Qiuyu Li

Like many others, I had a strong interest in art and painting from a very young age, and my family provided me with as much support as possible. However, while I held this interest, what led me to decide to pursue a career in this field was when I entered university and was influenced by constructivism, which made me aspire to become a designer.

The design company I work for is a nine-member studio in Osaka. Our work focuses primarily on graphic design, including advertising, packaging, and branding. For every project, regardless of its size, we strive to provide our clients with the best possible solutions.

Creativity is a highly abstract and complex concept. Different people, with their different experiences, will undoubtedly offer different answers. I think creativity should not be just superficial. I've seen many designs that prioritize novelty in form but lose sight of the essence. In my opinion, novelty in form alone does not constitute true creativity. Creativity should be determined by functionality and should exist within our daily lives. Designs that convey information or provide convenience, among other similar functions, are those that truly exhibit creativity.

I believe functionality determines creativity, and creativity exists in our daily lives.

Usually, before I start any project, whether it's a commercial case or a personal piece, I analyze and organize the information, functionality, or message I want to convey. At this stage, it's more like mathematical reasoning for me. I need to connect all the information and find a suitable form of expression. Only after roughly determining the form of expression will I begin the production process, and then make adjustments as needed.

During the production process, I find two stages particularly exciting. The first is during the stage of information organization and analysis when I find a viable solution. This moment brings me excitement. The second stage is the joy of completion, which fills me with pride.

My design style follows the principles of constructivism, or I should say constructivism has had a significant influence on me.

Because of my upbringing, I'm not a traditionally conservative person. I have never been attached to the traditional culture of any country. The so-called traditional culture is simply a product of people's lifestyles at a certain period in history. I live in contemporary human society, and I am more concerned with things I have experienced and seen in the present than with distant traditional cultures I have not experienced. I focus on things and values that fall within my cognitive range and understanding.

For both myself and my company, this is an excellent platform to showcase our creativity. It's also a great opportunity for publicity and personal recognition, which I feel incredibly honored to have.

One of my favorite works is what I feel is the most romantic piece I have ever done. It beautifully captures the love changes and also reflects my aspirations for love. It made me realize that I am someone who longs for romance.

Because it's about expressing emotions, representing such intangible, abstract content through visuals is not an easy task. I need to carefully consider what emotions are and how they change. This process has made me think for a long time.

It's been a motivation for me, boosting my morale and igniting my creative desire. I hope next time I can produce even better work.

I prefer not to make subjective judgments about the industry because of its size. I don't have the means to objectively assess it.

This question is difficult to answer because I prefer not to take too subjective a view on the matter. Everyone is an individual, and even within the same country, everyone's work and ideas are different. It is therefore impossible to make generalizations.

The development and integration of new technologies may lead to greater diversity in forms, but the essence of design and cultural characteristics will remain unchanged.

I've known about prestigious and well-known competitions for a long time. At the moment, I feel very good personally, and this is my first time participating. I don't have many constructive comments right now, but maybe participating more times in the future will provide insights.

Personally, I believe there are no shortcuts; only extensive production and bold experimentation will really make you progress. That was my experience. There was a long time when creating works almost became my whole life. Although it was challenging, it greatly improved my technical skills. After building a strong foundation, it is essential to seriously experience life because life can bring you a wealth of creativity and inspiration.

Many people think I'm a serious or rational person, but in reality, I'm also a romantic and gentle person.

Every person I care about, every single one of them matters to me. Love for others can also be a fantastic opportunity to inspire creativity. A lot of my work has been inspired by this. Like a recent piece I created, it was inspired by a young lady I admire and care deeply about.

The key to success varies from person to person, but generally includes aspects such as perseverance, hard work, focus on goals, continuous learning, and growth. Wise words for parting may be: 'Thank you for the past experiences, cherish the present moments, and look forward to future opportunities.

I will

There's nothing specific I want to add; I just want to say the trophy is really beautiful.