Luke Li

This is Luke Li, otherwise known as lukeiscrazyman. I am an idea person and an Art Director who is passionate about creating unique experiences. I currently work at IKEA Creative Hub, the in-house communications agency for the IKEA Group.

10 questions for Luke Li:

• What did you do before becoming a designer?

  I majored in interior design for my bachelor degree as I have always been very interested in architecture. Creating unique experiences has always been my focus, which made it easier for me to transition into becoming a digital creative.

• Where do you turn for inspiration?

  I love to walk around New York City with my music on. There is always something going on here, people from all over the world bring different cultures, all those everyday elements truly feed my imagination and become my inspiration. That is something you really cannot get from the Internet.

• Which are your favorite studios, designers or agencies?

  I definitely value people who can create beautiful, meaningful things. I particularly like what Grow, Party, Fantasy Interactive, B-reel and Random Studio do . However, I think right now great things are not just coming from studios, designers or agencies anymore. Brands and startups are becoming more creative and I try to keep an eye on what cutting edge brands like G-star and airbnb do.

• Is your city a good place for designers?

  New York City is definitely one of the best places for designers. People here always keep up with the latest trends, and they strive to stay at the top regarding innovation. The competition is so intense! That is a great drive for designers like me.

• Which technologies are you excited about in 2015?

  Smart (watches, locks, glasses, lights, etc.), mobile and anything that tries to improve our life and daily needs.

• Do you listen to music while you work? Describe your playlist.

  It depends on the kind of work I am focusing on at that time. Jazz music helps my thinking flow, whereas Latin music makes me really productive.

• What are you cultural influences? (Music, books, films, ideologies, etc.)

  Frame magazine, Urban Code (100 Lessons for Understanding the City).

• Have you got an academic background or are you self taught?

  I learnt interior design and advertising at school, but I really developed my design skills by seeing cool design everyday and getting insightful advice from experienced designers.

• What do you do in your free time?

  I like walking around the city and seeking out interesting elements over the weekend or whenever I have some free time.

  I also enjoy taking photos and being outdoors as much as possible to get some fresh air and to energize myself.

• Where do you see the industry in 5 years?

  We are in the time that everything can happen, it really depends on what we can imagine. For me, making digital experience into real world is going to be a big thing. For example, Philip hue and Nest. Soon, it might be a smart car or Time Square billboards. In that case, everything can be a browser or device.

• Are you working on any personal projects?

  I have a project that I hopefully can turn into an art show. It is about bringing simple online behavior such as clicking or browsing to real life.

• If you could give one piece of advice to newbie designers, what would it be?

  Know yourself well, and be yourself.