from start to finish. I utilized eco-friendly materials throughout its construction to minimize its ecological footprint. Additionally, the board incorporates energy-efficient technologies, which are crucial for reducing energy consumption during operation. Its modular design is another significant sustainable feature, allowing for easy maintenance and future upgrades, which extends the product's lifespan and reduces waste, promoting a more sustainable model of technological use.
Accessibility was also a guiding principle in the creation of the Awesome Interactive Board. The board is designed to be intuitive and user-friendly, accommodating individuals of all ages and abilities, including those with different sensory abilities and learning styles. It integrates touch, sound, and visual interactions, making it accessible to users with visual or auditory impairments. This multisensory approach enhances learning and engagement and ensures that all users canbenefit equally from the educational and interactive opportunities the board offers. By providing personalized experiences that adapt to individual user interactions, the board supports varied learning paces and styles, further embodying our commitment to accessibility.

What is your creative process like? How do you go from the first idea to the final outcome? 

My creative process is iterative and collaborative, focusing on solving real-world problems while ensuring the finaloutcome resonates with users and aligns with sustainability and accessibility goals. Here's how I typically progress from an initial idea to the final product:
Inspiration and Research: Every project starts with a spark of inspiration, often from a specific need or challenge I observe. For example, the 'Awesome Interactive Board' idea arose from the need for more engaging educational tools. I conduct thorough research, including market analysis, user interviews, and studying trends in technology and design to ensure the solution is innovative and grounded in user needs.
Conceptualization: With a solid understanding of the problem and user needs, I brainstorm and sketch out multiple ideas with cross-functional teams. We explore various possibilities and evaluate each concept against criteria like feasibility, impact, user engagement, sustainability, and accessibility.
Prototyping and User Feedback: We narrow down to a few strong concepts and develop prototypes, ranging from low-fidelity mockups to more sophisticated models. These are tested with users to gather feedback, which is crucial for understanding interactions and necessary improvements. The design is refined iteratively based on this feedback.
Design Refinement: Incorporating insights from user testing, I iteratively refine the design, adjusting features, improving the user interface, and enhancing accessibility and sustainability. Continuous collaboration with developers, designers, and stakeholders ensures alignment with technical capabilities and business objectives.
Finalization and Launch: Once the design meets all criteria for functionality, user satisfaction, and sustainability, we finalize the product. This includes final adjustments, material selection, and confirming production methods that align with environmental responsibilities. After rigorous quality checks and ensuring compliance with accessibility standards, the product is launched.
Post-Launch Evaluation: The process continues even after launch. I monitor the product's performance in real-world settings and gather user feedback to identify any issues or areas for improvement in future iterations.

How do you ensure that the technology you incorporate into your designs remains intuitive and enhances human interactions?

I ensure the technology in my designs remains intuitive and enhances human interactions by focusing on user needs and simplicity. First, I conduct user interviews, surveys, and usability testing to gather insights directly from the target audience. This helps align the design with user expectations and behaviors. I prioritize simplicity by reducing complexity and focusing on clear, easy-to-understand functionalities. By eliminating unnecessary elements, I make the product more intuitive to navigate and use. Throughout the design process, I employ iterative prototyping and testing. This allows for continual refinement based on real user feedback, ensuring the technology not only functions well but also feels natural to use. To enhance interactions for all users, including those with disabilities, I integrate accessibility standards from the early stages. This includes considering color contrasts, text sizing, voice commands, and tactile elements to cater to diverse sensory abilities. Additionally, I stay updated with the latest developments and user interface trends by attending workshops and seminars and following industry leaders. This ongoing learning ensures the technologies I incorporate are not only intuitive but also state-of-the-art. By focusing on these areas, I ensure that the technology in my designs enriches the user experience, making interactions more engaging and natural.

In your view, what role does design play in making technology more inclusive and accessible?

I believe design plays a fundamentally transformative role in making technology more inclusive and accessible. It starts with deeply understanding and empathizing with the user, allowing us to tailor technology to meet a wide range of human needs and preferences. Design is about creating seamless interactions that feel natural and intuitive to everyone, regardless of their background or abilities. In my approach, product design bridges the gap between aesthetics and functionality, simplifying complex technology to make it accessible and approachable for all users. This is essential in creating products that are not only easy and enjoyable to use but also truly accessible to a broad audience. By focusing on user-centered design, I ensure technology serves as a tool for empowerment, enhancing daily interactions without creating barriers. Moreover, design involves continuous learning from user feedback, which helps refine and adapt products to better serve their intended purposes. This commitment to iterative improvement and inclusive feedback loops is crucial for responding to the diverse and changing needs of users. By embodying these principles, design acts not just as a facilitator of technological functionality but as a champion of inclusivity, ensuring that advancements in technology deliver benefits to all, equally and ethically.

