We recently connected with Ziyi Zhou and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Ziyi thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.
I believe the most meaningful project for me is the one where I led the design of the AGP (Ambulatory Glucose Profile) dashboard interface and website for Deka’s Twiist insulin pump. The Twiist insulin pump, a portable insulin delivery device, equipped with an app that enables users to monitor insulin dosage and various physiological indicators in real-time, enhances the overall management of diabetes. Having witnessed firsthand the challenges they endure, I understood the importance of providing effective tools to manage their condition. The mobile app interfaces and website that I designed allow patients, their relatives, and caregivers to visualize insulin dosage and various metrics in a user-friendly format. This project has been valuable to me because it’s not just about design; it’s about creating a solution that can assist in treating a serious medical condition and potentially save lives. Being able to contribute to something with such a significant societal impact is deeply fulfilling to me.
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 am a UI/UX/product designer with a diverse background in user-centered and interaction design, I’ve collaborated with Fortune 500 companies, startups, and non-profits, driven by a commitment to addressing social issues through design. With degrees from the Art Center College of Design and UC Berkeley, I’ve built holistic design systems around products, believing in design’s power to effect change. Awards such as the A’ Design Award, C2A Design Award, Muse Award, and American Art Elite Award (Young Professional) validate my commitment to excellence in design and my ability to blend creativity with functionality seamlessly. My work embodies a story of creativity and a dedication to addressing real-world challenges through impactful design solutions. I blend creativity with functionality, driven by a passion for creating meaningful solutions that make a positive impact on society, setting me apart in the design industry.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
I believe in human-centered, problem-solving thinking that adheres to my design principles. I aim to integrate emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, VR/AR, into my designs. For me, design should create value for society and have sustainable development significance. By doing so, I seek to contribute to areas of significant societal impact, such as healthcare, education, sustainability, future innovation, and social cognition. My mission is to apply these principles and technologies to harness the power of design to make a positive difference in people’s lives and contribute to the society.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
As a designer, I find the most rewarding aspect to be the opportunity to witness how my creations can address both individual and societal challenges. I’m particularly excited about the process of problem-solving, where a challenge evolves into a creative concept and ultimately becomes a tangible reality. Also. Being a designer allows me to engage with various industries, and I am eager to delve deep into understanding the intricacies of each. This immersion allows me to approach design with a diverse perspective, fostering innovation and meaningful change across different domains.
Image Credits
Ziyi Zhou