Meet Qian Wan | UX/Digital Product Designer & Design Judge & Accessibility Advocate

We had the good fortune of connecting with Qian Wan and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Qian, what habits do you feel play an important role in your life?
My success as a UX/Digital product designer is rooted in two core habits: active community engagement and a deep commitment to accessibility and inclusion.

1. Community Connection: Serving as a design judge in national hackathons and international design competitions has kept me connected with the evolving design landscape. This habit of evaluating diverse ideas and mentoring emerging designers keeps my perspective fresh and my skills sharp.

2. Inclusive Design Focus: My passion for accessibility and inclusion drives every aspect of my work. By incorporating these principles into my design process, I ensure that every user, regardless of ability, can have a seamless and meaningful experience.

These habits, forged through community involvement and a strong sense of purpose, continue to guide my success as a UX/Digital product designer.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Hello, I’m Qian (Alex) Wan. I’m a UX/Digital product designer. Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of working in many companies such as Penn Medicine, GEICO, and VMware that have allowed me to hone my skills in design thinking, innovation, and problem-solving.

My commitment to excellence extends beyond my professional endeavors, as I’m also dedicated to contributing positively to my community and the design industry as a whole. Because of my experience, I was honored to be selected as design judge for several international design awards such as The Davey Awards, W3 Awards, and Webby Awards. These international design awards have a profound global impact by not only recognizing exceptional design work but also by fostering creativity and innovation within the design community worldwide. For instance, Webby Awards are some of the most prestigious design competitions in the world. Those awards inspire designers to push boundaries, experiment with new technologies, and continually raise the bar for design excellence, which ultimately benefits users and consumers across the globe.

Besides international design awards, I also served as a judge in national Hackathons such as TreeHacks hosted by Stanford University, The App Inventor Foundation from MIT, and Techtogether which is the nation’s largest initiative to address the gender inequities in the hackathon community .

In my role as a judge, I had the privilege of contributing to this process by carefully evaluating submissions and helping to select the most outstanding and impactful design projects. This experience has given me valuable insights into the ever-evolving world of design and allowed me to witness firsthand the global impact of exceptional design work.

My motivation to serve as a judge in various design competitions and hackathons stems from a deep desire to support aspiring young designers. This is also what I’m most proud of and excited about in my role as a design judge for international and national design competitions. These competitions often showcase the work of young and upcoming designers who bring fresh ideas and perspectives to the field. Being a part of their journey and offering feedback to help them grow is immensely rewarding. Some of the national hackathons I’ve been involved with, such as Techtogether, focus on gender inequities in the tech and design community. Contributing to initiatives that promote diversity and inclusion within the industry is a source of pride and excitement.

Another reason is to give back to our design community. Throughout my career, I’ve had the privilege of learning from experienced designers and mentors who guided me along the way. Being a judge is a way for me to pay it forward and give back to the design community that has supported my own growth and development.

Being a design judge has also been a tremendous learning experience. It has honed my ability to critically assess design work and to see beyond surface aesthetics. I’ve gained a deeper appreciation for the importance of clarity, usability, and innovation in design. Evaluating the work of others has also reinforced the significance of context in design. Understanding the project’s goals and target audience is crucial in forming a fair judgment.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If my best friend were visiting the area, I’d make sure they have an unforgettable experience by exploring the vibrant Art District in downtown Los Angeles. This district is a haven for creativity and design, offering a unique blend of artistic expression, independent design studios, and small businesses that collectively showcase the heart of LA’s artistic scene.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I want to extend my deepest gratitude to my family for their unwavering support throughout my journey as a UX designer and design judge. Their encouragement has fueled my passion for helping the design community.

When I took on the role of a design judge, their understanding of the commitment required and their consistent encouragement motivated me. Their belief in my ability to guide and inspire emerging designers has driven me to invest my time and expertise in community initiatives.

Website: https://www.alexqianwan.com/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-q-wan/