Recently we have witnessed several innovations, especially around technology. What do you think about those, such as AI? And how do you think they will impact design and art in the future?

The rapid innovations in technology, particularly in artificial intelligence, are profoundly reshaping the landscape of design and art. I view these developments with cautious optimism. AI has incredible potential to enhance creative processes, streamline design tasks, and open up new avenues for artistic expression. In design, AI can automate routine and repetitive tasks, allowing designers to focus more on the creative and strategic aspects of their work. This can lead to more innovative design solutions and a faster iteration process. AI also provides new tools for understanding user behavior and preferences through data analysis, significantly improving the personalization of design solutions and enhancing user satisfaction and engagement. In art, AI is beginning to serve as a tool for creating complex and intriguing works that might not be possible through traditional methods. Artists are using AI to explore new forms of expression, pushing the boundaries of what art can be and how it can be experienced, from AI-generated visual art to interactive installations that respond dynamically to audience input.
However, the integration of AI into design and art also presents challenges. There is a risk of over-reliance on technology, which could stifle human creativity and innovation if not managed carefully. Additionally, ethical considerations and the responsible use of AI are paramount. As designers and artists, we must ensure these tools augment rather than replace the human element of creativity.
Looking ahead, I believe AI will continue to be a transformative force in both design and art. It will streamline and enhance creative processes while enabling new forms of expression and interaction. The key will be to harness these technologies in ways that uphold and amplify our human values and creative instincts, ensuring that the future of design and art remains vibrant, inclusive, and profoundly human.

Speaking of the future, what projects are you currently working on? Is there anything new you would like to share with our readers? 

Currently, I'm deeply involved in enhancing and expanding the offerings at Ezze Live, where our focus is on revolutionizing the online shopping experience for vintage and sneaker enthusiasts. Our aim is to transform the live-selling platform into a vibrant community where users can engage with products and each other dynamically and interactively. One exciting aspect of my current projects is integrating advanced UX/UI design principles to make our platform more intuitive and user-friendly. We're exploring ways to personalize the shopping experience, leveraging data-driven insights to predict user preferences and tailor the interface accordingly, making the experience smoother and more engaging. Additionally, we're committed to improving the sustainability and accessibility of our platform. This involves refining the design to ensure it is inclusive and caters to a diverse user base with varying needs and abilities. Our goal is to create an environment where everyone feels welcome and can easily navigate and interact with our services. These enhancements are part of our broader strategy to not only keep pace with the rapidly evolving e-commerce landscape but also to set new standards for what a digital marketplace can achieve in terms of user engagement and satisfaction. I'm excited about the potential of these projects to transform the way people shop online and connect with each other around shared interests in vintage and sneaker cultures.

And lastly, what are some goals or aspirations you have for your career in design?

My career aspirations revolve around innovation, leadership, responsibility, and mentorship, with the goal of leaving a lasting impact on the design world and beyond. Looking ahead, my primary aim is to continue pushing the boundaries of what design can achieve, particularly in creating more immersive and interactive user experiences. I want to blend technology with design in ways that transform user interactions, making digital environments as intuitive and engaging as possible.
Another major aspiration is to lead larger, more impactful projects that not only solve complex problems but also set new benchmarks in the design industry. I hope to take on roles that allow me to influence product strategy at a higher level, integrating user-centered design deeply into the company culture and product development processes.
Additionally, I am deeply committed to promoting sustainability and accessibility within the design community. I aim to be a leader in advocating for and implementing practices that ensure products are inclusive and environmentally responsible. By doing so, I hope to contribute to a shift towards more ethical and sustainable design practices in the industry.
Finally, I aspire to mentor and inspire the next generation of designers. Sharing my knowledge and experience, guiding budding designers, and helping them shape their careers are ways I believe I can give back to the community that has supported my own growth. This mentorship is not just about teaching design skills but also about instilling a sense of responsibility and a vision for what design can achieve in terms of societal and technological advancements.

Artist’s Talk

Al-Tiba9 Interviews is a promotional platform for artists to articulate their vision and engage them with our diverse readership through a published art dialogue. The artists are interviewed by Mohamed Benhadj, the founder & curator of Al-Tiba9, to highlight their artistic careers and introduce them to the international contemporary art scene across our vast network of museums, galleries, art professionals, art dealers, collectors, and art lovers across the globe.