London Design Awards interviewee - Yuqing Xiao

1. Please give us a brief bio of yourself and your design background.

I’m Yuqing Xiao, an industrial designer and design strategist with a strong focus on human-centred design. Holding an MFA in industrial design and an MA in design management, I combine creative problem-solving with strategic thinking. Alongside my expertise in product design, I specialise in user experience research, business strategy, and sustainability, ensuring that design solutions are both impactful and responsible.

2. What made you become/why did you choose to become a designer/artist?

In junior high school, I came across a shop selling creative kitchenware related to kinetic design while shopping. I was deeply attracted and hoped to make something eye-catching and exciting like these. Later, as I studied design skills and theories in depth, I found that design not only means creating some cool physical products, but the humanistic care behind it is more critical and more touching to me.

In addition, continuously learning new things and improving myself in challenging situations are also why I insist on learning and engaging in design-related careers.

3. Tell us more about your agency/company, job profile, and what you do.

Our company, Functional Form Block Allies, is more than just a design studio; it’s a collaborative union that connects designers across regions, fostering a unique synergy in our work. We focus not only on delivering effective design solutions for companies in need but also on nurturing the next generation of designers.

Through our educational programs, we guide students and young designers in understanding industry processes and standards while encouraging them to bring fresh perspectives and ideas. By blending professional experience with academic insight, we inspire both our industry partners and students, creating an environment where traditional and innovative approaches intersect, pushing boundaries in design.

4. What does “design” mean to you?

I think design means understanding and creation. The reason why I value user experience research is that I value the humanistic care behind design. Before designing, we must first understand people and the world. After understanding, our responsibility is to create new products or experiences that change people's lives or the world. Design is an industry that I love, and it has also reshaped my personality and vision to a certain extent. I have always liked a sentence from one of my professors: Design is a lifestyle.

5. What’s your favourite kind of design and why?

I am very interested in kinetic design. Generally speaking, all physical products that can change their form and structure belong to this category. It sounds very similar to engineering, but the biggest difference between kinetic design and engineering is that kinetic design pays attention to the aesthetics and poetry of design while ensuring feasibility. I think it combines the pragmatism of engineers and the imagination of artists. I like this design style very much, and I also try to add this element to my designs.

6. To you, what makes a “good” design?

Having much experience in user experience research, I'm good at capturing key objects from a user's life scenario to build a user persona. I like designs that can make me feel the personality charm of the designer, such as the designer's unique aesthetics, humanistic care, or social responsibility.

I would imagine what kind of living habits, hobbies, and cultural background the designer behind a product has, what they thought about during the design process, and what decisions they made, as this is very interesting.

7. Do you think your country and its cultural heritage has an impact on your design process?

Of course. I attach great importance to design in different cultural backgrounds. I have participated in designing many projects related to traditional Chinese intangible cultural heritage and even visited the inheritors of intangible cultural heritage in person to learn about their stories and crafts.

My undergraduate graduation project is dedicated to spreading the stories and knowledge of intangible cultural heritage to the younger generation, lowering the learning threshold, and promoting their participation through new materials and technologies. This is a project I am very proud of.

8. Congratulations! As the winner of the London Design Awards, what does it mean to you and your company and team to receive this award distinction?

I think this is exciting news. As a young designer, I hope to get industry recognition and guidance from seniors. Thank you very much for the recognition from the judges! At the same time, the friends I met and the team I built during the project are also very important to me. We can achieve such achievements only through mutual support and collaboration.

9. Can you explain a bit about the winning work you entered into the London Design Awards, and why you chose to enter this project?

We’re honoured to have several projects recognised in the 2024 London Design Awards. We entered these designs because they strongly reflect our commitment to creating more humane, thoughtful, and convenient products. These projects aim to bridge connections between people in ways that may not have been possible before, balancing the needs of service providers and receivers.

While our winning works span different categories, they all share a core mission: to create designs that genuinely care about and enhance people’s lives, embodying the values that drive us at Functional Form Block Allies.

10. What were the main challenges you faced during the design process, and how did you overcome them?

The biggest challenges are often the most interesting.

11. How do you think winning this award will impact your future as a designer?

Winning a London Design Awards has been incredibly validating for our practice. It’s given us broader recognition and strengthened our confidence when presenting to clients, showing that our ideas and values resonate globally. This achievement demonstrates that design success goes beyond profitability—it’s about positively impacting people’s lives. We’re grateful for this recognition and inspired to continue creating meaningful, people-centred designs.

