Meet I-yang Huang | Design Technologist & Multidisciplinary designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with I-yang Huang and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi I-yang, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
I often find myself attracted to understanding and improving the daily objects around myself for better user experiences. The focus is not about the general look and feel of objects at surface finish level but how they interact with people to support functions and solve day-to-day problems. The beauty of a creative career is that there are always new problems emerging. Every technological advancement and innovation solve and breed problems at the same time. For example, in the project “Unfold Mirror”, my collaborator Tiange Wang and I took a deep dive into solving a common unfulfilled user demand we have all encountered. We were wondering if there is a way to access what’s inside mirror cabinet while keeping the mirror side always available to the user. That exploration resulted in an awarding-winning unique tri-hinged design that slides/unfolds to enable the mirror to consistently face the user.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
In my spare time, I started a multidisciplinary playground VLab with Tiange Wang, and we made some fun projects outside of our day jobs. Most of them are sensory and interactive. We see art as a transient experience in the process, rather than object-making or visual representations. The greatest challenge was managing time and strategically compressing all the necessary steps to put together a project within a limited timeframe. We have learned to dynamically direct tasks and allocate resources to live with the limits we see in projects. Throughout the creative process we always strive to maintain the sensibility and sharp focus on what truly matters to us and not divert our attention to too many threads. Together we are building VLab as a small but active group with an inexhaustible interest in emerging technology and creative problem-finding. We care about some of the biggest issues like sustainability as well as the most intimate sensible experiences and feelings.

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 you’re heading to LA and want an afternoon filled with some cool vibes and great tastes, you can check out the Bradbury Building and Grand Central Market. The Bradbury Building is an incredible spot that feels like stepping into the Bladerunner movie scene. The light filtering through its glass roof makes the whole place glow, and the iron railings and wooden details are just beautiful. Grand Central Market is just a few minutes away. It’s this lively, bustling spot where you can grab bites from all over the world. Think of sipping on cold brew or munching on tacos while soaking up the local atmosphere. The whole experience is very relaxing and a great way to catch the real vibe of the city – perfect for a short trip with friends.

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?
This year I was a speaker at SXSW for the creative-tech project DataWagashi and I would like to shoutout to SXSW for the tremendous efforts that went into assembling so many excellent and interesting panels, talks and shows, creating a week-long marvel unforgettable for many including myself. The active and buoyant atmosphere throughout Austin was like an energy shot to life itself, bringing excitements and new perspective to all the emerging trends.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/i-yang-huang-assoc-aia-leed-ga-8352a969/

Image Credits
Event Photos Photographer: Huiwen Shi