UX Designer & Artist

I was born in Shanghai.
My mother has often said, ‘If the Cultural Revolution
had never happened, today I would have probably been a
good designer or art teacher.’
I hope to encourage the opposite of that revolution,
so that society is uplifted and rewarded by
culture and creativity.

My name is Ling. During my time in Italy, I took "Ai ling" (pinyin: Ai-lin) as my pen name, figuratively, "a harmonious sound" which in 2008, I used for receiving the honour as the first prize from ’Inside Technology’ by Accenture and Microsoft, my painting exhibition, and in 2007, I published my story ‘Il sentiero' (the path) in Italy. 

I am a creative person with lots of motivations. I have been an award-winning web UI/UX designer for 13+ years in digital industry between China, the United States, Italy and the UK, specialising in Web usability and accessibility and new media concept solutions, on over 100 projects. In all my studies and work, including currently the Principal UI-UX Visual Conceptual Designer - responsible for all things about Digital and Mobile visual products, include E-learning and online shop at Deloitte | Digital (UK) in London; ran my own profitable design company Studio Cai in Trentino and completed my master’s internship for la Repubblica as a WebTV concept designer in Rome, I am very motivated to reach goals, and empathetic towards others ~ as well as an effective researcher and problem solver with a keen eye for efficient budgeting, quality, and timeline constraints. My earliest jobs were the Web Graphic Designer at Naisa Inc. San Francisco and an Art teacher in Shanghai.

I am expert in the major 2D/3D design/develop disciplines, include Web & Mobile App UI/UX Design, Online TV Usability & Accessibility, Logo & Graphic Developments, Portal Maintenance, Google Search Engine Optimisation, and Digital Production Strategies. In addition to my professional knowledge and skills, and recognised as an author member of PWI Italian Web Awards (2009), I have also gained experience in dealing with clients from a wide range of industries.




MY CORE COMPETENCIES

- Graphic Design Develop
- Web & Mobile App. UI/UX Design Develop
- Interactive Multimedia Design Develop

- Online Media Creative Concepts
- Digital Project Management
- Responsible team player

- Attention to Detail
- Chain Analysis
- Marketing Initiatives
- Client Relations
- Quality Assurance

While continuing to work in the digital design industry, I have always enjoyed keeping my skills up-to-date. My highest education is the master’s degree Multimedia engineering (full marks) from the University of Florence (2008-2009) with the thesis on ‘How multimedia shapes global media communication - La Repubblica Radio TV case studies’. I have also received offers to study MA in Digital Culture & Technology / Culture, Media & Creative Industries, and a possible opportunity for PhD studies in the area of Digital Assent Management both from King's College London during my time at UCL.

Overall, my passion is to imagine a life of love and beauty. My goal is to use digital media to bring people closer together. I aim to increase cross-cultural understanding - people feel happy through my creative art & design works. My ambition is to use my imagination, skills, and inspiration to create engaging tools and interfaces users find elegant and pleasure to use.

Having discovered many differences between the creative industries in Italy and my native China, I am now focusing on concepts concerning the relationship between users and digital technology, include understanding web TV usability and accessibility issues for disabled and elderly users in order to facilitate its use by everyone.

In my spare time, I enjoy getting to know new people ~ as well as cooking and gardening; I also involved in volunteer work (www.assamicispagnolli.org), writing poetry (www.goodmorning-italy.com), and learning languages, knowing Chinese, Italian and English; I am deeply fascinated by the relationship between design, technology and culture, spending 10 years in Italy, and lately in New York and London.

My latest Awards & Accolades (+)
• 2009 Video clip: 'Stronger' - team project, as 'Original Video' from NME TV Radio Mobile;
• 2009 Web Design: finalist at the Web Awards DONAèWEB of Viareggio, Italy.

Creative works (+)
• 2011 London: WebTV accessbility and usability - the BBC iPlayer Case Studies;
• 2010 London: Video art-documentary series of the city of London;
• 2010 London: Concept on the improvement of Multimedia design;
• 2009 Rome: WebTV concepts at Repubblica Radio TV;
• 2009 Florence: Environmental Interactive 3D video 'Life is a theatre';
• 2009 Rome: Video poem 'My road is no name';
• 2008 Florence: Video art 'Snif snif';
• 2008 Florence: Festival of Creativity 'From China to Italy, a Trip in Creativity'.

Selected Exhibitions of Oil Paintings (+)
• 2009 Rome: MArteLive Art;
• 2007 Florence: Festival of Creativity;
• 2007 Bolzano: “Walking Three Colors”;
• 2007 Trento: Art Collective “Violence”;
• 2006 Verona: Art Exhibition “City of Art”;
• 2005 Trento: Art Exhibition "Me";
• 2005 Trento: Gallery “The Castle”;
• 2005 Rovereto: Art Exhibition “The Others”;
• 2005 Bolzano: Art Exhibition “13th Art Exhibition of Art ”;
• 2004 Rovereto: Art Exhibition “Water and Resources”;
• 2004 Trento: "Family, Harmony, Conflict”.

(My CV and portfolio are available: lingcai.artdesign@gmail.com)