We had the good fortune of connecting with Junru Xu (Jennie Xu) and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Junru, can you talk to us a bit about the social impact of your business?
I am a partner of HMW Design Studio. HMW Design Studio is committed to shaping a future where creativity catalyzes positive social change. With a focus on impact-driven design innovation, the studio crafts experiences that are both forward-looking and deeply grounded in today’s societal challenges. Our projects include Yoyo, hearme, Cayaba Care patient app, etc. They are all focused on disadvantaged groups. For example, for deaf and non-vocal people, connecting with the world can be deeply frustrating. But it doesn’t have to be. HEAR ME is an app that uses AI technology and mindful interaction design to provide 360-degree support for the deaf and non-vocal community. It not only bridges their communication gap but offers 24/7 mood tracking and AI avatar-based personal assistance as well as emotional support.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My approach to design revolves around empathetically and creatively catering to customer needs, striking a delicate balance between functionality and visual appeal. My academic journey in design at Columbia University has equipped me with the skills to excel in this endeavor. My practical experience spans human-centered design industries, having contributed to projects at DIRECTV, CayabaCare. I have always been committed to focusing on vulnerable groups. At Cayaba Care, my designs serve low-income pregnant mothers, helping them better find services and psychological support from maternity navigators. The web-based app service system I designed spans an entire pregnancy, assisting mothers in systematically establishing unobstructed contact and services with maternity navigators. The website design for Giveshop is aimed at assisting entrepreneurs without resources in seeking suitable volunteers to realize their dreams together. My work at DirecTV focuses more on serving users across the United States, where my design for the privacy section significantly helps users protect their privacy and data. My package design further aids a wide range of users in better selecting their preferred shopping options. My passion project takes a more comprehensive look at social issues and vulnerable groups. My “Hear Me” project focuses on helping deaf and mute individuals overcome communication barriers in life, work, and study by utilizing cutting-edge AI technology, designing an AI assistant that provides sign language translation on various occasions. The YOYO project utilizes the adorable interactive design of yo-yos to help left-behind and lonely children better engage in social life and communicate with their parents in a timely manner.

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?
I believe everyone is already well-acquainted with Los Angeles, but recently, I have been residing in Seattle. If friends come to visit, I would recommend they come in the summer, as Seattle transforms into a city of romance and poetry during this season. Experiencing nature would be the first activity I’d engage in with my friends. We would go swimming, boating by the lake, watch the sunset gently dip below the horizon, and marvel at the brilliant fireworks display. The city’s cultural landscapes would be the next stop on our itinerary. The POP Museum, designed by Frank Gehry, with its structuralist architecture, stands as a dazzling urban landmark. On Independence Day, the Space Needle hosts a spectacular fireworks show. Olympic Sculpture Park offers another tranquil and gentle landscape, where one can appreciate the perfect blend of natural parkland and artistic sculptures. I would also take my friends to try Seattle’s seafood and Japanese cuisine, with the Angus King Crab being a local specialty.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
To focus on the social impact of design projects and business, originally, I was inspired by the real-life story of my friend, Tarry, who is a hearing loss person but full of energy and a positive attitude. People with hearing loss are a largely underserved community, and I want to use the insight gained from first-hand observation, interviews, and follow-up studies to help these individuals live an easier, happier, and more fulfilling life. I believe AI is the way to go, as it lowers the cost of such services, and provides the possibility for highly personalized, and intelligent support for the deaf community.

Website: https://www.junruxu.com/

Instagram: Junru_Xu

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/junru-xu666

Image Credits
All made by myself
Main Photo: Yutong Li

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