Douglas Yueming Lai

LEGENDARY INTERVIEW

Design Legends ("DL") had the distinct honour to interview legendary designer Douglas Yueming Lai ("DYL") for their original perspective and innovative approach to design as well as their creative lifestyle, we are very pleased to share our interview with our distinguished readers.

DL: What motivates you to design in general, why did you become a designer?

DYL : Designing allows me to creatively solve problems and make a positive impact on people and the planet. Growing up as a DIY enthusiast, the process of designing and building things has always felt natural to me. Being a designer is an integral part of who I am. My curiosity, creativity, and solution-oriented mindset naturally align with the essence of design. Additionally, I find immense joy in transforming abstract ideas into tangible realities. The iterative nature of design, where each step brings me closer to an innovative solution, is incredibly fulfilling. I am motivated by the challenge of finding unique solutions that not only meet functional needs but also inspire and delight users.

DL: What do you design, what type of designs do you wish to design more of?

DYL : My design work spans multiple disciplines, from interactive physical products to digital software innovations, and from service design to social innovation programs. Currently, I am primarily focused on technology-driven digital products, crafting human-technology interactions. I aspire to design more products that bridge the physical and digital worlds, creating solutions that are intelligent, personal, and interactive. My goal is to develop designs that enhance user experiences by seamlessly integrating technology into everyday life.

DL: What distinguishes between a good designer and a great designer?

DYL : A good designer is someone who can think outside the box and create innovative solutions to the problems we face. However, a great designer goes beyond this by knowing how to scale their designs and effectively communicate their ideas. Great design is typically simple and easily understood by people, with the potential to expand and significantly impact more lives. It’s this combination of creativity, scalability, and clear communication that elevates a designer from good to great.

DL: What is the dream project you haven’t yet had time to realize?

DYL : Two years ago, I started a project aimed at transforming the underground travel experience. The question I posed was: how might we reconnect people’s senses to the outside world while they travel in underground trains? One intriguing idea within this concept is to use AR and VR technology to create a digital twin of the city for people to explore. I believe that mixed reality (MR) technology holds immense potential for future development. If given the opportunity, I would love to continue working on this project and bring it to fruition.

DL: What is your greatest design, which aspects of that design makes you think it is great?

DYL : One of my most impactful projects was researching and designing the perception of autonomous vehicles. For this project, I created a new experience for calling an autonomous taxi ride, with a primary focus on the problem of trust. I examined how trust impacts user experience and people’s general confidence in autonomous technology. What makes this design great is that it delves into the complex relationship between users and technology. By exploring and understanding this dynamic, I developed a solution that fosters trust and satisfaction, effectively bridging the gap between people and technology.

DL: What helped you to become a great designer?

DYL : Continuous learning, both within my discipline and across others, has been crucial in my journey to becoming a great designer. It’s essential to think from different perspectives, which allows for more innovative solutions. I constantly challenge myself, expanding my skill set and staying updated with the latest technology and design methods. Collaboration and sharing knowledge are also vital. Networking with other talented designers and learning from their experiences has been an invaluable part of my growth.

DL: What’s your next design project, what should we expect from you in future?

DYL : Currently, I am working with AI agents, exploring the future of human-AI collaboration. With the advent of generative AI technology, there is widespread amazement at its capabilities. However, I have noticed a significant lack of design that integrates this technology seamlessly into people’s lives. The question of how people can work collaboratively with generative AI is still largely unexplored, and I am excited to develop potential solutions for it. Hopefully, in the future, you can expect some innovative designs from me that bridge the gap between humans and AI, making this advanced technology more accessible and practical for everyday use.

DL: Which design projects gave you the most satisfaction, why?

DYL : One project that has given me the most satisfaction is an AI agent e-commerce platform. We created customized AI shopping advisors for various businesses. The most exciting aspect of this project was iterating the product based on user feedback and behavior on the platform. It was incredibly gratifying to use data-driven methods to enhance user experience and design new solutions. Seeing how these improvements positively impacted people’s interactions with the platform was particularly rewarding.

DL: Where do you think the design field is headed next?

DYL : I firmly believe in the saying that “everyone is a designer.” The design field can never stand alone; it needs to collaborate closely with other disciplines to maximize its impact. I see a growing trend of people eager to learn design methodologies, leading to more individuals becoming designers. This cross-disciplinary collaboration and democratization of design knowledge will drive the field forward, enabling more innovative and impactful solutions.