Meet Yikai Qiao

We were lucky to catch up with Yikai Qiao recently and have shared our conversation below.

Yikai, thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?

For me, building resilience is a long-term process that involves preparing for life’s challenges and getting to know myself better. It’s not an easy journey, but it helps me become a better version of myself. Based on my experience, engaging in my hobbies gives me extra energy when overcoming difficulties and makes me more resilient to life’s challenges.

As a designer, I love sketching and creating new things. This is not only my job but also my lifestyle. Since college, I’ve carried a sketchbook and camera with me, taking walks outside. I discovered my passion for walking the streets, sketching, and photographing what I see. Capturing the people, buildings, and city feels like a form of communication with the surrounding world, which relaxes me. When I’m feeling down or facing difficulties, these walks with my camera provide a temporary private moment that often helps. These hobbies help me relax and understand myself better.

Sharing my thoughts with others, even strangers, also helps me overcome difficulties. I am a content creator on Xiaohongshu (a Chinese social media platform), where I share my thoughts on work and study. Surprisingly, I often receive many comments and advice on my vlogs. Through conversations with my online friends, I gain unexpected support and valuable advice. Sharing my thoughts with others helps me overcome challenges and makes me more resilient.

Link of my account page on Xiaohongshu:
https://www.xiaohongshu.com/user/profile/5c4aa0f10000000010003982

Another aspect I want to share is the importance of doing the next right thing. Facing frustration, lack of confidence, or hesitation can be overwhelming, and I don’t want to ignore those feelings. Relaxing is the first step, and then, I find that optimism naturally emerges when I start doing the next right thing. Even if it’s a tiny step that doesn’t immediately solve my problems, it helps build resilience over time.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I’m an architectural designer, and I believe that design is inherently cross-disciplinary and multi-platform. I have always been passionate about various media where people express their feelings, immerse themselves, and create memories. As a designer, my goal is to create spaces that facilitate these experiences. Throughout my work and academic journey, I have explored the design of both physical and virtual spaces. My projects range from real-world built environments to visual art explorations. In the future, I hope to continue creating innovative designs, share my creativity with others, and gradually establish my own practice and brand.

My growing-up experience is defined by exploration. I was born in Jiamusi, a small town in Northern China. The vast plains, railroads, and old factories shaped my childhood memories. Later, I moved to Suzhou, a city in Eastern China renowned for its beautiful architectural heritage. It was there that I grew up and pursued my studies in architecture. After college, I applied to universities in the US, embarking on my first study abroad experience. During my 3 years at Yale, I had the opportunities to explore architecture, urban design and digital arts through studios, workshops and travels. Now, in my fourth year in the US, I am continuing my journey of discovery.

I love trying new things to uncover new possibilities. Between 2020 and 2022, I was selected to participate in several TV shows in China, where I took on challenges and had the opportunity to converse with leaders from various industries. I also run a social media account to share insights with people interested in architecture. Additionally, I have acted in student drama productions and hosted student galas at Yale. I am grateful for these opportunities, as they have taught me a great deal and enriched my personal and professional growth.

Previous Interview Link:
https://news.sina.cn/gn/2021-03-17/detail-ikknscsi7310959.d.html

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Let the surrounding world inspire you

My journey of learning design has been about seeing the world through different lenses and creating responsive ideas using my design tools. Good observation sparks creativity. A sketchbook, a photograph, or a conversation with someone nearby can be the source of your next great idea. Many leading architects, like Francis Kere and Shigeru Ban, are renowned for their deep research into indigenous building cultures and natural materials. They draw inspiration from their roots, reinterpreting their unique cultures into creative works. I’m inspired by how designers can create something impactful, and my advice is to let your origins inspire you.

Get my hands dirty

I used to think creating a product was easier than it actually is until I started working on it. Whenever I began making something, unexpected challenges always came. In architectural studios, for instance, we often build large physical models. To create a model that aligns with my design vision, I need to manage various raw materials, understand their mechanisms, learn the proper ways to build structures and joints, and master the machines used to cut the parts I need. Honestly, the first time I made an architectural model, it collapsed. These unexpected challenges taught me project management skills and gave me confidence for future projects. I enjoy what I’ve learned. I recommend beginners in related fields to get their hands dirty and start small projects from scratch. It’s a fun and inspiring experience.

Project management

Project management is crucial in professional work but often neglected in school. As a new designer in the industry, I’m learning to improve my efficiency when working on multiple projects simultaneously. In school, studios are designed to foster imagination without much limitation. However, real-world projects require coordination and time management. Designers must act as coordinators between various specialty groups to ensure steady project progress. It feels different from studio work, and I believe that having a sense of project management early on can be incredibly helpful.

Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?

My mother’s life experience has been a significant source of strength for me. When I was eight, she left her job to self-study and prepare for exams to apply for a master’s degree in medicine. During that time, she could afford very little. She rented a small apartment and lived and studied alone. By the time I was twelve, she graduated with her master’s degree, secured a new job, and moved us to a bigger city, providing a much better environment for me to grow up in.

She couldn’t afford formal classes, so she taught herself English from scratch to meet the master’s program requirements. Many years later, when I had the chance to travel to the US with her, I never worried about her navigating shopping, using Uber, or talking to others alone because I had complete confidence in her.

My mom supported my Yale education with her hard-earned money. We are not a wealthy family; she bought our home, paid my tuition, and purchased our first car all through her own efforts.

Now, my mom works actively as a gynecologist. She showed what a woman can achieve with ambition and resilience. She never stopped wanting to see a bigger world. If she had started from the same point as me, she would have achieved even more, though I am already incredibly proud of who she is. We take pride in each other.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yikai.qiao/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yikai-qiao-9333ab1a0/
• Other: Link of my account page on Xiaohongshu:
  https://www.xiaohongshu.com/user/profile/5c4aa0f10000000010003982