Meet Yueyi Zhang | Production designer, Scene designer & Illustrator

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

Hi Yueyi, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I pursued a creative career because I’m fascinated by transforming imagination into tangible, immersive worlds. Working across theater, stop-motion animation, and themed entertainment, I’m driven to create environments that evoke emotion before a single word is spoken – through texture, light, and the raw power of materials.

I don’t simply design sets; I craft emotional landscapes where every detail serves the story. A shadow becomes a narrative device, texture reveals unspoken history, and each challenge of translating concept into physical space offers thrilling possibilities.

Production design is my language for bringing the intangible to life – whether on stage, on screen, or in interactive experiences. This is why I create: to build worlds that don’t just exist, but linger in memory and feeling.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
As a cross-disciplinary scenographer, my creative practice centers on constructing narrative spaces through the interplay of materials, light, and structure. Across theater, film, and immersive experiences, I explore the dynamic relationships between bodies, materials, and technology to crate physical environments charged with emotional resonance.

From the translucent cloth drop designed for the dance “Echoes From the Uterus” and the interaction with the flow of the body in the dance, to the surreal narrative scenes composed of hand-painted, naturally grown plant sculpture structures and multiple material clues in the “Black Fairy Tale” immersive exhibition in Chengdu, to the theme park project in collaboration with engineers, I have been constantly trying to break the boundaries of viewing and performing, and make design a medium that connects people and space.

This interdisciplinary journey—from CAFA to UAL to CalArts—wasn’t linear. Cultural misunderstandings and resource limitations became catalysts for growth, reinforcing the power of visual storytelling over language. Whether it is presenting the growth of women through the intertextuality of costumes and sets in “Little Women”, or balancing the needs of art and technology in commercial projects, my focus remains: design is human experience first. Spaces that linger in memory tell their own stories—and as a creator, I stay open to the surprises hidden in each cross-disciplinary collision.

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’d take my friend to explore the city’s most vibrant local spots and the hidden neighborhoods I’ve discovered. We’d hunt for unique vintage treasures in tucked-away thrift stores and antique markets—I’ve often stumbled upon aged furniture or curios that later became key props in my designs, and I’d love to share those serendipitous stories. On weekends, we might visit a pop-up themed market or limited-time exhibition. As someone who’s worked on theme park projects, I can’t help but analyze crowd flow and spatial layouts at such events, and I’d whisper a few behind-the-scenes secrets to my friend.
As a personal interest, I run a food exploration account, so every meal on this trip would feature delicacies I’ve meticulously selected from countless restaurants. We’d also visit locations where movies or short films were shot, and over meals, I’d share behind-the-scenes stories about the creative process and amusing moments from production. One memorable experience was a film project where the chef and I spent an entire week designing plating to elevate traditional Chinese stir-fry dishes in the restaurant to Michelin-level artistry. The result was a visually stunning menu design that the restaurant owner later adopted for their exclusive banquet offerings. And of course, no visit would be complete without stopping by the night market locals adore. My top-recommended stalls/foodtruck—each handpicked after rigorous tastings—guarantee the most authentic flavors for my friends.
I adore these urban explorations steeped in local life, where mundane details—a play of light through an alleyway, the texture of a weathered sign—quietly seed future creations. It’s a professional reflex: to dissect spaces, materials, and human interactions, then tuck them away as sparks for tomorrow’s work.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Shoutout to all the artists and teams I’ve collaborated with—each project has been a unique opportunity for growth, offering fresh creative perspectives.
Film directors deepened my understanding of narrative control, dancers expanded how I approach spatial storytelling through movement, and stop-motion projects taught me the nuances of materiality and cinematography frame by frame. Working with engineers on theme park installations revealed the delicate balance between art and technology. These experiences have collectively reinforced one truth: Excellent designs are often born at the intersection of different fields.

Website: https://zoranazhang.wixsite.com/yueyizhang-4

Image Credits
Own work