We recently connected with Zhiqing Zhang and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Zhiqing, thanks for joining us today. Let’s talk legacy – what sort of legacy do you hope to build?

As I begin my journey as a sound designer, like many others, I dream of working on the games and stories I love. I am a huge fan of titles like Astro Bot, Elden Ring, and other open-world RPGs, and I hope to contribute to projects like these in a way that makes the player experience more immersive and fulfilling. To me, that would feel incredibly rewarding.

I think every sound designer shares the dream of hearing players—especially those outside of the audio or game development world—say something like, “That sound was so satisfying,” or, “The audio was one of the reasons I loved this game.” When someone truly connects with your work without even knowing who you are, it means you have created something powerful and lasting. That is the kind of impact I want to leave behind.

I also hope to be part of a larger effort to raise awareness and appreciation for the art of sound design. It is still a niche field, and many people outside the industry are unfamiliar with what we actually do. I remember having to explain to my parents what being a sound designer meant, and how I spend hours working on my little computer making sounds that give life to characters, worlds, and emotions.

If there is any legacy I want to build, it is one that not only elevates the audio in games I work on, but also helps bring sound design more recognition as an essential part of storytelling. I want people to remember me as someone who helped make the glossed over auspiciously audible, and who inspired others to listen more deeply and feel the game more fully through the use of sound.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Hi, I’m Zhiqing Zhang, though I go by Annie. I’m a sound designer recently graduated from Berklee College of Music, where I earned dual majors in Electronic Production & Design and Contemporary Writing & Production, along with a minor in Sound Design for Video Games.I recently relocated to Los Angeles and am currently working part-time as a contracted sound designer with Overworld Audio on the online MMO Palia. In addition, I take on freelance sound design projects to further expand my creative experience.

I was born and raised in China and moved to the United States when I was twelve. That transition introduced me to a completely new cultural world, especially in music and storytelling. My journey into sound design began during a college project where I recreated the audio for a scene from The Ring. Designing the tension and atmosphere through Foley and sound made me realize just how emotionally powerful sound could be. That experience was the turning point when I knew I wanted to pursue this path seriously. Since then, I’ve developed a passion for capturing and reshaping sounds in creative ways. I love recording unusual source material and transforming it into something fresh and expressive. I work both in person and remotely with teams across different countries. These collaborations have strengthened my ability to communicate across languages and disciplines. I’ve learned how to translate creative ideas into audio that reflects both the vision of the team and my own artistic voice.

I’m also highly adaptable to the needs of each project and client. While freelancing, I worked on a game called Shan Zai—an educational title focused on the restoration of ancient Chinese antiques. The game combines cultural storytelling with interactive learning, and I contributed to bringing its historical atmosphere to life through sound design. To stay true to the cultural and historical elements, I sampled real sounds from antiques (are we talking about antique musical instruments? Antique musical recordings? How do antiques make sounds? Little confusing and conducted extensive research to understand their background, how they were used, and how they would have sounded. This allowed me to design audio that not only supports the gameplay but also respects and enhances the historical theme.

While I use sound libraries when necessary, I prefer working with original recordings to ensure each sound I create is distinctive. I am always exploring new techniques and tools. Plugins like Sound Particles and Portal are some of my favorites for building immersive soundscapes. I also believe that good collaboration makes good sound, and I try to bring a warm and positive energy to every project.

In addition to sound design, I produce music and perform as a vocalist. I enjoy blending these skills into my creative work whenever possible, whether designing musical textures, writing original songs, or voicing characters. This intersection of sound and music continues to shape my creative identity.

I’m always excited to meet new people and explore potential collaborations. If you’re interested in connecting or working together, please feel free to reach out. I look forward to hearing from you!

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

For me, the most rewarding aspect of being a creative is seeing something that started as just an idea fully come to life. A lot of people say your work is like your own baby, and I truly felt that after delivering some of my first major sound design projects. There is something incredibly satisfying about building a sound from scratch, taking something that only existed in your imagination and pairing it with a visual moment, then watching it bring that scene to life.

Sound plays a huge role in how we experience the world. It is one of our most primal senses, deeply rooted in human evolution. We detected danger by hearing animals roar before we could form complex thoughts, and we used our voices and language to express emotion, build relationships, and pass down knowledge. Sound connects us to both survival and expression, and that is what makes working with it so powerful.

Without sound, even the most stunning visuals can feel empty. Audio is what makes an environment feel real, what gives a character weight, and what ties emotion to action. I often compare sound to the oil in an engine, because it is what makes everything run smoothly and feel complete.

There is also something incredibly rewarding about the creative journey itself. Looking back from an empty session to a fully realized piece, whether it is a cinematic trailer or a full game level, is always a surreal moment. A one-minute trailer can easily take more than one hundred hours to complete and involve hundreds of individual tracks. The process can feel like cleaning a very messy room. At first, you may not know where to begin, but once you start digging into it, the direction becomes clear. And when everything finally comes together, the result is deeply fulfilling.

Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

There are definitely some resources I wish I had discovered earlier in my creative journey. YouTube has become an incredible platform for learning, especially for sound designers. Channels like @daviddumaisaudio have been extremely helpful. He shares detailed sound design walkthroughs and even offers free sound libraries that he has created. Another creator I really admire is @brinsound2207, who has an amazing attention to detail. They often take everyday objects, like tape, and turn them into completely unexpected and imaginative sounds. Watching other people’s creative processes inspires me and encourages me to explore new techniques and experiment more with the tools and plugins I already use.

Outside of YouTube, I also wish I had known earlier about some of the amazing communities and organizations supporting diversity and growth in game audio. One of them is the Game Audio Diversity Alliance, which is dedicated to building a more inclusive and representative game audio industry. They focus on creating opportunities for underrepresented voices through education, mentorship, networking, and financial support. Their efforts have made events like the Game Developers Conference much more accessible and welcoming to emerging talent from all backgrounds.

Another incredible resource is the Game Audio Network Guild, also known as G.A.N.G. It is one of the leading organizations for professionals in game music, sound design, dialogue, and implementation. They offer a wide range of opportunities including networking, educational events, the annual G.A.N.G. Awards show, Demo Derbies, webinars, lectures, and panels. Their work creates a strong sense of community and provides valuable support at every stage of a creative career.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.zhiqingsfx.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_annish_23/#
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zhiqing-annie-zhang-238354331
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@zhiqingsfx
• Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/annie-zhang-850081689

Image Credits

Mike Ritter