Ennis Zhuang shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Ennis, really appreciate you sharing your stories and insights with us. The world would have so much more understanding and empathy if we all were a bit more open about our stories and how they have helped shaped our journey and worldview. Let’s jump in with a fun one: Would YOU hire you? Why or why not?
That is a really interesting question. I think I would hire half of me. On one hand, I would hire myself because I have strong passion and solid skills in design, and I always push to create high quality and meaningful work. On the other hand, I might not hire the part of me that gets too focused on design, since I sometimes forget to enjoy life outside of it. It is not a bad thing because it shows how much I truly love what I do, but I also hope to find more balance and enjoy the world beyond work.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Qiaozhi Zhuang, but I go by Ennis. I’m a full-stack product designer who’s always exploring how design can go beyond trends and truly push boundaries. I love challenging myself to grow with every project, creating work that not only looks refined but also feels thoughtful and human. What drives me is the constant pursuit of balance between craft, emotion, and innovation.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
There were two moments that come to mind. The first was when I chose my major before college. I was never good at foundation subjects like math or chemistry, and that made me anxious about my future. But then I discovered design, and it completely changed me. Design was not about exams or memorization, but about long-term thinking, creativity, and aesthetic judgment. I realized that even a small sense of aesthetic intuition could become my strength. Every time I worked on an interaction or product design project, I felt powerful because I was finally doing something that was truly mine.
The second moment came later in college, when I was searching for internships and jobs. The competition was intense. What used to be a blue ocean five years ago had become a crowded field. After the pandemic, the market was very tough, with thousands of designers applying for just a few roles. But instead of giving up, I told myself that someone out there would get an offer, so why not me. I kept refining my portfolio, reaching out for coffee chats, and learning from every setback. Even when the odds were small, the passion I had for design gave me power and persistence.
These two moments taught me that feeling powerful does not always come from success itself, but from choosing to believe in what you love and continuing to move forward no matter what.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
There were many times I almost gave up. I think I am quite an anxious person. As I mentioned earlier, the chances of getting a job in this field are very small, which made me feel stressed and uncertain. I am the kind of person who tends to give up easily when things get difficult, because stepping back brings temporary comfort and relief from anxiety. But when it comes to design, I never want to compromise. In other areas, anxiety makes me stop, but in design, anxiety pushes me to grow. It makes me more focused, and it turns into the energy that keeps me moving forward.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. Is the public version of you the real you?
Maybe not. I think the version of me that people see in public isn’t always the real me. I usually try to hide the side of myself that feels too real or too emotional. On the outside, I might look confident and calm, especially when I talk about design or work with others. It seems like I always know what I’m doing. But honestly, I overthink a lot. I play out situations in my head again and again because I’m scared of making mistakes or having people point out flaws in my design in public. That’s just part of who I am. Still, I feel that showing my full self at work might not always be the best idea. Sometimes being a bit reserved and strong helps things run more smoothly, even if I’m not always right.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
That is such a great question, and honestly, it fits me perfectly. I am Asian, and there is a common stereotype that Asian, or specifically Chinese, parents often push their children to do what they want them to do, sometimes even to fulfill the dreams they could not achieve themselves. Many Chinese parents believe their vision is always right, focusing on short-term security rather than what their children truly want.
But I was very lucky. My father is a professor at Fudan University, and my mother works in early childhood education. Most teachers tend to control their children’s paths, keeping them close and following a stable direction, but my parents were different. They let me explore what I really wanted to do, even though they had no background or resources in the design field. They still encouraged me to take that leap and go after the future I dreamed of.
So I would say I am doing what I was born to do. Design feels natural to me. It gives me freedom, creativity, and purpose, and I am grateful that my parents gave me the space to find that on my own.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://ennisz.com/
- Instagram: qiaozhi_03
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/qiaozhi-zhuang-aa3395259/
- Twitter: @ennis_zhuang
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