My trip to China had a big impact on how I see design. I visited Shanghai, Chengdu and Chongqing. Although they are all part of the same country, each city had a completely different environment and character. The architecture, transport, food and everyday life all changed from one place to another. It showed me how much culture and environment can influence the way people design and interact with the world around them.
One of the biggest things I noticed was how different everyday design can feel compared to what I have experienced in Ireland. This was not limited to products or architecture. It appeared in things as simple as paying for something, using public transport or navigating a website. The way these systems were designed often reflected different priorities and ways of thinking about convenience and interaction. Seeing this in person made me realise that there is no single way to approach design. What works naturally in one culture may feel completely different in another.
I also had the opportunity to visit Mount Emei in the Sichuan province. Seeing the gilded Samantabhadra statue at the Golden Summit was one of the most memorable parts of the trip. The scale, detail and complexity of it were incredible. It did not feel like something that had been simplified to fit a modern aesthetic. It felt deeply connected to its history and surroundings. Standing there was a very different experience from simply looking at an image of it online. It showed me how design can create a sense of place, identity and emotion as well as serve a practical purpose.
The trip has made me more aware of how much culture influences design. It has also made me more interested in looking outside of the design approaches I already know. Experiencing these differences first-hand has changed how I think about the people, environments and cultures that design is ultimately created for.