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

Hi Yueran, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I was born and raised in the beautiful city of Luoyang, China, known for its stunning peony flowers. My grandpa is an accomplished traditional Chinese watercolor painter specializing in peony paintings. He showed me all about the magic of art and how to capture the beauty of the world around us. During peony season, he would take me to the botanical garden to observe the flowers from various angles and distances, meticulously capturing their beauty on canvas. His infectious passion for aesthetics inspired me to explore different mediums and express my own creativity through drawing, collaging, and calligraphy. These early experiences sparked a lifelong appreciation for the arts. Pursuing creativity represents a deep connection to my cultural heritage, family roots, and personal values.

In college, my interest in problem-solving led me to study economics, where I delved into the analytical realm of understanding “why” through numbers and model-building. This analytical mindset, combined with my passion for aesthetics, naturally drew me to the field of UX design – a profession that balances visual appeal with problem-solving. So, I pursued a master’s degree in Human-Computer Interaction at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and now I work at Meta (Facebook), empowering millions of creators to purse their own creativities and express themselves with AI-powered tools. It’s like everything has come full circle for me, from my childhood in Luoyang to where I am today. I’m proud of my journey so far and I can’t wait to see what the future holds.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I moved to the United States in 2015 with a passion for product design. Early in my career, I had the opportunity to work on various E-commerce and social impact projects that sparked my interest in developing innovative solutions leveraging new technology. This passion has guided my work ever since. One project I’m particularly proud of is the “Complete Your Looks” feature I worked on at Stitch Fix. Using AI and machine learning, we offered intelligent outfit recommendations based on items customers already purchased, creating a customized fashion store for every shopper. The feature received positive feedback from our customers and generated multi-billion-dollar revenue that year.

Currently, I’m at Meta, designing AI-powered tools for creators such as smart clipping, text-based video editing, and text-based image generation. My goal is to bridge the gap between complex technology and user accessibility, making cutting-edge AI tools self-explanatory enough for non-tech savvy users. Through close collaboration with researchers, I ensure that the design solutions address the genuine needs and pain points of users and empower more people to leverage AI technology and integrate it into their daily workflows without a steep learning curve.

Ethical considerations are also essential to my design process. I strive to address potential biases and ensure fairness, transparency, and inclusivity of AI features. For instance, I designed a feature that uses AI to automatically generate subtitles and dubbing for videos in various languages, allowing creators to reach a more diverse audience, including individuals with disabilities.

What sets me apart from others is my unique blend of passion for social impact, business growth, and innovative technology. Looking into the future, I believe that AI will play an increasingly prominent role in the creative industry. As a designer, this presents a great opportunity to redefine creativity in the context of new technologies. However, it also presents challenges in how people perceive and approach AI. I believe it takes forward-thinking, mindfulness, and respect for human creativity to design AI powered tools successfully. I’m committed to using cutting-edge technology to empower individual creativity and look forward to continuing to make a positive impact in the design and tech industry.

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.
I live in San Francisco, and among its vibrant offerings, the Mission and Bernal Heights area holds a special place in my heart. This area offers a magical mix of cool vibes, artsy stuff, and natural beauty, making it the most San Francisco experience for me.

When friends and family come to visit, my go-to place to show them is Bernal Heights Regional Park. It’s a very chill park where we can take a stroll up the hill and enjoy the panoramic views of the whole city. The park offers a beautiful vantage point where the city unfurls beneath us like a living canvas, offering a bird’s eye view that extends to iconic landmarks such as the Bay Bridge and the Golden Gate Bridge. Up there, the atmosphere is very tranquil and relaxing with local residents, joggers, and cheerful dog walkers. It is the perfect spot for some quality time where we stay away from the crowds and the noise while still enjoy the convenience of being in the City.

Once we’re done soaking in the views, as we wander through the neighborhood in the Mission, we’ll find ourselves surrounded by these vibrant murals telling stories of their own, adding a kaleidoscope of colors to the surroundings. One of the popular and iconic murals in the Mission District is the “Women’s Building Mural.” It was created in 1994 by a collective of seven women artists known as the MaestraPeace Muralists. It celebrates the contributions of women throughout history and across cultures. Whenever I walk past by the building, I feel captivated by the vivid colors and the narratives ingrained in the mural.

There are also local artist shops, thrift stores, restaurants and coffee shops in this neighborhood – there’re never short of interesting things to check out. If we’re feeling like a quick bite, Tartine Bakery stands out as my personal favorite. Their banana cream pie never fails to impress.

While this itinerary may not cover every nook and corner of SF, it’s a collection of personal favorites crafted with my love for the city. If you get a chance to visit SF, I hope you get to check out these spots and find joy from them as I have.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Shoutout to the obstacles, rejections, and setbacks that stood in my way. Over the past decade, moving countries, pursuing a new career, and establishing a new life in 3 US cities were not easy tasks. But hard work and a positive altitude always kept me grounded. Thanks to the obstacles, rejections, and setbacks, I was able to grow stronger and more resilient. I learned valuable lessons about perseverance, determination, and the importance of never giving up on my dreams through these hard times.

On the other side of the same coin, I want to give a shoutout to the power of self-belief. Having a strong conviction about something can propel us to take action and make it a reality. Growing up in a small city without much access to technology, I never had a computer until college. But I’ve always dreamed of exploring the bigger world and contributing to its advancement. I made every effort to make it happen. From learning English to competing in sports, from traveling to new places to pursuing my passion overseas, every step of the way, I have been determined to live a life that’s true to myself regardless of any obstacles or challenges that may come my way. Now, I’ve set foot on six continents (including Antarctica) and I am harnessing AI and other cutting-edge technologies to empower content creators at Facebook, one of the most innovative areas in the industry. I believe that my journey doesn’t stop here, and I’m still excited and curious about this planet and the challenges that I haven’t tackled yet. For those who are reading this, don’t let anything hold you back from chasing your dreams. Your belief in yourself can be the most powerful force driving you forward.

Website: https://www.yueran.space/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yuerannn/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yueran-zhao/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yueran.zhao.9

Image Credits
RecipesWeCherish https://recipeswecherish.com/2015/11/10/tartines-banana-cream-pie/

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