We interviewed the theme graphic designer Yixin Cai about her work designing the art for this year’s theme Realities and Futures.
Yixin recently graduated with an MA in Graphic Design Communication from Camberwell College of Arts, University of the Arts London. She also has a Bachelor’s in Industrial Design from Sichuan University in China.
Q&A
Why do you want to be a designer? What challenges you about design? What inspires you?
One reason is that I am a person who is eager to express and communicate, focusing on design is better than being garrulous. I am obsessed with building visual systems to solve various practical problems, which is my inspiration and the challenge I am facing at the same time, as one system should be sustainable, evolving, and inclusive.
What inspired you about this project?
I got inspired by this year’s theme that to explore a world where online and offline teaching and learning are fluid, which makes the whole digital education to be more inclusive. I like the word ‘fluid’ as it obtains a sense of endless possibilities, directions, and paths in the future.
How did you incorporate the theme into the design?
The shapes of windows are applied a lot in this visual design, and they represent the breakthrough between digital and physical spaces. Colourful balls shuttling back and forth across those windows are like the global participants for this year’s conference – gathering, communicating, and exploring.
How did you use the mood board into your design?
The mood board offers a lot of splendid examples of shapes and colours. As this year’s conference is held by UAL, I took the structures from London’s local architecture/art centres as references to finish more details in this project.
How did you select the colour palette?
Accessibility is the first thing to consider when it comes to colour selections. As DEL emphasises learning inclusivity, a strongly contrasting colour palette is used. I also want to use the colour palette to convey the energetic and enthusiastic sides of DEL and the educational industry.