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Designers in Beijing

This is a key visual image for content of SDC.
  • This is Qiaowei Li’s profile photo.
    Qiaowei Li

    Senior Designer, SDC

  • This is Suyin Li’s profile photo.
    Suyin Li

    Designer, SDC

  • This is Guanhau Wang’s profile photo.
    Guanhua Wang

    Designer, SDC

A rapidly changing, fast-paced place where people busily work during the day and gather around Tiananmen Square to take a break in the evening. What kind of thoughts are in the minds of Samsung Electronics designers working in Beijing?

  • This is a picture of an SDC designer working.
  • This is a picture of an SDC designer working.

What is your reason for choosing your current job?

Qiaowei I majored in industrial design and worked as a designer for about 3 years after graduation. During this period, I found myself more interested in underlying reasons and motivations. I wanted to figure out why people preferred a certain color over the other, how people were influenced by commercials, and what designs can be independent while satisfying consumer expectations. That is why I decided to train myself to be a design researcher and better understand consumer behavior. I am happy to find the perfect platform to do so at SDC. Guanhua Samsung Electronics is a pioneering company in the fields of both technology and design. Here, I can acquire a great deal of specialist knowledge as a UX designer and also realize my ideal values.

Tell us what you think is a good design.

Qiaowei Style must be considered, but what is more important is the experience. A good design always carefully considers the consumer.Style must be considered, but what is more important is the experience. A good design always carefully considers the consumer. Suyin I believe a good design should be intuitive and effortless when being adopted. We used to say that design can change the lifestyles of people, but a truly good design doesn’t drastically challenge our usual habits or customs, and instead gently guides us to the next level.

I’d imagine your thoughts on design changed after joining the team.

Suyin Being part of the Samsung Pay project broadened my scopes. I was able to develop a wider and more balanced perspective for the project that not only focused on user experience but also on technology, finance, and business, allowing me to create designs that took the business model into consideration as well. Guanhua The essence of design is about improving user experience to become more meaningful and beautiful while also contemplating on product costs and values that are provided to the user. That is why I think a good design should have a harmonious balance between valuable experiences and business performance.

“Style must be considered, but what is more important is the experience. A good design always carefully considers the consumer.”

“Style must be considered, but what is more important is the experience. A good design always carefully considers the consumer.”

This is photos of SDC designers.

Where do you get your inspirations for design?

Guanhua Various design websites will be my first choice. I gain a lot of inspiration from observing the works of excellent designers from all around the world and sharing opinions with others. I also like to visit a variety of shops and check out different commodities, which sometimes give me unexpected inspirations. Qiaowei Music and social media. It is very important to keep pace with the latest trends and issues as a researcher. Suyin Meeting new people, traveling, and reading. I especially learn a lot from challenging myself to try new things hands-on, like extreme sports.

Do you apply those inspirations and experiences to actual designs?

Suyin Definitely. For example, when I’m snowboarding, I get a better understanding for camera functions or communication and information services that are useful in such extreme conditions. Guanhua When designing the smart speaker that featured a screen, I was reminded of a Samsung TV I saw in a store somewhere. A wallpaper was on display even though the TV was off, and it looked like a work of art. I thought, ‘what if speaker designs could be this natural?’ This eventually led to the concept of ‘Egoless’ that proposes natural integration to different user environments. Wallpaper, sound effects, and even music change based on the surrounding environment. This concept was unanimously approved by all of us.

“Meeting new people, traveling, and reading. I especially learn a lot from challenging myself to try new things hands-on, like extreme sports.”

“Meeting new people, traveling, and reading. I especially learn a lot from challenging myself to try new things hands-on, like extreme sports.”

  • This is photos of SDC designers.
  • This is photos of SDC designers.

What do you consider most important when working as a designer?

Guanhua I think the most important aspect is to think flexibly without being trapped in pre-existing patterns of thought. Suyin Deep and clear understanding of requirements and the process of translating insights to design ideas. These are both crucial and difficult areas in the design process. Qiaowei As a researcher, I focus on acquiring meaningful learnings. The source of these learnings, the right questions to ask, and the method of observing real reactions of people are my priorities. Then I contemplate on the most effective way to relay these results to the designers.

“Great designs provide people with deep reflections on art, life, culture, and society.”

“Great designs provide people with deep reflections on art, life, culture, and society.”

This is photos of SDC designers.

Tell us about what you want to accomplish as a designer.

Qiaowei I want to become an expert in analyzing consumer behavior. I hope to get more opportunities to apply different methodologies that I’ve learned so far. Guanhua I want to create a wide variety of designs, not limited to just mobile phones or apps. AI products or automobile interactions are some of the examples.

How do you want to be remembered as a designer?

Suyin I’d like to be a designer who is skilled in snowboarding, has good taste in coffee, and is able to brilliant capture beautiful moments in life. Qiaowei I want to be remembered as a good team player, one who has both expertise and a thirst to learn more. Guanhua Like many other designers, I want more people to use and cherish the products I design. If I were to be a bit more ambitious, I want to be a designer who can convey profound meaning. Great designs provide people with deep reflections on art, life, culture, and society.

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