10 Questions with Xinyi Shao

Xinyi Shao is a visual designer based in Brooklyn, NY. She specializes in brand identity, editorial design, generative design, and research. She has received recognition and awards from esteemed organizations, including TDC, Graphis, Communication Arts, Creative Communication Award, and IDA Design Award for her exceptional talent and dedication.

With a finance background, Xinyi brings a unique perspective to design, emphasizing reasoning and precision. She values research and a meticulous process, infusing her work with originality and depth. Rooted in typography and driven by a fascination with technology, she explores new ways of creating to respond to the changing world and media landscape.

In her thesis project, Xinyi collaborated with machine learning to resurrect creatures that have been extinct for over a billion years. This speculative exploration into the future and critique of normative human existence exemplifies her innovative and thought-provoking approach to design. Xinyi recently graduated from ArtCenter College of Design with a Master of Fine Arts in Graphic Design.

www.xinyishao.com | @xinyii_shao

ARTIST STATEMENT

Xinyi Shao creates designs at the intersection of art and technology. Her research- and process-driven design approach provides unique perspectives for problem-solving and creation. Her multidisciplinary and multicultural experiences have made her open-minded, diverse, and flexible in her designs. With an emphasis on craftsmanship, she embraces and experiments with new possibilities enabled by technology to enhance and multiply the experiences she creates. She designs systems, establishes constants, breaks the rules, and adds variables, creating dynamics while still controlling the chaos. She works with contradictions to create tension and navigates between opposing forces to bring sophistication.

INTERVIEW

Let's talk about yourself. You have a background in finance; how did you start getting interested in art?

It might sound a bit cliché, but I have been interested in art since I was a kid. Growing up, I was really obsessed with comics and had a dream of becoming a cartoonist. I guess it's something that has always been deep in my heart, waiting for the right time to bloom.

You work primarily with design; what inspired you to choose this medium specifically?

I think design is the perfect middle ground between art and our daily lives. It's not just self-expression but also the vehicle to deliver the right message to the right people. I think it's crucial to consider the purpose and audience. For self-initiated projects, what's the best way to showcase the concept? For commercial projects, what's most needed by clients? For every design decision, I feel it's important to have a reason.

Mutopia, Installation, 36x92 inch, 2022 © Xinyi Shao

In your work, you mix different approaches, dealing with brand identity, editorial design, and generative design. How would you define yourself as an artist?

I would describe myself as a blend of experimenter and crafter. Each medium carries its own implications and messages, but I enjoy mixing these approaches and blurring their boundaries. I am constantly excited by new mediums that emerge from rapid technological innovations and social changes. However, craftsmanship is always evident in my work, regardless of the medium.
In my project "Non-Binary Nature," I communicate with the audience through various mediums. The project initially started with a book and later expanded to include an installation experience and an identity design. By connecting the traditional book with digital media, an intriguing chemistry and contrast are created. The project has received positive feedback and recognition from TDC Awards, DNA Paris Design Awards, and various media outlets. I am delighted that it has been well-received by so many people.

Research also has a central role in your production. What are the key themes you focus on in your research? And how do these influence your work?

It really depends on the subject. I don't have any special formula, but in general, I try to have a broad understanding of the subject at first and build a visual mind map. Then, I'll delve deep into those branches and connect the dots.
Research is always the starting point of every project I undertake. It provides unique angles for me to think in terms of both ideation and execution. While it's common for humans to follow their intuition, it's sometimes limited and based on our own experience and knowledge. Research helps me break through those limitations.

Non-binary Nature, Installation, 192x 96 inch, 2023 © Xinyi Shao

You define your design as an "intersection of art and technology." What messages are you trying to communicate with your art? And what do you think differentiates your approach from others?

I'm trying to convey a sense of in-between and intricate. The idea of blurring and ambiguity is the key in my work. I like to give my work a level of depth and complexity that requires the audience to take time to digest, keeping it in their minds for longer periods. As someone with a finance background, I am not constrained by preconceptions and can approach things from a fresh perspective. Rather than categorizing things as opposites, I see them as a spectrum. I am always eager to try new things and enjoy creating novel combinations, which can often lead to refreshing outcomes.

Can you talk us through your whole creative process? How do you go from the first idea to the final outcome?

As you might already know, research is at the heart of my creative process. During the initial stages, I try to explore widely and generate many wild ideas. It's liberating not to know everything yet and to simply sketch and experiment with different concepts. Then, I select the ideas that resonate with me and search for connections between them. After several rounds of iteration, the best idea remains. I also enjoy sharing my work with my team and hearing their thoughts. It's a privilege to be surrounded by talented individuals, and I'm always curious to know their reactions.

Non-binary Nature, Book, 8.75x11.5 inch, 2023 © Xinyi Shao

How has your art evolved over the years? And what inspired you to experiment?

At the start of my career, I learned a lot by adhering to various design rules. I was afraid of breaking them. However, I soon discovered that not all good designs conform to these principles. Therefore, I started to think outside the box and break free from these constraints. Nowadays, I realize that there's not only one solution to a problem, and I try to be looser while designing. I like to think of my designs as a combination of unconventional and traditional, dynamic and consistent.
I feel it's important to trust the process, and I like the idea of thinking through making. Curiosity and the joy of making things drive me to experiment and keep trying. The process of making gives me clarity and direction in my thinking.

As you work with digital technologies, what do you think of the recent debate over AI? Do you feel threatened by it?

I have neutral feelings about AI. While I believe there are still many issues around AI that need to be resolved, such as biases and copyright, I do not feel threatened by it. I don't see much overlap between AI and myself, and I'm excited about how it can help us streamline our workflow. Last year, I worked on a project called Mutopia, exploring the potential collaboration between human creativity and artificial intelligence. In this project, I collaborated with machine learning to create an installation that allows viewers to walk through an imaginary world populated by interspecies hybrids. It has won the Core77 Design Award, the Communication Arts Award, and the Graphis Award. I am honored to be recognized by these prestigious organizations and excited to incorporate this experience into my daily work rather than considering it a one-time project.

Non-binary Nature, Poster, 24x36 inch, 2023 © Xinyi Shao

What are you working on now? Do you have any new projects or exhibitions you want to share with our readers?

I am currently working on an identity project for a well-regarded nonprofit organization. Our work encompasses not only visual design but also all touchpoints related to the brand experience, considering the brand scope and vision, including the system, website, prints, languages, and more. Our work has been highly rated by both the client and internal stakeholders. We are very proud of what we have accomplished. It is exciting to be part of such meaningful work, serving the larger community.

And finally, how would you describe Xinyi Shao in three words?

Open-minded, Tenacious, and Loose.

Artist’s Talk

Al-Tiba9 Interviews is a promotional platform for artists to articulate their vision and engage them with our diverse readership through a published art dialogue. The artists are interviewed by Mohamed Benhadj, the founder & curator of Al-Tiba9, to highlight their artistic careers and introduce them to the international contemporary art scene across our vast network of museums, galleries, art professionals, art dealers, collectors, and art lovers across the globe.

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