{"id":41068,"date":"2025-07-17T08:10:00","date_gmt":"2025-07-17T08:10:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/muse.international\/?p=41068"},"modified":"2025-07-17T15:14:43","modified_gmt":"2025-07-17T15:14:43","slug":"in-conversation-with-maomao-ding-the-vision-and-culture-behind-traces","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/muse.international\/index\/in-conversation-with-maomao-ding-the-vision-and-culture-behind-traces\/","title":{"rendered":"In Conversation with Maomao Ding: The Vision and Culture Behind Traces"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Maomao Ding is a UX\/UI and visual designer passionate about culture, identity, and connection. She combines thoughtful research with storytelling to create designs that preserve memory and inspire meaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q1. Congratulations on winning the MUSE Design Awards! Can you introduce yourself and share about what inspired you to pursue design as a career?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thank you. I\u2019m a UX\/UI and visual designer with a background in Human-Centered Design and Communications Design. My work blends research, storytelling, and interaction with a strong visual foundation. I\u2019ve worked across startups, agencies, NGOs, and tech, but I\u2019ve always been drawn to projects that focus on culture, identity, and connection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My design journey started from a place of curiosity\u2014wanting to understand how people experience the world, and how design can help preserve those experiences. That curiosity has shaped how I think about design\u2014not just as a tool for problem-solving, but as a way of holding memory and meaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q2. What does being recognized in the MUSE Design Awards mean to you?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Traces is a project that feels deeply meaningful to me. It was created to bring visibility to the Miao ethnic group in China, whose culture, language, and traditions are at risk of being forgotten. I submitted this work because I wanted to share their story on a larger platform.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Winning this award is a recognition not only of the design itself, but also of the care and research that went into it. Personally, it encourages me to continue creating work that reflects cultural narratives. Professionally, it affirms that thoughtful, research-driven storytelling still holds a strong place in the design world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q3. Can you share the story behind your success? What inspired its creation, and what do you feel it represents in today\u2019s industry?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The idea for Traces came from the phrase \u201ceverything that disappears leaves a trace.\u201d I was drawn to the richness of the Miao people’s culture, including their traditional dress, patterns, head decorations, and colors, but I also realized how little visibility their heritage has today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I wanted to design something that not only preserved their history but also made it interactive and accessible to a modern audience. In today’s industry, where speed and surface-level trends often take priority, I think this project represents the importance of slowing down, doing deep research, and designing with care and intention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q4. What role does experimentation play in your creative process? Can you share an example?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What set Traces apart was its layered storytelling and attention to cultural detail. It wasn\u2019t just a visual design project; it was a piece of interactive publishing that invited readers to experience a disappearing culture through texture, interactivity, and history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I focused on using visual language in a respectful, research-informed way, bringing in authentic patterns, symbols, and design structures from the Miao tradition without turning them into decoration. That level of sensitivity and research, combined with a strong visual execution, gave the project depth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q5. What’s the most unusual source of inspiration you’ve ever drawn from for a project?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The biggest challenge was making sure the representation was accurate and respectful. I didn\u2019t want to make assumptions or simplify anything for aesthetic purposes. I spent a lot of time in the research phase, reading ethnographic studies, reviewing traditional garments and artifacts, and reaching out to individuals familiar with Miao heritage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The more I learned, the more the design evolved. It was important to let the research lead rather than force a concept that wasn\u2019t grounded in reality. That approach helped the project grow into something much more thoughtful and layered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

concepts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Winning Entry <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Traces<\/a><\/h6>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Explore the journey of Zitong Zhao<\/a>, the Silver Winner of the 2025 MUSE Creative Awards. She\u2019s a Brooklyn-based graphic designer inspired by everyday moments, who found her passion at VOGUE China and sharpened her skills through diverse creative projects.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Maomao Ding is a UX\/UI and visual designer passionate about culture, identity, and connection. 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