Interview
Tiange Wang
VLAB, United States
Tiange Wang operates her very own design studio, VLAB, with her creative partner, I-Yang Huang to create novel experiences and products that sits at the intersection of design and technology!
1 Please give us a brief bio of yourself and your background.
I am passionate about creative technology and design on individual well-being including health, cognition, emotion and social relationships, and interested in bridging physical and virtual worlds through XR and other new modalities. My work was showcased in Siggraph Immersive Pavilion 2023, VIFF Signals 2023. I am currently a creative technologist/engineer at Meta Reality Labs, where I work on the design and implementation of VR related user-facing features. Prior to Meta, I worked at Tencent game studio as a technical artist/engineer, specializing in Houdini generative design for a 3A IP game and delivering human-centered gameplay experience.
2 What made you become/why did you choose to become a digital designer/artist?
I wanted to be a designer in my childhood. I simply enjoy exploring and creating new things. My education back in design school has shaped my design focus on human and constant exposure to creative design from peers and industry experience is the driving force for me to continue on this path.
3 What’s your favorite kind of digital design and why?
I like digital design that
4 To you, what makes a “good” design?
A "good" design would be user-centered and provides unique, novel and meaningful experience.
5 Describe your design style and its main characteristics.
My creative style always starts from "ungroundedness" but gradually ground it to real human interaction with tangible interface. The main characteristics for my creative style or what I care the most are creative design ideas and novel human interaction paradigms.
6 Tell us about your design process.
From my experience, my design process is deeply rooted in everyday life. A design work usually starts with some speculations on existing user experiences (how we interact with the surroundings). Through further exploration and brainstorming, I come up with some ideas for specific audiences and then I craft the design with multimedia/technology. Last but not the least, I will make sure the design is delivered as expected to the audience through some design iterations.
7 Where do you draw inspiration from?
Art gallery, exhibitions and everyday experience.
8 What current trends in digital design (or really anything digital related) are you most excited about?
I
9 Congratulations! As the winner of the 2023 Vega Awards, what does it mean to you and your company and team to receive this award distinction?
It
10 Can you explain a bit about the winning work you entered into the 2023 Vega Awards, and why you chose to enter this project?
SinkInSync presents the design and prototype of a VR-based cross-person EEG neurofeedback platform. This generative VR platform uses one user
11 What was the biggest challenge with this project?
The biggest challenge with this project is the 3D scene design phase. How to embed neuro signals in a visual, artistic way without impairing the frequency functionality of the brainwave is pretty challenging. Also, how to enhance meaningful interaction between pairs through gamification is another interesting yet challenging part of the project.
12 How has winning an Award developed your practice/career?
Winning a professional award means a lot to my career as an independent creative technologist. It provided motivation for me to continue exploring creative design with emerging technology like AI etc. and focus more on inspiring interaction paradigms.
13 What are your top three (3) favorite things about the digital industry?
A-ha moment, dynamism, imagination.
14 Where do you see the evolution of digital industry going over the next 5-10 years?
For me, the evolution of the creative industry is always closely tied with the development of technology and biology. Nowadays we are witnessing an explosion of AI technology and creativity seems to be constantly redefined by technology, so I would see the creative industry and technology are ??closely interlinked and complementary in the coming years.
15 If you were a student entering this industry or an aspiring Vega Award submitter, what advice would you give them?
Check out the fabulous work of others on the website, discover what intrigues you most and figure out your own creative process. Keep iterating and make sure the design is well delivered to the audience.
16 What resources would you recommend to someone who wants to improve their skills in the digital industry?
Checking out resources like new technology, newly published articles and creative work from awards would be helpful.
17 Tell us something you have never told anyone else.
Go with your gut feelings.
18 Who has inspired you in your life and why?
I am always inspired by the talented colleagues in school and from the industry. I like visiting exhibitions, browsing creative design work online, reading articles to get exposed to the inspiring design prompts and new technologies.
19 What is your key to success? Any parting words of wisdom?
I believe interest and passion are the key to success. Always keep the passion for exploring new things and don't hesitate to get your hands dirty!