Yihan Luo and Matt Zheng

LEGENDARY INTERVIEW

Design Legends ("DL") had the distinct honour to interview legendary designer Yihan Luo and Matt Zheng ("YLAMZ") for their original perspective and innovative approach to design as well as their creative lifestyle, we are very pleased to share our interview with our distinguished readers.

DL: Could you please tell us a bit about your design background and education?

YLAMZ : I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Interaction Design from ArtCenter College of Design (California, USA) and a Master’s degree in Interactive Media & Game Design from the University of Southern California. My background bridges art, technology, and user experience, with a focus on how interactive systems can create meaningful social and environmental impact. Professionally, I work as a UX and AI Product Designer at Tencent Music Entertainment, leading projects in AI music creation and user experience innovation. Beyond industry, I curate and design international exhibitions such as the International Robot Design Biennale, showcasing the intersection of future design, robotics, and digital art.

DL: What motivates you to design in general, why did you become a designer?

YLAMZ : From an early age, I’ve been fascinated by how design can translate invisible emotions and complex systems into something tangible that people can feel and interact with. I became a designer because I see design as a bridge — connecting technology, humanity, and imagination. What motivates me most is the power of design to change behaviors, inspire empathy, and shape a more inclusive future. My journey began with curiosity about how everyday experiences could be improved through thoughtful interaction — from the way people learn through AR/VR storytelling to how AI can help everyone express creativity. For me, design is not only about aesthetics or usability, but about creating meaningful impact — making technology more human, cities more sustainable, and creativity more accessible to everyone.

DL: Did you choose to become a designer, or you were forced to become one?

YLAMZ : I definitely chose to become a designer. No one forced me into it — in fact, it was a path I carved out for myself because I was always drawn to observing people and imagining how things could work better. Design felt like the perfect way to connect creativity with problem-solving.

DL: What do you design, what type of designs do you wish to design more of?

YLAMZ : I design interactive experiences that connect technology, art, and human emotion. My work spans across AI music creation, AR/VR education, and robotics design, where I focus on how digital systems can become more intuitive, inclusive, and meaningful for people. Going forward, I’d like to design more speculative and cross-disciplinary projects — works that question our relationship with technology and invite people to imagine alternative futures. Whether through sound, movement, or narrative, I want my designs to spark curiosity and reflection, not just function.

DL: What should young designers do to become a design legend like you?

YLAMZ : For young designers, I think the key is to stay curious and fearless — keep asking why things are the way they are, and imagine how they could be better. Second, don’t rush to follow trends. Instead, build your own point of view — something that reflects your values, experiences, and the kind of world you want to help create. Design isn’t about fame or aesthetics alone; it’s about seeing what others overlook and giving it form, meaning, and purpose. Finally, keep making, even when no one is watching. Every sketch, prototype, and failure adds up to your voice as a designer. Legends aren’t born overnight — they grow from years of caring deeply and creating consistently.

DL: What distinguishes between a good designer and a great designer?

YLAMZ : A good designer solves problems beautifully. A great designer questions why the problem exists in the first place — and redesigns the system around it.

DL: What makes a good design a really good design, how do you evaluate good design?

YLAMZ : A really good design goes beyond solving problems — it creates meaning. It’s not just functional or beautiful, but intuitively right, as if it could only exist that way. I evaluate good design by how deeply it connects with people: whether it brings clarity, evokes emotion, and leaves a lasting impact. To me, the best designs feel effortless yet thoughtful — they quietly improve life, spark reflection, or inspire imagination without needing to explain themselves.

DL: What is the value of good design? Why should everyone invest in good design?

YLAMZ : Good design is not about polish — it’s about intention. It shapes how people feel, behave, and remember. When design is done right, it makes technology human and turns function into emotion. I believe everyone should invest in good design because it’s the quiet force that builds trust, meaning, and connection. It doesn’t just make things look better — it makes them matter.

DL: What would you design and who would you design for if you had the time?

YLAMZ : If I had the time, I’d design something that helps people breathe again in a world that moves too fast — maybe an experience where technology listens instead of speaks. I’d design for people who feel too connected yet quietly alone, something that reminds them of emotion, rhythm, and stillness. It wouldn’t be about function or trend — it would be about feeling alive again, where design becomes a small moment of peace between humans and the future.

DL: What is the dream project you haven’t yet had time to realize?

YLAMZ : My dream project would be to create an AI that composes music from emotion — not from data or prompts, but from the subtle, invisible states of being human. I want to build a system that listens beyond words — to your mood, your rhythm, your silence — and turns that into sound. Music that grows and evolves with you, almost like a living reflection of your inner world. For me, this isn’t about replacing musicians, but about expanding how we create and feel through AI — letting technology become a mirror for emotion, not just a tool for production.

DL: What is your secret recipe of success in design, what is your secret ingredient?

YLAMZ : My secret ingredient is emotion — I design from feeling first, logic second. I don’t chase trends or perfection; I chase honesty. I think the best designs come from moments when something touches you deeply and you can’t help but turn it into form. For me, it’s about sensing energy — human, emotional, invisible — and shaping it into an experience people can feel. That’s the real recipe: to design with soul, not control.