Meet Yixuan(sonia) Song | UX Interaction Designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Yixuan(sonia) Song and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Yixuan(Sonia), can you tell us more about your background and the role it’s played in shaping who you are today?
I hail from Sichuan, China, a place brimming with vivid colors and spicy flavors that have deeply influenced my approach to design. Sichuan is known for its passionate and diverse cuisine, teaching me the importance of innovation and variety in design. Just like the surprising and delightful flavor combinations in Sichuanese dishes, I strive to break the mold and create captivating user experiences in my work.

Living and working in the United States has blended this Sichuanese zest with Western pragmatism and simplicity. From the brisk cold of Minnesota to the bustling pace of New York, and the innovative spirit of California, each place has added new chapters to my design narrative. This cross-cultural life experience enables me to craft products that are both globally appealing and rich with local character.

In my designs, you can see the convergence of Sichuan’s vibrancy with American functionality, like tasting the perfect balance of spicy, sweet, sour, and numbing flavors in a well-prepared dish. I enjoy incorporating unexpected elements into my design, much like a surprising chili pepper in a Sichuan dish, bringing freshness and excitement to the user experience.

This background makes me more than just a designer; I am a cultural bridge, exploring how to weave complex cultural details and psychological insights into user experiences, making every interface not just a tool but a canvas for storytelling.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Navigating the world of UX design with a background in psychology is a bit like being a mind reader at a tech carnival—always trying to figure out what the user is thinking and occasionally dazzling them with delightful surprises. My journey started in the realm of psychology, where I learned all about the quirks of human behavior. Naturally, I decided to put that knowledge to use where it counts: making sure people can use their apps without pulling their hair out.

Transitioning from psychology to UX design was less of a leap and more of a well-planned trip over a very short fence. Every day, I apply those brainy insights to make tech feel less like rocket science and more like a pleasant conversation. It’s all about empathy, right? Well, that and making sure the buttons aren’t too small for human fingers!

My career has been a mixed bag of roles—think of it as a Swiss Army knife, but instead of a corkscrew and a tiny unusable saw, it’s filled with design tools and psychological theories. Whether I was doodling away as an illustrator or hacking through the digital jungle of user interfaces, the goal was always to keep things intuitive, engaging, and, let’s be honest, pretty enough to show off on a big screen.

The path hasn’t always been smooth—designing for diverse users is like hosting a massive dinner party with one dish that has to please everyone from your spice-loving aunt to your friend who thinks mayonnaise is too exotic. It’s a challenge, but hey, who doesn’t love a good puzzle?

Here’s what I want the world to know: my brand is about making technology approachable, sometimes with a dash of humor and always with a heap of understanding. I’m here not just to create user-friendly designs but to make the experience enjoyable. Why shouldn’t your daily interaction with technology be as pleasant as binge-watching your favorite series?

In the end, my professional life is about blending the art of psychology with the science of design. I’m on a mission to make the digital world a little less daunting and a lot more fun—one user experience at a time. So, let’s keep the tech talk simple and the user interfaces exciting, because at the heart of it, I’m just a psychologist turned designer who believes that a good laugh might just be the best UX of all.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
In the heart of the Bay Area, nestled like a hidden gem, is Foster City, where the bridge isn’t just a bridge, and the parks are anything but ordinary. Here, the bridge serves as a grand stage where the sun performs its daily spectacles, painting the sky with strokes of oranges and pinks that even Van Gogh might envy. It’s a place where runners zip by with wind-whipped hair and cyclists pedal leisurely, all while ducks below audition for the best synchronized swimming team.

Crossing the bridge feels like stepping into a postcard, where every view deserves a frame. On one side, you’ve got the reflection of the cityscape in the calm waters, making you wonder if you’re seeing double, and on the other, the distant hills whisper for you to come explore. It’s here I often pause, not because I’m out of breath, but to let the beauty of it all sink in—or maybe just to catch that perfect selfie light!

Just beyond the bridge lies the parks of Foster City, realms of greenery where trees gossip in the breezes and picnic blankets claim their territories early. These parks throw the best nature parties, inviting everyone from kite flyers to yoga practitioners. You might see a birthday bash happening under a pavilion or a couple of dogs having the time of their lives, turning a simple walk into an obstacle course for their humans.

In Foster City, the bridge and parks are my playgrounds, my think tanks, and my escape from the digital world. Whether I’m dodging enthusiastic toddlers on scooters or finding solace on a quiet bench by the water, these places always remind me why living in the Bay Area is just so darn delightful. Here, every visit feels like a mini vacation where the entry fee is just a smile and a willingness to enjoy the simple joys of life.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
For my shoutout, I’d like to dedicate a big thank you to my mentors in the UX design field. Their guidance has been instrumental in shaping my career and design philosophy. These mentors, from various stages of my professional journey, provided me not only with technical skills but also with invaluable lessons in empathy, user-centered thinking, and the importance of continual learning and adapting in a fast-evolving field.

Additionally, I must express my gratitude towards the vibrant and supportive design communities I’ve been a part of, both online and in-person. These communities have been a constant source of inspiration, critique, and encouragement, pushing me to refine my craft and expand my understanding of what good design can accomplish.

Finally, a special mention goes to the book “Don’t Make Me Think” by Steve Krug. This book was a turning point early in my career, profoundly influencing how I approach user experience and design simplicity. It helped solidify my belief that effective design is about creating seamless, intuitive products that make life easier, not more complicated, for the user.

Website: https://www.soniasong.com