12. What are your top three (3) favorite things about the design industry?

1. Uncertainty: I like this word very much, although it sounds unpleasant to many people.
2. Empathy: This word is familiar to most designers, but it is not easy to use.
3. Freshness: I am terrified of repetitive and tedious work, so I am glad I chose the design industry.

13. What sets your design apart from others in the same category?

When designing in China, a country with a population of 1.4 billion and a history of 5,000 years, we have to face many unique problems. Researching social context is always challenging during research, and capturing insights is the key to success. In promoting innovation, the vast market is both an opportunity and a challenge. It is worth mentioning that I think China's intangible cultural heritage is a very precious treasure, and many of my designs are related to it.

14. Where do you see the evolution of design industry going over the next 5-10 years?

Interestingly, we are currently in a stage of rapid development of AIGC. The efficiency and quality of AI-finished products are very competitive, and many people are very pessimistic about the creative industry, but I don’t think so. As a human-centred designer, I believe designers’ concern and insight into society and people will become the most crucial competence in 5-10 years. AI may be able to solve problems correctly, but only people with vision can ensure we are solving the right problems.

15. What advice do you have for aspiring designers who want to create award-winning designs?

You can only reach the moon if you aim for Mars. Go ahead and try. There is nothing to be afraid of.

16. What resources would you recommend to someone who wants to improve their skills in the design industry?

I once heard a saying, "Designers are those weirdos who wear sweatshirts and caps in the office and don't talk to others." I don't think this is offensive; it's actually quite funny. I think this sentence points out a mistake many young designers make: design is not about sitting in the office and working hard but about observing the world and talking to people.

17. Tell us something you have never told anyone else.

I like going to concerts alone.

18. Who has inspired you in your life and why?

Silke Bochat. She visited SCAD and gave a speech during my graduate studies. She is a unique and experienced female design leader. One of her important inspirations is that it doesn’t matter what you say, but how you say it.

19. What is your key to success? Any parting words of wisdom?

I think the key to success lies in accumulation. The Internet may increase the breadth of your horizons, but the depth of your horizons must come from interaction and communication with people. Keep observing in daily life, stay sensitive to details, and analyse the connections between different things. This is a way to do research before starting a project.

