We, as the Designer Interviews ("DI") had the distinct pleasure and opportunity to interview award-winning, most creative and innovative Ruoyong Hong ("RH").
Ruoyong Hong is an award-winning interaction designer and prototyper with over 8 years of proven track record across diverse domains like automotive, AR/VR, conversational AI, and more. Currently the Lead Design/Senior Interaction Designer at Bosch, Ruoyong spearheads innovative work on autonomous vehicle user experiences by blending multi-modal channels like motion, digital screens, and sensors. His expertise spans building industry-first design guidelines, granted patents for applying AI to product interaction. With a unique background bridging architecture, urban design, and emerging technologies, Ruoyong brings a multidisciplinary perspective to crafting pioneering digital experiences. His award-winning work has been featured globally and demonstrates his passion for merging creativity and technology.
Ruoyong Hong Designs
We are pleased to share with you original and innovative design work by Ruoyong Hong.
Ruoyong Hong Design - Wel AI Personal Email Assistant App
Designer Interview of Ruoyong Hong:
DI: Could you please tell us more about your art and design background? What made you become an artist/designer? Have you always wanted to be a designer?
RH : My journey into design began with my studies in urban and architectural design, where I first encountered how humans interact with the physical world. As digital experiences and applications gained popularity in the early 2010s, I recognized the exciting opportunities within the digital realm. This realization spurred my pursuit of further education and practical experience in interaction and product design. In this field, I have been particularly fascinated by exploring how people might use intelligent products, such as AI or augmented reality. Throughout numerous explorations and projects, my appreciation for design's role in facilitating respectful communication—whether between individuals or between humans and their environments—has deepened. These experiences have solidified my belief in the transformative power of design, especially in emerging digital and intelligent contexts. Consequently, I am fully committed to my path as a designer, driven by the potential to innovate and enhance human interactions within these new environments.
DI: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
RH : My journey into design began with my studies in urban and architectural design, where I first encountered how humans interact with the physical world. As digital experiences and applications gained popularity in the early 2010s, I recognized the exciting opportunities within the digital realm. This realization spurred my pursuit of further education and practical experience in interaction and product design. In this field, I have been particularly fascinated by exploring how people might use intelligent products, such as AI or augmented reality. Throughout numerous explorations and projects, my appreciation for design's role in facilitating respectful communication—whether between individuals or between humans and their environments—has deepened. These experiences have solidified my belief in the transformative power of design, especially in emerging digital and intelligent contexts. Consequently, I am fully committed to my path as a designer, driven by the potential to innovate and enhance human interactions within these new environments.
DI: What is "design" for you?
RH : To me, design is a synthesis of technology and art. It involves translating artistic creativity and interpreting technological logic to create products or services that enhance human interaction and experience. More importantly, I view design as a medium of communication—whether between humans, AI, or the physical world. It's about infusing courtesy and respect into our interactions, making the world a more considerate place. From a personal perspective, design is also a lens through which I understand the world and society. The process of design thinking aids me in gathering information and viewing situations from diverse perspectives. This, in turn, shapes a flexible yet confident worldview and enables me to make a positive impact on my life.
DI: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
RH : As evident from my achievements, I particularly enjoy designing for intelligent products and services. These don't necessarily have to be robots or physical items; they can also encompass interactions and system flows that integrate into daily life, whether at work or within vehicles. The intelligence that AI technology introduces opens up numerous discussions about capabilities akin to human-like intelligence. In designing these systems, it’s crucial to understand the underlying technology as well as the human reactions to it. My approach involves using a human-centric design process in tandem with exploring new principles of intelligent technology. This blend of understanding both the technological and human aspects is what I find most fulfilling and is where I like to focus my design efforts.
DI: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
RH : My favorite design is Wel AI, a personal AI email assistant that leverages cutting-edge large language model (LLM) technology. This design has earned international acclaim, receiving numerous accolades including a prestigious Gold Award at the Indigo Design Awards, Silver Awards at both the Muse and Vega Awards, and a Bronze A’Design Award. These recognitions not only highlight the design quality but also affirm the innovative logic and thought process behind Wel AI. What makes Wel AI particularly significant is its ability to evolve intelligently alongside its users over time, showcasing the potential of future AI products. Witnessing its transformation from a nascent idea, born before the technology was fully available, to a fully realized product with robust technological integration, has been incredibly rewarding. It's thrilling to see how Wel AI has grown and how it continues to shape the landscape of AI-driven products.
DI: What was the first thing you designed for a company?
RH : The first—and ongoing—project I designed for Bosch is a comprehensive L2+ advanced driving assist system (ADAS) design guideline, one of the first of its kind in the industry. For those unfamiliar, L2+ ADAS utilizes AI to autonomously control a vehicle from point to point, with the driver supervising. This system represents a significant leap towards intelligent automotive technology in the coming years. My role in this project was to define how the vehicle should communicate and interact with the driver to ensure a safe, efficient, and satisfying journey. The guidelines have been implemented in real-world vehicles, initially with the Chery brand, with more brands to follow. Thousands of drivers have already benefited from these innovations, and the impact is set to grow. This work fills me with immense pride, knowing it enhances driver safety and experience on a large scale.
