By: Xinyue Guo, Katherine Watkins
San Francisco, CA – Lulin Shan has quickly established herself as a talented force in the UX and product design landscape, blending creativity and precision to shape digital experiences that prioritize usability and innovation. A graduate of Carnegie Mellon University with a Master’s in Design for Interactions, Lulin’s academic foundation is rooted in rigorous study, where she maintained an impressive GPA of 3.97. She also completed a User Experience Certification at UCLA Extension, further enhancing her skills in designing user-centered products. Lulin’s career has spanned multiple high-profile projects, from redefining UX for tech giants like HP to designing game-changing products like COFE+, a revolutionary robotic café that has redefined convenience and automation in coffee service.
Her current role as a UX/UI Designer at HP has positioned her at the forefront of digital experience transformation. Since joining in 2022, Lulin has led the redesign of HP’s printer setup and onboarding process, an initiative that enhanced customer satisfaction by 12%. This redesign aimed to simplify the often complicated setup process, making it more intuitive and user-friendly. Lulin meticulously crafted user flows, wireframes, and high-fidelity prototypes for multiple platforms, including mobile apps, desktops, and touch screens, ensuring consistency across various interfaces. This commitment to cross-platform cohesion has played a critical role in improving accessibility and user engagement. She also collaborated with HP’s visual designers to rebrand over 50 screens within the HP Smart app. By establishing design guidelines, creating responsive layouts, and interactive elements, Lulin facilitated a smooth design handoff to development, setting a new standard for visual clarity and functional accessibility within the app.
Her time at HP also showcased her leadership in fostering creativity and teamwork. Lulin organized and led brainstorming workshops, where designers and managers collaborated to identify innovative solutions to enhance the user experience. Her hands-on approach extended to collaborating with UX researchers to conduct usability testing, using data-driven insights to inform decision-making. These insights have not only guided product development but also positioned Lulin as a thought leader within the company. Her work at HP reflects a dedication to understanding user needs deeply and creating solutions that meet those needs through thoughtful design.
Before her role at HP, Lulin gained valuable experience as a Product Design Intern at Baidu, China’s largest search engine and a global leader in AI-driven products. At Baidu, Lulin worked with product managers to introduce monetization strategies for a social networking app. Her efforts led to a remarkable 48% trial-to-paid conversion rate in the first month of launching a premium subscription model. Her adaptability and focus on user acquisition were evident in her design of a campaign for a custom keyboard app, which achieved a 70% retention rate among new users. Operating within Baidu’s fast-paced environment, Lulin delivered six new product features in just three months, demonstrating her efficiency and effectiveness in a dynamic setting. Her time at Baidu reinforced her versatility and ability to design for a large-scale audience, further developing her skill in creating solutions that not only look good but are backed by a deep understanding of user behavior and business goals.
One of Lulin’s most notable projects is her work on COFE+, a robotic café designed to bring a fresh, efficient, and contactless coffee experience to the masses. COFE+ features a robotic arm that acts as a professional barista, capable of grinding and brewing a premium coffee in just 50 seconds. With the capability to operate 24/7, COFE+ is designed to fit seamlessly into various environments, including office buildings, airports, parks, and plazas. Users can place orders via a mobile app or directly on the machine’s touchscreen, making it accessible and convenient for people on the go. This project not only provided a modern coffee solution but also addressed pandemic-related concerns by offering a contactless ordering and serving experience, meeting the increasing demand for safe, automated interactions. COFE+ has earned significant recognition, winning the 2023 International Design Award and the 2022 European Product Design Award, with Lulin playing a key role in its design and functionality. Her contributions to COFE+ exemplify her commitment to merging design innovation with user convenience, providing a service that is not only functional but also transformative in how it redefines the coffee experience in public spaces.
Lulin’s technical skills are extensive, including proficiency in Figma, Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite, Blender, and SketchUp, among other industry-standard tools. Her expertise spans across UX/UI design, interaction design, and visual design, allowing her to produce work that is both aesthetically pleasing and functionally sound. Her technical capabilities, combined with her ability to conduct user research, usability testing, and competitive analysis, have made her a versatile designer capable of taking on a wide range of design challenges. Additionally, her experience in 3D modeling and motion design has further enriched her ability to create immersive and engaging user experiences.
Her early career in landscape architecture at LRM Landscape Architecture in Culver City laid a unique foundation for her approach to user experience. There, she worked on over 15 projects from concept to construction, mastering the art of translating abstract ideas into tangible designs that meet client expectations. Her focus on client communication and integration of feedback resulted in a 90% client satisfaction rate, showcasing her strong interpersonal skills and dedication to customer-centric design. This background in landscape architecture has influenced her UX design approach, allowing her to blend visual aesthetics with functional requirements seamlessly.
Lulin Shan’s journey is a testament to the transformative power of design, not only in digital interfaces but in real-world applications that touch people’s lives daily. Her work at HP and on COFE+ highlights her ability to envision and execute designs that prioritize user experience and functionality, setting her apart as a visionary in the UX and product design industry. With a keen eye for innovation and an unwavering commitment to creating impactful solutions, Lulin Shan’s career continues to be one of groundbreaking design achievements and user-centered transformation.
Published by: Holy Minoza