Winning Entry

2024
London Design Awards Winner - FitHive by FitHive Design

Entrant Company

FitHive Design

Category

Product Design - Smart Home

2025
London Design Awards Winner - FluxCharger by FluxCharger Design Team

Entrant Company

FluxCharger Design Team

Category

Product Design - Energy Products & Devices

2025
London Design Awards Winner - FunFeast by FunFeast Design Team

Entrant Company

FunFeast Design Team

Category

Product Design - Baby, Kids & Children Products

2025
London Design Awards Winner - HEX by HEX Design Team
HEX

Entrant Company

HEX Design Team

Category

Product Design - Robotics

2024
London Design Awards Winner - NostalX by Functional Form Block Allies

Entrant Company

Functional Form Block Allies

Category

Product Design - Media & Home Electronics

2024
London Design Awards Winner - BUFF by BUFF Design

Entrant Company

BUFF Design

Category

Product Design - Unexpected Design

2024
London Design Awards Winner - LuxBlade by Functional Form Block Allies

Entrant Company

Functional Form Block Allies

Category

Product Design - Lighting

2024
London Design Awards Winner - CataZap by Functional Form Block Allies
BOYE BIOTECH

Entrant Company

Functional Form Block Allies

Category

Product Design - Product Design / Other__

2024
London Design Awards Winner - SKYGUARD by SKYGUARD DESIGN TEAM

Entrant Company

SKYGUARD DESIGN TEAM

Category

Product Design - Safety

2024
London Design Awards Winner - CataZap by Functional Form Block Allies
BOYE BIOTECH

Entrant Company

Functional Form Block Allies

Category

Product Design - Healthcare

2024
London Design Awards Winner - AquaVenture by Functional Form Block Allies
PEROPURE

Entrant Company

Functional Form Block Allies

Category

Product Design - Outdoor & Exercise Equipment

2025
London Design Awards Winner - Rockid by Rockid Design Team

Entrant Company

Rockid Design Team

Category

Product Design - Baby, Kids & Children Products

2024
London Design Awards Winner - Wattup by Wattup Design

Entrant Company

Wattup Design

Category

Service Design - Energy

2025
London Design Awards Winner - ZOZO by ZOZO Design

Entrant Company

ZOZO Design

Category

Product Design - Baby, Kids & Children Products

2025
London Design Awards Winner - X Limb by X Limb Design Team

Entrant Company

X Limb Design Team

Category

Product Design - Aids / Prosthetics

2024
London Design Awards Winner - CataZap by Functional Form Block Allies
BOYE BIOTECH

Entrant Company

Functional Form Block Allies

Category

Product Design - Medical Devices

2024
London Design Awards Winner - Vela by Vela

Entrant Company

Vela

Category

Product Design - Healthcare

2024
London Design Awards Winner - Twispex Speculum by Functional Form Block Allies

Entrant Company

Functional Form Block Allies

Category

Product Design - Healthcare

2024
London Design Awards Winner - AquaClean by Functional Form Block Allies
PEROPURE

Entrant Company

Functional Form Block Allies

Category

Product Design - Personal Care

2024
London Design Awards Winner - GUASK8 by GUASK8 Design Team

Entrant Company

GUASK8 Design Team

Category

Product Design - Baby, Kids & Children Products

2024
London Design Awards Winner - HydraSense by HydraSense Design

Entrant Company

HydraSense Design

Category

Product Design - Wearable Technologies

2025
London Design Awards Winner - Navswim by Navswim Design Team

Entrant Company

Navswim Design Team

Category

Product Design - Wearable Technologies

2025
London Design Awards Winner - DYNO by DYNO Design Team

Entrant Company

DYNO Design Team

Category

User Experience Design (UX) - Health / Fitness / Wellness

2025
London Design Awards Winner - Women's Safety by Women's Safety Design

Entrant Company

Women's Safety Design

Category

Product Design - Public

2025
London Design Awards Winner - Pupil Space by Pupil Space Design

Entrant Company

Pupil Space Design

Category

User Interface Design (UI) - Health Care Services

2024
London Design Awards Winner - Arcdate by Functional Form Block Allies

Entrant Company

Functional Form Block Allies

Category

Service Design - Consumer Product / Services

2024
London Design Awards Winner - Toys for Children in Refugee Camps by TFCIRC Design Team

Entrant Company

TFCIRC Design Team

Category

Product Design - Toys

2024
London Design Awards Winner - Twispex Speculum by Functional Form Block Allies

Entrant Company

Functional Form Block Allies

Category

Product Design - Medical Devices

2024
London Design Awards Winner - Mtto by Mtto

Entrant Company

Mtto

Category

Product Design - Personal Care

2024
London Design Awards Winner - Ocean 14 by OCEAN 14 TEAM

Entrant Company

OCEAN 14 TEAM

Category

Service Design - Service Design / Other__

2024
London Design Awards Winner - SANA by SANA Design Team

Entrant Company

SANA Design Team

Category

Product Design - Healthcare

2025
London Design Awards Winner - FIT SENSE by FIT SENSE DESIGN

Entrant Company

FIT SENSE DESIGN

Category

Product Design - Lifestyle

2024
London Design Awards Winner - Twispex Speculum by Functional Form Block Allies

Entrant Company

Functional Form Block Allies

Category

Product Design - Pregnancy & Maternity

2024
London Design Awards Winner - Horizpec by Functional Form Block Allies

Entrant Company

Functional Form Block Allies

Category

Product Design - Pregnancy & Maternity

2024
London Design Awards Winner - Arcdate by Functional Form Block Allies

Entrant Company

Functional Form Block Allies

Category

Service Design - Retail

2025
London Design Awards Winner - MEOW-GO by MEOW-GO Design Team

Entrant Company

MEOW-GO Design Team

Category

Product Design - Pet

2025
London Design Awards Winner - ACD-ULTRA by ACD-ULTRA Design Team

Entrant Company

ACD-ULTRA Design Team

Category

Product Design - Safety

2025
London Design Awards Winner - DYNO by DYNO Design Team

Entrant Company

DYNO Design Team

Category

User Experience Design (UX) - Best User Interface / Experience

2024
London Design Awards Winner - Horizpec by Functional Form Block Allies

Entrant Company

Functional Form Block Allies

Category

Product Design - Healthcare

2024
London Design Awards Winner - Arcdate by Functional Form Block Allies

Entrant Company

Functional Form Block Allies

Category

Service Design - Shopping

2024
London Design Awards Winner - Wattup by Wattup Design

Entrant Company

Wattup Design

Category

Service Design - Sustainability & Environment

2024
London Design Awards Winner - balenX by balenX

Entrant Company

balenX

Category

Product Design - Aids / Prosthetics

2024
London Design Awards Winner - Horizpec by Functional Form Block Allies

Entrant Company

Functional Form Block Allies

Category

Product Design - Medical Devices

2025
London Design Awards Winner - SKY CARADLE by SKY CARADLE Design Team

Entrant Company

SKY CARADLE Design Team

Category

Product Design - Baby, Kids & Children Products