We recently connected with John Lin and have shared our conversation below.

Hi John, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

The most meaningful project I worked on was an AI feature proposal for IKEA. The idea came from the fact that many people struggle to picture how furniture will actually fit into their own rooms. We designed a feature where users can take a photo of their space, and AI automatically detects key corners or walls, creating clickable “AI sensing points.” Each point suggests furniture or décor ideas based on the user’s habits and purchase history, and users can preview them instantly in AR.

What made this project meaningful to me was not just solving a practical problem, but exploring how AI can actively understand both space and human needs. It taught me how design can merge with technology to create a sense of “magic” and inspire people with new possibilities for their living spaces.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I graduated from the School of Visual Arts in New York with a BFA in Graphic Design, where I focused on both graphic design and UI/UX design. Beyond the fundamentals, I’ve been exploring how emerging technologies like AI and AR can reshape human interaction with products and environments.

What makes my work different is that I always design with emotion and context in mind. I’m not only interested in how something looks, but also in how it responds to people’s needs in meaningful or even surprising ways. For instance, one of my most meaningful projects was a speculative IKEA proposal where AI identifies areas in a user’s home and suggests furniture placement, making the design process more intuitive and inspiring.

I take pride in projects that go beyond aesthetics to create real value. My goal is to design experiences that solve problems while also sparking new possibilities for how people live and connect with technology.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

For me, the most valuable aspect lies in the ability to express emotions and ideas through creativity, while building connections with people’s lives. The meaning of design or art is not only about problem-solving but also about offering new perspectives, sparking emotions, and inspiring imagination. Whenever my work resonates with someone, inspires them, or even shifts the way they see an everyday moment, I feel that is the true value of being a creative.

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

I wish I had discovered interdisciplinary resources earlier, such as psychology, behavioral studies, and emerging technologies like AI and AR. These fields give me a deeper understanding of users’ minds and experiences, beyond just visual aesthetics. I also wish I had engaged earlier in real-world projects and creative communities, which would have helped me gain experience faster and receive valuable feedback along the way.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://xinghanlin.com/

Image Credits

my website: xinghanlin.com