We had the good fortune of connecting with Zhuosi (joyce) He and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Zhuosi (Joyce), we’d love to hear more about your end-goal, professionally.
My end goal has always been to create something that deeply resonates with the audience. There’s something uniquely powerful about watching a live performance or film in a dark theater, surrounded by others—especially that moment when the room seems to breathe as one while watching a great production. Our shared responses to what unfolds on stage create an unspoken connection, and you can almost feel the person next to you experiencing the same emotions, thoughts, and revelations as you are. That collective, almost ritualistic experience is what draws me to theater and film.
I don’t have a very specific career path laid out, because I believe a significant part of this journey comes down to luck. But for every production that comes my way, I aim to use my craft to help capture that moment I mentioned, and to create experiences that move, challenge, and provoke thought in the audience — something that I can truly be proud of.

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.
Each project begins with reading the script and finding my personal response to the text. To me, set design is the art of using design elements to shape the space and guide the movement of bodies within that space, bringing to life the emotional essence of the text. So translating the core of the story with spatial and visual elements is always something that I enjoy to explore within my design process.
After discussing the script with the director and the creative team, I typically conduct visual research and assemble a visual board that incorporates the images and ideas brought to the table. This board becomes a map for the design process. My primary tool for designing is the physical 3D sketch model. I like to think with my hands, crafting tangible pieces to experiment with different possibilities. Inspiration for my designs often stems not just from visual references but from other senses—a specific texture or material, a playlist I create after reading the script, a certain scent, or even a poem connected to the text all serve as tools in my process.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If you’re visiting during the warmer months, one of my favorite things to do is bike along the Hudson River late at night on the New Jersey side. It’s peaceful, and you get a stunning view of Manhattan shimmering right in front of you.
I also highly recommend checking out the museums. Personally, I really enjoyed visiting the Noguchi Museum and the Cooper Hewitt Museum. Of course, iconic spots like the Met, Guggenheim, MoMA, Whitney, Brooklyn Museum, the Morgan Library, and the Natural History Museum are always worth a visit when you’re in town. I recently visited Dia Beacon in Beacon, NY, and loved it. If you’re into installation art, it makes for a fantastic day trip.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My parents have supported and trusted me throughout this entire journey. Studying abroad in the U.S. and pursuing a career here on my own has not been easy, but their support means the world to me, and I thank them wholeheartedly.
I’d also like to shout out to my set design teachers from my graduate program at NYU Tisch, including Paul Steinberg and Christine Jones. Their guidance over my three years of grad school has been invaluable, and I am deeply grateful for their mentorship.

Website: https://joycehedesign.com

Instagram: @joycezhuosihe

Image Credits
Yiyuan Li, Joyce He, Ella Bromblin, Short Film: Terminal, Short Film: False Start

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