Liya Yan
CT460 Brand Experience Design Portfolio
Design is empathy with a deadline.
I notice things. Always have. The small stuff, the quiet details, the moments that don't ask for your attention but somehow get it anyway. I think that's why I ended up in product design, I genuinely can't stop wondering why things feel the way they do. I care more about the 11 PM version of a user than the 9 AM one. The tired one. The one who just needs it to work without thinking. That's who I design for.
And when I'm not designing, I'm probably sitting with my cat doing absolutely nothing, which sounds like wasted time but it's not. Cats will ignore anything that doesn't feel right. Turns out that's a pretty good design standard.
Design comes from experience.
I’m always trying to do something new because I believe the best ideas come from fresh perspectives. I like to travel and spend time in nature, where I find a sense of calm and clarity that helps me reset how I think and create.I’m also inspired by people and their stories. Listening to different perspectives constantly shapes how I see the world and how I approach design with more curiosity, empathy, and openness.
For me, design is not just about visuals, but about translating everyday experiences into something meaningful and thoughtful.
Experience and Affiliations
Contract AI Video Editor @ Kangbino LLc 12/2025 - 01/2026
Animate storyboard characters using Midjourney and add an AI-generated voiceover to the animation.
Contract Graphic Designer @ i2websolutions, 10/2025 - 11/2025
Produced print and editorial designs for cohesive branding.
UI UX Design Intern @ i2websolutions, 02/2025 - 05/2025
Designed mobile and web wireframes and developed logos and visual identity assets for branding projects.
Recognitions
Dean’s List @ Fashion Institute of Technology, 2023 - 2025
CT&D Scholarship Competition 2025
Product Design. Runner-up
Young Ones ADC 2025
Interactive: Craft Online / Mobile Apps - Art Direction. Shortlist
The One Show Young Ones 2026
Coca Cola Social Media. Shortlist