Ariana Ziying Zhu Talks Designing the Future of Safari Tours

Hi, I’m Ariana Zhu, a product designer passionate about creating thoughtful, user-centered digital experiences. My journey into design began with a fascination for how people think, feel, and interact with the world, which led me to study cognitive science and visual arts.

I was especially drawn to UX when I realized it offered a unique way to blend logic, empathy, and creativity to solve meaningful problems. For me, design is more than aesthetics—it’s about improving lives through intentional and inclusive solutions.

This recognition is deeply meaningful — it not only validates the hard work and thinking behind the project but also energizes me to keep pushing boundaries. Being part of a global community of innovative designers is incredibly motivating and affirms that thoughtful design truly resonates.

Winning this award has strengthened my confidence and visibility as a designer. It’s opened up conversations with other creatives and product design professionals and served as a milestone for my team, who supported and inspired me throughout the process.

Experimentation is fundamental to my creative process — especially when designing for complex or emerging technologies where conventions aren’t well-established. A great example is when I worked on the navigation bar for a rider-focused auto HMI system used in self-driving tours at safari parks.

Unlike traditional mobile or desktop interfaces, HMI systems — especially those meant for passengers rather than drivers — lack standardized design patterns. Our initial competitive analysis revealed that navigation bars varied widely across companies, and none quite fit our unique use case.

During early design critiques, each teammate brought strong yet differing ideas to the table, and we found ourselves stuck — all with valid reasoning but no clear alignment. To resolve this, I quickly recruited 20+ participants and ran a card sorting study within a day.

This allowed us to understand users’ mental models and expectations around key features like tour progress, animal spotlights, and media controls. The results directly influenced the final information architecture and interaction flow of the nav bar.

Managing a rock band was surprisingly one of the most formative design experiences I’ve had — even before I knew what UX design was. From coordinating rehearsals and arranging setlists to handling last-minute tech issues before a performance, I had to constantly think in systems: how every small part contributes to the whole, how timing affects flow, and how to keep everyone aligned toward a shared goal.

That experience gave me a deep appreciation for complexity — and now, I bring that mindset into every project I work on. Whether I’m structuring a design system, mapping a user journey, or facilitating team collaboration, I’m always thinking about how the pieces fit together. Design isn’t just about making things look good — it’s about making things work well across moving parts.

Design isn’t magic — it’s a deliberate process that requires research, iteration, and constant feedback. Good design comes from deeply understanding the user, not just making something look pretty. It’s strategic and collaborative.

I always start by understanding the “why” behind client needs, then find creative ways to align those with user goals. Clear communication, visual storytelling, and prototypes help bridge the gap. It’s all about showing rather than just telling—and being open to evolving ideas through collaboration.

One of the biggest challenges in this project was navigating alignment in a fast-paced, collaborative team — especially around when to diverge and explore broadly, and when to converge and make decisions.

Right after we conducted our initial user interviews, one teammate jumped straight into listing out potential product features based on what users had said. While this seemed efficient on the surface, it bypassed a critical step: understanding the deeper needs and motivations behind those responses.

Especially in a complex and unfamiliar context like a self-driving tour experience, users don’t always know how to articulate what they truly need — they often describe surface-level wants or existing habits, which can limit innovation if taken at face value.

I suggested we take a step back and map out shared high-level needs across users first, digging into the why behind their responses. Then, we brainstormed features that addressed those core needs, and only afterward did we revisit the original suggestions from users. This reframing helped the team prioritize ideas that were more meaningful and aligned with the user journey — rather than just rushing to scope features.

That experience taught me that aligning on when to diverge and when to converge is just as important as the ideas themselves — and in complex projects, trusting the process often leads to better outcomes.

I step away from the screen. Sometimes it’s photography walks, songwriting, or even organizing my physical space that clears my mind. I also find that talking with other designers often gives me new ideas.

Empathy and curiosity guide everything I do. Growing up between cultures has made me deeply aware of inclusion and communication challenges — and that drives me to design with accessibility and clarity in mind. I’m also a believer in the power of iteration — that even small tweaks can make a big impact.

Stay curious. Ask questions, test ideas, and seek feedback often. Don’t be afraid to fail early and learn quickly. Build a strong foundation in user research, and never stop improving your craft. Most importantly, believe in the value you bring — your perspective matters.

I’d love to collaborate with Jason Yuan. His work blends storytelling, systems thinking, and visual craft in such a thoughtful way. I’ve always admired how he challenges conventional tech design by reimagining interfaces through a deeply human lens.

His approach to prototyping and critique feels honest and inspiring, and I think working with someone who’s so intentional yet imaginative would spark really meaningful design conversations. Plus, I resonate with his interdisciplinary mindset and the way he bridges design, writing, and cultural commentary.

I wish people would ask me how would I define success in design?

To that, I would say that, success isn’t just about shipping something that works — it’s about knowing the design made someone’s life a little easier, calmer, or more enjoyable. It’s when a user feels understood without needing to think too hard.

At the same time, I care about making sure the design supports the bigger picture — whether that’s helping a team move faster or aligning with business goals. And beyond all that, I want the work I do to feel human — to respect people’s time, attention, and needs in a way that adds something meaningful, even in small moments.