We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Qiuyi Li a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Qiuyi thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

I once worked on a student short film set in 1980s China, where the budget was extremely low. Typically, student film budgets are tight, leading many crews to cut costume and production design to save costs. However, I’ve always believed that even for a student production, having designers is essential for a complete filmmaking process. During this shoot, my team and I tirelessly searched for props and costumes authentic to the era, scouring vintage markets, friends’ homes, roadside stalls, and even strangers’ houses. Through this process, I learned invaluable skills in sourcing and researching, gaining a deeper understanding of the historical context. The process of the project brought me the most joy.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Qiuyi Li (Nuzzi) is a Chinese costume and production designer based in New York for film and theater. She began her film and theater journey in 2016, with a BFA in Fine Arts for Film, TV and Theater at Communication University of China and MFA in Design for Stage and Film at NYU Tisch School of the Arts. Her works were nominated for Venice International Film Festival, Shanghai International Film Festival etc.

Passionate about exploring the depths of marginalized characters in complex social environments, she crafts multidimensional personas with innovative fabric textures and reimagined historical details. For her, designing each character is a completely different and unique life experience. Sharing the joys and sorrows of her characters is what keeps her enthusiastic.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

Costume design remains one of the lower-income sectors in the entire theater and film industry. Most audiences are unaware of the complexity and pressure of backstage production processes. Therefore, I hope there are more platforms and opportunities for audiences to understand the behind-the-scenes production process and its fascinating aspects. Only when more people understand this industry will there be more respect and support for it. For example, conducting interviews with designers, reporting on costume shops, and exposing the design and production process, etc.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

I feel like the most rewarding aspect of being a costume designer is the opportunity to bring characters to life through clothing and contribute to the overall storytelling process. It’s incredibly fulfilling to see the actors embody their roles in costumes you’ve designed and witness how all of those details you’ve struggled with enhance the audience’s understanding and emotional connection to the characters and the story. Additionally, the creative collaboration and problem-solving involved in costume design make each project unique and intellectually stimulating.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://qiuyili.space
• Instagram: @nuzziworks_

Image Credits

1. costume sketches
2. costume sketches
3. The Good Woman Of Setzuan
4. The Moors – Photo by Yiyuan Li
5. The Moors – Photo by Ella Bromblin
6. Summer Swing – Short Film
7. Hair Tie, Egg, Homework Books – Short Film