DI: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
RH : AI is my favorite technology because it revolutionizes how we interact with products and services. I am deeply involved in this field, constantly expanding my expertise. The more I learn about AI, the more I appreciate its capacity to liberate us from tedious tasks and significantly enhance our capabilities across virtually every conceivable domain. It’s a transformative technology that continually inspires my work.
DI: When do you feel the most creative?
RH : I feel most creative after testing phases, particularly when I observe people interacting with my designs and gather their feedback. It's always enlightening to see unexpected ways in which users engage with what we've created. This feedback sparks a "chemical reaction" of ideas within me, fueled by previous groundwork combined with new insights. This creative surge isn’t just limited to me; my entire team thrives on this dynamic, generating a flurry of innovative ideas.
DI: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
RH : During the design process, I primarily focus on two aspects: the logic of decision-making and innovation. Each design decision is rooted in insights and observations about the target users, leading to logical, well-founded solutions. Innovation is equally crucial; it involves thinking outside the box, often challenging and expanding the conventional boundaries of thought. This approach helps disrupt the status quo and introduces fresh, transformative ideas to the design landscape.
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
RH : When I design, the dominant emotion I feel is nervousness, which I believe is common among designers. This nervousness stems from concerns about whether my decisions and observations are precise and whether they will make a positive impact on the world. Design is a journey of exploring the unknown and finding the right path, where you might encounter anything, good or bad, that can surprise you. This sense of nervousness makes me more careful and respectful towards what I learn and create.
DI: What makes a design successful?
RH : A design is successful when it has a positive impact and the ability to attract followers. A truly successful design not only improves the quality of life but also introduces new concepts for living or working. It should be elegant and replicable, allowing others to adopt and adapt it. With a following, the positive impacts of a design can endure and expand, influencing broader societal or technological trends.
DI: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
RH : Having had the honor of serving as a juror for the International Design Association (IxDA) awards, I approach design evaluation comprehensively. I consider the clarity of the problem framing, the logic behind decision-making, and the impact on society or business. These aspects are equally important and form the basis of my assessment, ensuring a holistic view of the design’s effectiveness and relevance.
DI: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
RH : The design field is rapidly evolving with the integration of AI, shaping both how we design with AI and how we design for AI. As AI transforms nearly every facet of our lives, it challenges us to redefine our targets and reconsider how we coexist with this powerful new tool. AI will inevitably automate many repetitive and some explorative tasks, placing a higher value on the uniquely human aspects of design. This shift demands that we deeply consider what these human elements are and how we can accentuate them in our work.
DI: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
RH : My inspiration largely comes from engaging directly with the real world—observing and conversing with people from all walks of life. Each person's unique story and perspective fuel my creativity. I am particularly fascinated by the everyday creativity of non-designers, which provides an endless stream of inspiration. This approach helps me stay grounded and continually refreshes my creative outlook.
DI: How would you describe your design style? What made you explore more this style and what are the main characteristics of your style? What's your approach to design?
RH : My design style is respectful and logical. I view design as a medium for communication, aiming to create a world that fosters respect not only among individuals but also between humanity and the environment. This philosophy has deeply influenced my design approach, steering me towards solutions that prioritize clarity, function, and ethical considerations. I'm continually exploring how design can play a significant role in achieving this vision, shaping my style in a way that perhaps even affects it unconsciously.
DI: What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
RH : Companies should seek designers who are inherently curious about the world and maintain this curiosity in their daily work. This quality is vital because it drives designers to constantly seek new ideas and solutions, keeping their work innovative and relevant. When selecting a designer, look for evidence of this curiosity in their portfolio and through their problem-solving approach during the interview process.
DI: Can you talk a little about your design process?
RH : My design process is structured around four main steps: observe and understand, ideation, testing, and iteration. Initially, I focus on observing the problem and understanding the target audience to grasp the core of what needs to be addressed. This leads to the ideation phase, where I encourage a free flow of ideas without self-imposed restrictions to broaden the scope of potential solutions. Testing these ideas allows for gathering insights and refining them, which then feeds into the iteration phase. Here, I refine and improve the concepts based on feedback, repeating the process until achieving a highly polished outcome.
DI: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
RH : "Think through making." I encourage young designers to actively use their hands and engage in creating as a way of thinking. Building models, sketching, and prototyping can lead to insights that abstract thinking alone might not reveal. This hands-on approach can accelerate learning and lead to more innovative solutions.
DI: What skills are most important for a designer?
RH : The most crucial skill for a designer is the ability to remain curious about the real world and to observe it keenly. This skill is foundational because it allows designers to draw unlimited inspiration from their surroundings. As our professional landscape evolves, maintaining this curiosity and observational ability will enable designers to adapt and innovate continually.