The award-winning designer blends technology, empathy, and innovation to create human-centered solutions that redefine digital interactions
In May this year, Sizhe Huang’s innovative project, Umi, earned her the prestigious A’ Design Award in the Interface Interaction and User Experience Design category. This accolade is a testament to Sizhe’s pioneering approach to user-centered design, cementing her status as a leader in the field. Umi, a holistic communication system that seamlessly combines physical products with digital interfaces, aims to restore emotional intimacy in an increasingly digital world. The recognition from A’ Design follows a series of global accolades for Umi, including the European Product Design Awards, the London Design Awards, and the Muse Design Award.
As a distinguished product designer at Lucid Motors, Sizhe continues to push the boundaries of interaction design with both her professional and personal projects, demonstrating unparalleled expertise and innovation.
Early Journey and Rise to Prominence
Born in 1995, Sizhe Huang has rapidly emerged as a leading figure in the fields of interaction and user experience design. Her passion for design began early, fueled by an innate curiosity about how technology can enhance human interactions. Sizhe’s academic foundation laid the groundwork for her impressive career, with a Bachelor of Engineering in Industrial Design from Donghua University and a Master of Fine Arts in Media Design from the ArtCenter College of Design. These programs honed her ability to blend aesthetics and functionality, a hallmark of her work today.
Sizhe’s professional journey began in 2021 with Pastilla, a prominent marketing agency in Los Angeles known for its collaborations with Fortune 500 companies such as Microsoft and Disney. During her time at Pastilla, Sizhe led several high-profile projects, including a digital transformation initiative for the City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks. Her redesign of the department’s digital registration and reservation system resulted in a 38% increase in conversion rates and improved accessibility for over 3.8 million Los Angeles residents. This project not only enhanced public access to recreational facilities but also set a new standard for inclusive design in public services.
Innovating at Lucid Motors
In 2022, Sizhe joined Lucid Motors as a Product Designer, where she played an integral role in developing the company’s cutting-edge electric vehicles, including the award-winning Lucid Air and the upcoming Lucid Gravity SUV. Her expertise in user experience design has been instrumental in shaping the Lucid In-Vehicle Experience (LIVE), a future-ready user interface that harmoniously blends digital and physical interactions. The LIVE system has been praised for its intuitive, human-centered approach, aligning with Lucid’s mission to inspire sustainable energy adoption through captivating electric vehicles.
Sizhe’s contributions to Lucid’s success are evident in the company’s impressive growth. In 2023 alone, Lucid Motors saw a 62% increase in sales, a testament to the exceptional user experience that Sizhe helped create. Lucid’s flagship model, the Lucid Air, has earned multiple accolades, including the 2023 World Luxury Car award and the 2022 MotorTrend Car of the Year award. Sizhe’s work on the Lucid Gravity SUV, which won the Gold Winner of the 2024 iF Design Award, further solidifies her role in the company’s leadership within the electric vehicle market.
Pioneering Personal Projects
Beyond her professional achievements, Sizhe’s personal projects have garnered significant international attention. Her award-winning project Umi exemplifies her ability to fuse technology with human-centered design. The Umi ecosystem, which combines a physical product with a digital application, transforms digital communication into a tactile and sensory experience, fostering deeper emotional connections even when users are far apart. By integrating features like virtual hugs and voice transmissions, Umi has redefined long-distance communication, making it more personal and emotionally resonant.
Sizhe’s XYG Window project is another example of her innovative design approach. Merging traditional Chinese art forms with modern visual communication, XYG Window draws inspiration from the window designs of Suzhou’s classical gardens. This project earned a Red Dot Design Award in 2023, underscoring Sizhe’s ability to marry tradition with contemporary design, creating work that resonates on a global scale.
A Visionary Design Philosophy
Sizhe’s design philosophy is rooted in creating inclusive, accessible, and sustainable user experiences. She believes that design should not only solve problems but also enrich lives by fostering emotional connections and cognitive ease. This philosophy is evident in all her projects, from enhancing the user interface of electric vehicles to designing communication tools that bring people closer together.
Her dedication to sustainability is equally profound. In her work on the Lucid Gravity SUV, Sizhe designed user interfaces that promote eco-friendly driving habits, contributing to a greener future. She consistently strives to minimize environmental impact through thoughtful design choices in both her professional and personal work.
As an active member of the Industrial Designers Society of America, the China Industrial Design Association, and the Creative Designer Salon of China, Sizhe remains at the forefront of her field. She regularly participates in design festivals and speaks at industry events, sharing her insights on the importance of user-centric design and the role of technology in creating a more inclusive world.
The Future of Interaction Design
Looking ahead, Sizhe is excited about the potential of emerging technologies like artificial intelligence and augmented reality to create even more immersive and intuitive user experiences. Her future projects aim to integrate these technologies in ways that feel natural and empathetic, ensuring that users remain at the heart of innovation.
In just a few years, Sizhe Huang has made a lasting impact on the design industry. Her work at Lucid Motors, coupled with her award-winning personal projects, demonstrates her ability to lead with creativity, empathy, and foresight. As she continues to shape the future of user experience design, Sizhe remains a trailblazer, committed to creating designs that not only function seamlessly but also connect with users on a deeper, more meaningful level.
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