Interview
Xin Wei
1 Congratulations on winning the French Design Awards! Can you introduce yourself and share about what inspired you to pursue design as a career?
Thank you very much. My name is Xin Wei, and I am a user experience and interaction designer, as well as a design educator and researcher. Over the past decade, I have worked at leading technology companies such as Alibaba Group and DiDi Global, designing large-scale digital products used by millions of people in everyday, high-frequency scenarios. Working at this scale reshaped my understanding of design. I realised that design is not only about usability or aesthetics, but also about responsibility—small decisions can influence user behaviour, resource consumption, and daily habits. This awareness gradually led me to focus on human-centred systems with long-term social and environmental impact. SmartWash AI emerged from this mindset. As AI becomes part of everyday life, I wanted to explore how it could support more sustainable living rather than simply improve efficiency. Laundry is a routine household activity with significant water and energy consumption, yet it is often overlooked. SmartWash AI uses AI to adapt to user behaviour, fabric conditions, and environmental factors, helping families reduce waste without adding complexity. At the core of my work is the belief that design should bridge advanced technology and everyday life—making AI calm, supportive, and meaningful in real human contexts.
2 What does being recognised in the French Design Awards mean to you?
Being recognised by the French Design Awards is both an honour and a meaningful affirmation of the approach I take to design. It shows that focusing on human-centred systems, sustainability, and integrating AI into everyday life resonates beyond my immediate community. For me, this recognition is not only a personal milestone but also an opportunity to highlight the potential of thoughtful, responsible design to improve daily life, promote sustainable habits, and inspire other designers to consider long-term social and environmental impact in their work.
3 How has this achievement impacted your career, team, or agency, and what opportunities has it brought so far?
Being recognised by the French Design Awards has had a meaningful impact on my career and our team. The award has increased our visibility within the design community and generated interest in our approach and work. It has also strengthened the confidence and cohesion of our team, reinforcing the value of human-centred and sustainable design. This recognition has opened new opportunities for collaboration with companies, research institutions, and international design platforms, and has also led to invitations for lectures and educational engagements. More importantly, it allows me to further promote the philosophy of responsible design and the integration of AI into sustainable, everyday family life, inspiring other designers and organisations to consider long-term social and environmental impact in their work.
4 What role does experimentation play in your creative process? Can you share an example?
Experimentation is central to my creative process—it allows me to explore ideas beyond assumptions and discover unexpected solutions. For SmartWash AI, we ran multiple prototypes to test how AI could adjust washing cycles based on fabric type, water hardness, and user habits. Some experiments failed, but they revealed subtle interactions and behaviours that ultimately shaped a more intuitive and sustainable design.
5 What's the most unusual source of inspiration you've ever drawn from for a project?
One of the most unusual sources of inspiration came from observing family routines in everyday life. Simple acts like sorting laundry or noticing how clothes wear over time sparked ideas about how AI could support sustainable habits and reduce waste. I realised that meaningful design often emerges from close observation of ordinary, overlooked moments.
6 What’s one thing you wish more people understood about the design process?
I wish more people understood that design is not just about aesthetics—it’s about empathy, systems thinking, and long-term impact. Great design considers how people interact with products over time, the social and environmental effects, and how technology can serve human needs without creating complexity or harm.
7 How do you navigate the balance between meeting client expectations and staying true to your ideas?
I approach this balance by listening carefully to clients’ goals and constraints, then framing my design proposals in a way that highlights long-term value and user benefit. For SmartWash AI, I worked closely with stakeholders to show how sustainable, AI-driven solutions could meet both business and user needs, allowing innovation while aligning with practical requirements.
8 What were the challenges you faced while working on your award-winning design, and how did you overcome them?
One major challenge was integrating AI into a household routine without adding complexity. Users don’t want to manage complicated interfaces for laundry. To overcome this, we conducted extensive user testing, observing real behaviours, and iterated on a simple, predictive, and adaptive interface. This human-centred approach helped balance intelligence with usability.
9 How do you recharge your creativity when you hit a creative block?
When I face a creative block, I step away from screens and immerse myself in everyday life—observing routines, nature, or even mundane household tasks. Sometimes, inspiration comes from the smallest details. I also discuss ideas with my team or students, as dialogue often sparks new perspectives.
10 What personal values or experiences do you infuse into your designs?
I infuse empathy, sustainability, and human-centred thinking into my designs. My experiences observing family life, working on high-scale technology products, and teaching design all inform my belief that technology should serve people responsibly, minimising environmental impact while enhancing daily life.
11 What is an advice that you would you give to aspiring designers aiming for success?
Focus on understanding people, systems, and the context in which your designs exist. Skills are important, but empathy and long-term thinking distinguish good designers. Always consider the broader impact of your work—social, environmental, and emotional.
12 If you could collaborate with any designer, past or present, who would it be and why?
I would love to collaborate with Dieter Rams. His philosophy of “less, but better” and emphasis on responsibility in design resonates deeply with my work. His approach to simplicity, clarity, and sustainability continues to inspire how I integrate AI into everyday life responsibly.
13 What's one question you wish people would ask you about your work, and what's your answer?
I wish people would ask: “How does your design improve everyday life beyond aesthetics?” My answer is that SmartWash AI aims to seamlessly integrate advanced technology into daily routines, reducing waste, energy use, and cognitive load, while supporting mindful and sustainable living. Design, to me, is about meaningful impact, not just appearance.
