Meet Xi Zhou | UX Designer

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

Hi Xi, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
My design journey started with a love for the innovative and imaginative world of Doraemon during childhood. When I was young I was learning different drawings such as traditional Chinese painting, watercolor, and more. This paved the way for me to study Industrial design at Jiangnan University during my freshmen year of college. When I slowly got into industrial design, I found my main interest is in the Internet of Things (IoT) then I started to look for school transfer opportunities to US universities, Through 2 years of effort, I moved to California College of the Arts to focus on UX design and research In 2017. After graduation, I worked as a UX researcher at Netgear, where I learned a lot about product development. My passion for design and technology led me to further my studies at the University of Michigan, focusing on how software development and design come together. A key moment in my career was getting an internship and full-time offer with PlayStation during my time at graduate school. This experience solidified my commitment to design and gave me great opportunities for growth and development as a UX 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.
The past few years have certainly been a rollercoaster. One of the first significant hurdles I faced was transferring school credits from China to the US. The “Gaokao,” China’s university entrance exam, is notoriously stressful and ranks as one of the most challenging exams globally. I studied day and night to took this exam to get into college. My parents were hesitant about me starting over with TOEFL preparation and new school applications. It was only till I connected with senior students who had studied abroad reassured me that I wouldn’t regret this decision. Their support was crucial in helping me prepare my portfolio and applications, leading to my offer from the California College of the Arts Interaction Design program.

Another challenging period was during my job hunt after graduating in 2020. In March, our school announced a shutdown and transitioned all classes online due to the pandemic. The uncertainty was scary, and many of my classmates had their job offers rescinded as companies initiated massive layoffs. As an international student, finding a UX design job that could sponsor my visa was incredibly tough. Additionally, I had a personal loss with a family member passing away in China, but I couldn’t return home due to flight restrictions. Despite these, I decided to stay at NETGEAR as a UX researcher and took a gap year between my undergrad and grad school. Looking back, 2020 was tough for everyone, but it helped me to learn more about myself and better prepare for my master’s application.

But now I am currently a UX Designer at PlayStation (Sony Interactive Entertainment), an innovation and entertainment company. I work on the Monetization and Commerce team, focusing on both console and off-console experiences. During my internship back in 2022 summer, I contributed to the PlayStation account creation and design systems team.

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?
Here’s how I’d plan the week to show them the best of the Bay Area, with a special highlight on Monterey and Napa:

San Francisco:
– Places to go: Start with a walk across the Golden Gate Bridge for those iconic views, visit the California Academy of Sciences or take a stroll through Golden Gate Park. For something more artistic, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) is a must.
– Evening: Dinner at Foreign Cinema, where you can enjoy great food while watching a movie on the patio.

Monterey:
= Drive down the coast, stopping for coffee and pastries at Verve Coffee Roasters in Santa Cruz on the way.
– Arrive in Monterey and head straight to Cannery Row. Visit the Monterey Bay Aquarium, one of the most renowned in the world, with stunning marine life exhibits.
– Take the 17-Mile Drive to soak in the rugged coastline, iconic cypress trees, and luxury homes.

Napa Valley
– Enjoy a day of wine tasting at vineyards like Domaine Carneros and Castello di Amorosa, a stunning castle winery.
– Restaurant suggestion: Have a leisurely meal at The French Laundry (if you can get reservations!).

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Amy Chien became my first mentor in the U.S. after we met at a VR conference in 2018. Since then, she has guided me in discovering my career path. In 2019, she invited me to join her mixed reality startup, YouSpace, where I had the opportunity to explore design beyond 2D dimensions, integrating both physical and digital experiences. After completing my master’s program, I was fortunate to join her team at PlayStation as a designer. Amy not only helped me refine my design skills and foundation, but she also supported me in overcoming personal challenges, encouraging me to think more strategically and grow into a more well-rounded designer.

Website: https://www.clairezhou.space/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clairezhou-design/