(HE) SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER, UNICEF + (WANG) DESIGN PROJECT SPECIALIST, UNDP, NEW YORK NY
Shangning Wang and Jiayan He are socially responsible designers who focus on Sustainable Development Goals and work within United Nations organizations. Their collaboration extends beyond professional work, as they are also life partners, united in their mission to use design as a tool for global impact.
Shangning Wang, with nearly a decade of experience in socially responsible design, uses his expertise in visual design to support UNDP’s mission, helping to communicate their goals effectively. Shangning pursued graduate studies at Arizona State University (ASU), focusing on socially responsible design research, where he received strong support from The Design School at ASU.
Jiayan He brings 15 years of experience in publication design and has been a Graphic Design Consultant at UNICEF headquarters in New York since 2019. She is responsible for creating various reports and publications for UNICEF, ensuring alignment with the organization’s mission to advocate for children’s rights and well-being.
Their work has garnered significant recognition, frequently winning awards and being featured in design magazines. They were featured on Adobe Indesign splash screen image 2020. Their influence in socially responsible design has earned them widespread international attention, and they have served as judges in numerous international design competitions, including the Adobe Government Creative Awards, etc. Photo by Uncle Chow Photography
TELL US HOW AND WHY YOU BECAME INVOLVED IN SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE COMMUNICATIONS, AND SHARE WITH US ANY THOUGHTS ON WHY DESIGN CAN BE AN ESPECIALLY EFFECTIVE TOOL?
After we graduated from the Central Academy of Fine Arts in China in 2012, our shared interest in socially responsible design brought us together in New York. By the time we joined the United Nations, we had already built extensive experience in visual communication design. Over the past decade, we’ve seen significant improvements in design standards within UN projects.
UN design differs from commercial design primarily in its objectives. Many UN reports are designed to maximize the social impact, such as promoting the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and fostering cooperation to improve local living conditions. Some reports are also cited by international experts, making both impact and practicality crucial.
We continuously learn about SDGs and refine our design methods. We’ve handled numerous SDG-related projects, applying traditional graphic design skills extensively.
Shangning, in particular, has been involved in brand design at UNDP where he helped establish the organization’s first online brand management platform. In addition, he advocates for a designer-driven approach to AI, using AI as a supportive tool rather than the main production tool, and sees AI as a valuable asset.
GIVEN THE CONFLUENCE OF EVENTS AND CHALLENGES OUR SOCIETY NOW FACES, DOES THIS MOMENT PRESENT ANY SPECIAL OPPORTUNITIES, URGENCIES, OBSTACLES TO DESIGNING FOR GOOD?
In fact, we are witnessing a prime moment for socially responsible design. As awareness has increased, there has been a significant shift towards integrating these values into the design profession. More and more exceptional designers are joining this field, and the impact of socially responsible design continues to expand. Concurrently, thanks to the efforts of the United Nations, a growing number of governments and individuals are recognizing the importance of social responsibility.
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