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

Zhaodi, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

My creative path starts from a beautiful convergence of art and technology in my life. Both of my parents come from engineering and mathematical backgrounds, so I grew up immersed in a world of logical thinking and analytical problem-solving. However, I always felt a natural pull towards art and creativity, with extensive drawing training in my childhood. This unique blend of influences led me to constantly explore the intersection of art and technology in my designs.

My professional journey began with designing in the urban realm, focusing on creating physical experiences for people. I fell in love with the idea of bringing joy to people’s daily lives through thoughtful and inspiring designs. This phase helped me develop a solid foundation in art, graphic representation, working with data, and systematic thinking, all of which are crucial skills for a designer.

However, it was when I discovered the career path of an interaction designer that my world truly expanded. I realized that design could be multidisciplinary, encompassing not just physical spaces but also digital experiences. This revelation opened up a new realm of possibilities, allowing me to create immersive experiences that blend the physical and digital worlds.

Zhaodi, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Pivoting from spatial design to interaction design felt like a natural evolution of my passion. This transition allowed me to harness my skills and interests in an innovative and deeply fulfilling way. I decided to delve deeper into the realm of Human-Machine Interfaces(HMI) and pursued further education at the Harvard Graduate School of Design. It was an incredible journey—every day brought new exposures and opportunities. I cross-registered at MIT to collaborate with world-class researchers, led design conferences that brought together industry leaders, and participated in seminars that examined design equity at a policy level.

I recognized the immense potential in this field and committed myself to designing experiences that enable everyone to interact with and enjoy technology, access information, and achieve their goals. Today, I work across multiple product areas to enhance human life, from developing medical devices that improve retinal disease screening processes to creating sophisticated data platforms for biomedical researchers and digital tools that ensure equal access to health resources. In addition to these projects, I explore the intersection of humans and art, AI, and physical environments across various disciplines. This broad exploration offers diverse perspectives and equips me with new skills, allowing me to continue advancing in the field of HMI. My journey is driven by the desire to make technology more accessible, enjoyable, and beneficial for all.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

My mission is to bring equal access to technology to the general public. Working in the tech field, the world evolves at a rapid pace, and buzzwords dominate our conversations. However, as a designer, my focus is always on people — diverse, unique, and beautiful in their differences. My role is to bridge the gap between ever-changing technology and users who may not be tech-savvy, who may have limited literacy, or who may have physical or visual impairments.

The disabled community represents a significant portion of our population, and conveying effective and inclusive information to them is a mission that deeply resonates with me. Especially through my years of work in health tech, which often deals with complex and challenging issues, I am moved by the heartfelt stories of patients I encounter. These experiences reinforce my commitment to designing for accessibility and inclusivity.

What I truly want to do is design for accessibility, making technology available to everyone, at any time. It’s about ensuring that technology serves all people, allowing them to interact with, benefit from, and enjoy it, regardless of their abilities or circumstances. This mission drives my creative journey and fuels my passion for creating designs that make a meaningful difference in people’s lives.

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

For me, the most rewarding aspect of being a designer is the unique perspective it provides on the world. Design is incredibly versatile and applicable across a multitude of fields. My work spans from creating physical spaces and digital products to crafting experiences, services, events, and art installations. The topics cover across the realm of healthcare, AI, entertainment, enterprise, and consumer-facing products. This breadth of application allows me to approach every project with a human-centered perspective, always rooted in empathy.
The ever-changing nature of design keeps me inspired and excited every day! Knowing that my work can make a tangible difference in people’s lives—whether by improving their health, enhancing their experiences, or simply bringing a spark of joy—is incredibly fulfilling.

• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zhaodi-wang/

Image Credits

Peitong Chen, Lucy Yip, Patricia Lai, Tiange Wang, Connie Trinh, Chelsea Kilburn, Jena Tegeler