Meet Ziyao Jiang | UX & Product Designer

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

Hi Ziyao, putting aside the decision to work for yourself, what other decisions were critical to your success?
Deciding to study abroad at the age of 14 was undoubtedly the most pivotal decision in my journey toward success. After a summer trip to Canada with my family, I realized that there was a vast world beyond my hometown of Xi’an, waiting to be explored. Driven by this realization, I spoke with my parents and persuaded them to allow me to pursue my education abroad, despite their understandable concerns. Life in Canada presented its own set of challenges; my initial homestay experience was far from ideal. However, when I switched to a new host family and immersed myself in the school’s art classes, I found my footing. The more I engaged with art, the more confident and comfortable I became in this new environment. My art teacher’s encouragement, including selecting me for the district art show, further solidified my passion for design. This early decision to step out of my comfort zone and embrace the unknown has been instrumental in shaping my career and passion for design.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My journey to where I am today has been anything but linear, but every step has played a crucial role in shaping my career.

While I found my passion for art early on, my path to UX design was not immediate. I began my studies in architecture, which provided me with a solid foundation in design thinking and problem-solving. Later, I pursued a master’s degree at UCLA, where I delved into emerging technologies. These diverse academic experiences trained me to be agile, adaptable, and open to change—a fast learner willing to embrace new challenges.

As a T-shaped designer, I’m not only focused on UX but also deeply excited by the integration of emerging technologies into design. For over two years, I have been part of the service design team at my company, where I’ve independently delivered a variety of products, from business dashboards—where I developed expertise in Tableau and data visualization—to a safer school ecosystem that leveraged my 3D modeling skills for enhanced visuals. I also played a key role in building a customer facing AI deployment bot. These projects have taught me that as a designer, it’s important not to confine oneself to a single title. Instead, being open to learning and evolving across different domains has allowed me to tackle complex challenges and create impactful designs.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
One of my best friend is actully coming to town in a month! I am planning to take her for a walk in Navy pier, and enjoy Mediterranean food in Avec restaurant.

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 would like to give a heartfelt shoutout to my parents, whose unwavering support and love have been instrumental in my journey. They have always granted me the freedom to pursue my passions, trusting my choices even when those paths were unfamiliar to them. Their guidance has been invaluable, providing me with a strong foundation and the confidence to follow my dreams. Their belief in me has been a constant source of inspiration, and I am deeply grateful for the role they have played in my success.

Website: https://maggie-jiang-portfolio.webflow.io/

Instagram: hello_maggie_

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jiang-ziyao/

Other: maggieart16@gmail.com