Hi, I'm Huali Qu, an industrial designer passionate about turning complex requirements into tangible products. With over four years of experience across consulting, corporate, and freelance settings, I specialize in translating ideas into manufacturable hardware systems and compelling product stories. I love collaborating across engineering, manufacturing, and marketing teams to solve usability and aesthetic challenges, and I focus on system-level thinking, visual storytelling, and cross-functional communication to drive designs from concept to production.

Huali Qu

Hi, I'm Huali Qu, an industrial designer passionate about turning complex requirements into tangible products. With over four years of experience across consulting, corporate, and freelance settings, I specialize in translating ideas into manufacturable hardware systems and compelling product stories. I love collaborating across engineering, manufacturing, and marketing teams to solve usability and aesthetic challenges, and I focus on system-level thinking, visual storytelling, and cross-functional communication to drive designs from concept to production.

Available to hire

Hi, I’m Huali Qu, an industrial designer passionate about turning complex requirements into tangible products. With over four years of experience across consulting, corporate, and freelance settings, I specialize in translating ideas into manufacturable hardware systems and compelling product stories.

I love collaborating across engineering, manufacturing, and marketing teams to solve usability and aesthetic challenges, and I focus on system-level thinking, visual storytelling, and cross-functional communication to drive designs from concept to production.

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Language

English
Fluent
Chinese
Fluent

Work Experience

Product Design Director at Elite Lighting
May 1, 2022 - Present
Led design development across multiple consumer-facing architectural lighting products, translating concept direction into production-ready outcomes. Collaborated cross-functionally with engineering, manufacturing, and marketing to resolve usability, aesthetic, and technical challenges in ambiguous, fast-moving environments. Created visualizations and communication tools to clarify product behavior, application scenarios, and system logic. Contributed to smart robotics and digital-experience initiatives (UI/UX and flagship spatial experiences) shaping the broader physical-digital product ecosystem.
Industrial Designer at Frog Design
March 31, 2020 - September 15, 2020
Contributed to an AI-enabled robotics product program for YIGOLI at frog Design, supporting product visualization, hardware refinement, UI/UX collaboration, and post-launch design iteration. Worked with engineering teams to address sensor integration, product identity, usability, and system-level physical-digital experience.
Freelance Designer at Self-Employed / Freelance
January 1, 2020 - December 31, 2025
Delivered freelance work across product visualization, digital experiences, and brand communication for startups and creative teams. Created renderings, visual systems, and communication assets to clarify concepts, user experiences, and product direction.

Education

B.S. in Product Design with Honors at ArtCenter College of Design
January 1, 2018 - December 31, 2021
Majored in Product Design
B.S. in Industrial Design at Dalian University of Technology
January 1, 2013 - December 31, 2017
Study Abroad Program in Industrial Design at Monash University
January 1, 2016 - January 1, 2016

Qualifications

FIT Sport Design Awards Winner
January 1, 2024 - January 1, 2024
Sport Equipment Design / E-sport & Application
International Design Awards (IDA) | Gold Prize
May 5, 2023 - May 5, 2023
Multimedia-Mobile / Web Application Design
FIT Sport Design Awards | Emerging Sport Apparel Designer of the Year
May 5, 2024 - May 5, 2024
Indigo Design Award | Silver
May 5, 2026 - May 5, 2026
Apps for Social Change
Indigo Design Award | Silver
May 5, 2024 - May 5, 2024
Product or Gadget Design for Social Change
European Product Design Award (EPDA) | Winner
May 5, 2026 - May 5, 2026
Sustainable: Outdoor Products
NY Product Design Awards | Silver
May 5, 2026 - May 5, 2026
Sports Equipment - Water Sports
International Design Awards (IDA) | Silver Prize
May 5, 2026 - May 5, 2026
Personal-Personal Hobby and Leisure

Industry Experience

Manufacturing, Consumer Goods, Media & Entertainment, Professional Services, Retail, Other, Education, Computers & Electronics, Non-Profit Organization, Transportation & Logistics
    paper MADEFROMMANY

    MADEFROMMANY is a jewelry design project exploring the creative potential of recycled plastic. Made entirely from 100% recycled plastic, the project transforms discarded material into contemporary jewelry pieces through a circular production approach. As a freelance designer, I developed the project from initial sketches to final 3D modeling.

    Project Link: https://www.twine.net/signin

    paper Sparks

    Sparks is a platform to launch or join into street fitness events to gather people into communities based on their fitness hobbies and start fitness anytime, anywhere, in any form.

    The platform will provide all needed services: publish events for the sponsor, gather people who are interested in, rent needed props, document the process and send back videos and photos.

    Recognized by multiple international design awards, including IDA Gold Prize, FIT Sport Design Awards, Indigo Design Award, and European Product Design Award.

    Project Link: https://www.twine.net/signin

    paper Alpha Smart Car Washer

    Alpha is an AI-powered autonomous car wash system designed to automate vehicle cleaning and enable a fully unattended service experience at scale.

    I developed high-fidelity visualizations for the Alpha system, which were used as primary assets for the product launch and widely distributed across media coverage.

    I contributed to the ongoing development of the system, including design exploration for the car wash unit, the A1 Plus drying robot, and support for UI/UX and spatial experience in the first flagship location.

    Project Link: https://www.twine.net/signin

    paper Groove

    Groove is a modular architectural lighting system designed for flexible configurations across ceilings, walls, and suspended environments.

    I led the end-to-end redevelopment of a 48V lighting system that had failed in an earlier launch before I joined, taking ownership of product architecture, system definition, and cross-functional execution.

    ‍I transformed an unstructured product into a scalable platform by defining product logic, establishing the part-numbering and specification framework, and aligning engineering, manufacturing, and communication into a unified system.

    I led and executed all product-facing outputs, including renderings, exhibition booths, marketing materials, and training content.

    The system remains in active use, and I continue to support it as a product specialist across internal teams and clients.

    Project Link: https://www.twine.net/signin

    paper Going Back to the Ocean

    “Going Back to the Ocean” is an award-winning sustainable product system that rethinks snorkeling equipment through material innovation, circular design strategy, and LCA-informed decision-making.

    The project was recognized by the FIT Sport Design Awards, European Product Design Award, NY Product Design Awards, Indigo Design Award, and International Design Awards.

    Full project: https://www.twine.net/signin