We recently connected with Xinyi Li and have shared our conversation below.

Xinyi, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?

At Eon Visuals, my mission is simple yet profound: to craft digital stories that resonate, inspire, and invite exploration—stories that exist at the intersection of technology, media, and narrative. As the founder of a creative studio specializing in animation, digital world design, and spatial experiences, I bridge the physical and digital realms to create immersive worlds that blur the lines between imagination and reality. This mission isn’t just a career path; it’s a calling—rooted in my lifelong obsession with how spaces and visuals evoke emotions that words often fail to capture.

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

Self-Introduction: I am Xinyi (鑫艺, meaning ‘gold’ and ‘art’ in Chinese), an aspiring entrepreneur with a passion for storytelling through various mediums. With a foundation in Interior Architecture and Film from UW-Madison, I deepened my passion for storytelling at UCLA, earning a Master of Architecture and an M.S. in Architectural Technologies, where I specialized in spatial innovation and digital environments. As a full-ride fellowship recipient and Best Final Project Award winner, my work explores the intersection of space, media, and narrative— inviting audiences to feel stories rather than just observe them.

How I got into my industry & What type of services I provide: My journey into this industry started at a very young age, where I found myself deeply fascinated by how visuals, design, and technology intersect. I’ve always sought to create work that not only tells a story but also evokes deep emotions in those who experience it. Today, as an entrepreneur and multidisciplinary creator, I channel this fascination into projects spanning photography, animation, virtual worlds, and experiential spaces. Whether crafting a dystopian cityscape for a film, designing a responsive art installation, or creating a game environment that reacts to its players, my mission remains constant: to create work that resonates deeply, challenges perceptions, and transforms passive viewers into active participants. For me, design is more than aesthetics—it’s a language of empathy. Every frame, texture, and spatial rhythm is intentional and designed to spark curiosity, nostalgia, or wonder.

What am I most proud of: I’m most proud of building Eon Visuals, a business with purpose. Turning my passion for storytelling into a company has been both rewarding and challenging. Entrepreneurship requires more than just creativity; it demands resilience, strategy, and the ability to balance artistic ambition with practical execution. Eon Visuals is not just a studio—it’s a platform for innovation where technology and artistry intersect to redefine storytelling. Whether we’re designing cinematic animation, immersive environments, or spatial experiences, our work is about crafting worlds that invite audiences to feel, not just witness. We’ve had the privilege of collaborating with high-profile clients like Travis Scott, Bob Marley, Lauryn Hill, ComplexCon, Puma, SVRN, and SNL, helping bring their creative visions to life. Looking ahead, I’m excited about exploring AI-generated visuals and virtual production pipelines to amplify emotion through technology.

What I think sets me apart from others: What sets me apart is my unwavering commitment to my mission, even in an industry often driven by trends. I stay grounded in my purpose by remembering the mantra, “Never forget why you started.” Early in my career, I worked as both an architect and photographer, capturing moments where light and composition revealed untold stories. This approach still guides my work today—whether I’m storyboarding a film, prototyping a virtual set, or designing an interactive experience. The core goal remains the same: to create meaningful connections, not just to entertain. For me, this mission is deeply personal. It honors the curious child who was captivated by movies and the architect who learned to transform that fascination into real, emotional spaces. Every project I undertake is part of a larger story, where architecture and media become collaborators, not just tools. As I continue to evolve, my mission remains constant: to craft immersive worlds that challenge, inspire, and transform the way we experience stories.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

One of the most significant pivots I’ve had to make in my career happened early on when I was transitioning from academia into the real world of design and entrepreneurship. I had just completed my Master of Architecture and M.S. in Architectural Technologies at UCLA, and my focus had been on spatial design and digital environments. I was passionate about how architecture, media, and storytelling could intersect, and I was eager to dive into the field of immersive environments.

However, soon after graduation, I realized that the path I initially envisioned—working in large architecture firms—didn’t fully align with my deeper passion for blending media, technology, and emotion into experiences. I found myself at a crossroads, unsure if I should follow the more traditional route or take a leap into the unknown and build something entirely new.

After a lot of reflection, I decided to pivot toward entrepreneurship. I founded Eon Visuals, with a mission to bring together the worlds of design, animation, virtual spaces, and storytelling in ways that traditional firms couldn’t. This pivot was both exciting and terrifying. I had to learn the ins and outs of business, from building a brand to navigating client relationships and managing finances, all while staying true to my creative vision.

The early days were tough. I didn’t have a client base, and the industry was saturated with competition. But I stayed focused on my core values—creating meaningful, immersive experiences that went beyond just entertainment. It took time, but I started to build a reputation for participating and producing innovative work, and soon, high-profile clients like Travis Scott, Puma, and SNL came on board.

Looking back, that pivot was one of the best decisions I ever made. It forced me to grow not only as a creator but also as a business leader. It taught me resilience, how to balance artistic ambition with practical execution, and how to stay grounded in my purpose while navigating the inevitable uncertainties of entrepreneurship. Now, as I continue to innovate and explore new frontiers like AI-generated visuals and virtual production, I see that this pivot was the turning point that set the stage for everything I’m doing today.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

One of the most important lessons I had to unlearn was the idea that I needed to be fully prepared before taking risks or pursuing my passions. Early in my career, I believed that everything had to be perfectly aligned—whether it was having the right resources, experience, or the perfect plan in place—before I could move forward. I thought that only then could I chase my creative ambitions and launch a business or take on a new project.

But as I ventured into entrepreneurship and started building Eon Visuals, I quickly realized that this mindset was limiting. In the world of design and innovation, things are rarely perfect or fully planned. In fact, some of my best breakthroughs and opportunities came from moments of uncertainty or when I was pushed to act before feeling “ready.” Taking risks became a crucial part of my growth—not just in business, but in creativity itself.

The lesson I had to unlearn was the belief that preparation could guarantee success. Instead, I embraced the idea that progress often comes from the willingness to take the leap, make mistakes, learn from them, and adapt along the way. Now, I’m much more comfortable with the idea that sometimes you just have to dive in and trust the process—unpolished as it might be.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.xinyili.net/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xinyi_li_lee/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/xinyili2020/

Image Credits

Profile Picture: Sihyunhada Studio
Image 1-4 & 11: Linewomen short animation with Yu Shi
Image 5: Fashion show animation inspired by Simone Rocha with Yu Shi
Image 6-7: Dune 2 double animation with William Wu
Image 8-9: Architecture project, 3Shed 2 Courtyards with Pingting Li
Image 10: Profile picture taken by Alyssa Tohyama at UCLA