Vice President of Design, fuseproject
Qin Li, IDSA, is vice president of design at fuseproject, an integrated design studio founded by Yves Behar, IDSA, in 1999. Originally from China, Li studied fine art from childhood, receiving her bachelor’s degree in industrial design from Guangzhou Academy of Fine Art. During her studies in industrial and graphic design, she worked at one of the top design consultancies in China—Jimei Design.
In 2001, Li moved to San Francisco and earned her MID at the Academy of Art University (AAU) while working at LUNAR. She joined fuseproject in 2004. Li has worked on a breadth of designs for wearable tech, furniture, artificial intelligence, robotics, interiors, healthcare, amongst others—and led development of such projects as the Movado EDGE, Herman Miller PUBLIC OFFICE LANDSCAPE + SAYL Chair, Jawbone, Happiest Baby SNOO, Intuition Robotic ElliQ and Superflex, in addition to projects with Samsung, MIT Media Lab and Intel.
Li oversees the entire design process from ideation through production, working across disciplines to create integrated design experiences through product, brand and digital platforms. Her work has been honored with dozens of international awards, including Design of the Decade for Mini JAMBOX. She is as an appointed study advisor for the MFA program at AAU and adjunct professor at California College of the Arts (CCA).
Li has served as a juror in several global design competitions. She has been at-large director (IDEA) on IDSA's Board of Directors since October 2016, contributing her unique perspective and vision as a woman in design and leader at fuseproject. She is leading the effort to redefine the International Design Excellence Awards (IDEA) by restructuring and creating new categories, and refining judging criteria. At IDSA’s International Design Conference 2017, Li unveiled the IDEA rebranding and trophy design by fuseproject.
Statement of Candidacy
I’m grateful to have the opportunity to work with IDSA to improve the IDEA brand and award experience in the past one-and-a-half years. IDSA, IDEA and INNOVATION magazine have been a source of great inspiration throughout my career as an industrial designer in China and the United States. When I was in China as a student, while the internet of design information was still spotted, I learned about all the great designs outside of China mostly through INNOVATION magazine and its Yearbook of Design Excellence.
IDSA has been a great organization and social network to support young designers to grow—not just in the United States—but worldwide. Regardless of your country or design approach, IDSA is the best resource for supporting professionals in growing their network and design knowledge, in keeping us aware of design news and the design industry through IDSA’s conference and online platform and for recognition of design achievement through IDEA and INNOVATION. IDSA has been with me and supporting me throughout my career. It would be a privilege now for me to continue to give back to IDSA.
As chair-elect of the Board of Directors, I would apply my design thinking to anchor the brand experience across IDSA. This can be done by bringing together the full Board of Directors to support the organization in continuing to grow IDEA, our membership, conferences and website; to help IDSA grow its support of the greater design community to achieve more expansive worldwide impact, and to continue to excite and invite the next generation of young designers. I believe IDSA is not just a supportive organization, but truly a central hub of creativity, where you can be connected with the best creative minds and creative sources; where you can find inspiration and guidance to learn and grow in different stages of your career, and where you can find your voice within the creative industry. I want to close the gap between the larger organization and each individual designer, so that IDSA can be a part of daily life for every industrial designer.
Statement of Candidacy
Qin Li, IDSA, has served as an at-large director on IDSA’s Board of Directors since 2016, primarily focused on IDSA’s International Design Excellence Awards (IDEA), one of the world’s most rigorous and prestigious design competitions, marking its 37th year in 2017. Li is responsible for developing strategic recommendations on IDEA’s brand recognition, inclusivity and outreach to the design community and beyond, as well as amplifying global exposure for winners.
Since joining IDSA as an at-large director in October 2016, Li has contributed her unique perspective and vision as a woman in design and a leader at the multi-disciplinary studio, fuseproject. She is spearheading the effort to redefine IDEA by restructuring and creating new categories and refining judging criteria for the 2017 season. Over the next two years, Li would push for IDEA to be revamped, elevating the IDEA brand globally and promoting a mentality that reflects the forward-thinking nature of design.
“I am excited and honored to extend my contributions on the IDSA Board,” Li says. “IDSA, IDEA and INNOVATION magazine have been a source of great inspiration throughout my career as an industrial designer in China and the United States. I look forward to helping IDSA grow its support of the design community to achieve a more expansive worldwide impact.”
