We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jiayu Liu. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jiayu below.
Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Jiayu with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?
I developed my work ethic through my constant curiosity. As I continue to ask questions and seek answers, it helps me to get unique perspectives in my design work.
I began my career journey as an interior designer at DiDi, a mobility service company. Here, I undertook a research and interior design project aimed at creating the first car tailored for Gen Z. I conducted research in three tier 1 cities in China, engaging with young generations to discern their visions for future mobility and expectations for their lives.
Motivated by my curiosity, I was eager to understand the ideal lifestyles in terms of mobility that Gen Z might envision. This led me to uncover a startling revelation: major cities like Shanghai are facing a severe shortage of parking spaces, numbering around 1.5 million. This raises the question: is simply increasing car production a viable solution for Gen Z living in tier one cities? Owning a car no longer guarantees convenience; instead, it introduces a plethora of challenges such as parking scarcity, traffic congestion, and recycling issues. This realization prompted me to contemplate the true purpose of my role as an interior designer. Are we merely creating aesthetically pleasing products, or are we genuinely enhancing people’s lives?
My curiosity drives me to continue asking questions and seeking answers. As I delve deeper into these inquiries, I gain unique insights that inform my designs. Instead of merely creating another visually appealing car, I developed a solution with a highly modular interior for my target users. The vehicle interior serves as a sharing platform, allowing users to customize it to meet their unique expectations. Rather than owning the vehicle, customers can subscribe to this highly customizable experience.
Following this internship, I discovered my interest in automotive UX design. Once again driven by curiosity, I decided to pursue a master’s degree at ArtCenter College of Design, specializing in Transportation Systems & Design, to delve deeper into the question of what future mobility should entail. Upon graduation, I secured a fantastic opportunity to work as an automotive UX designer at General Motors, where I can continue to pursue my passions and deliver better user experiences to customers.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
As an automotive UX designer, my role revolves around delivering the best user experience throughout the vehicle usage journey. This encompasses everything from the initial touch points of brand visual identity to the control systems within the vehicle.
Automotive UX design, as a system design approach, includes screen strategy, lighting, visual UI style, component control strategy, and so on. To deliver a holistic ecosystem to customers and to keep evolving the system itself, every touchpoint matters. Moreover, the adaptation of new technologies to fulfill people’s needs for comfort, entertainment, and safety in their driving experiences is also crucial.
I find this work incredibly fulfilling because it allows me to delve deeper into understanding human needs. As we continue to learn customers’ expectations and strive to find the right technologies and design solutions, I get closer and closer to my initial intent of being a designer, which is to deliver the best experience and improve people’s lives.
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?
To begin with, the three qualities that have been most impactful in my journey are bravery in embracing the unknown, skepticism towards what we often take for granted, and honesty with myself.
Throughout my experiences, I have navigated various career paths. Initially, I pursued a bachelor’s degree in Industrial Design & Mechanical Engineering, but I found myself struggling to maintain passion in this field. It was during this time that electric vehicles began to emerge, prompting me to explore a new direction: car design. Despite having little experience in sketching and rendering, I embarked on this unfamiliar path. Initially, I faced challenges due to my lack of sketching skills, making me one of the least proficient students in the class. However, through dedication and perseverance, I overcame my fear of the uncertain future and secured an internship opportunity as an interior designer.
Yet again, I found myself questioning my career trajectory and pondering the future of mobility. This led me to transition into the role of an automotive UX designer, where I could delve into understanding human desires and crafting design solutions rooted in human needs.
Continuously questioning what I truly want to dedicate my time and effort to, and always remaining foolish and hungry, are lessons I’ve gleaned from my own journey. For those who are early in their own journeys, I would suggest the following: It’s never too late to try something new. Be true to yourself and your beliefs. Don’t be afraid to be bold and unique, as we all should find our own paths.
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?
At the time when I was contemplating whether to pursue my goal of entering the automotive industry or to stick with my original path as a mechanical engineer, the feeling of uncertainty and the possibility of a huge failure engulfed me, leaving me trapped in overthinking.
Upon learning of my dilemma, my dad gave me a call. Despite knowing that this journey would be incredibly challenging and might seem less prominent than sticking to my original direction, he chose not to dwell on the hardships or the potential risks I might face. Instead, he simply said:
“Car design sounds fun! Let’s do it.”
Even today, I vividly recall his voice, which felt like a ray of light piercing through the darkness, instantly dispelling all my uncertainty. His supportiveness, encapsulated in that simple response, infused me with immense strength, enabling me to shed all my burdens and pursue my dream without a second thought.
Sometimes, when we encounter crossroads in our lives and realize that our decisions could bring about significant changes to our future, it can be frightening. However, we can always confront these moments with optimism and trust in our inner voice. We can’t predict the future; the most important thing is to believe in what you choose and live in the present.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://lorrainejade.github.io
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lorraineliujiayu?igsh=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Linkedin: Jiayu (Lorraine) Liu
