Rifang Liang
Master's in Visual Brand Design
Year of Graduation: Design Strategist | UX Product Designer
Current role: 2017
Country: China
Rifang is an Experience Design Strategist and design mentor with over 15 years of international experience spanning academia and industry. Her Master’s in Visual Brand Design from Domus Academy in Milan, combined with exposure to global creative communities, has shaped her multidisciplinary and strategic approach to design. Her career includes key roles at leading companies such as Hitachi and IBM.
At Hitachi’s Research and Development Center in Beijing, Rifang applied strategic design thinking methodologies like NEXPERIENCE to develop innovative business solutions and envision future smart city scenarios in collaboration with Tsinghua University. Later, as a Senior UX/UI Designer at IBM Expert Lab (IBM Cloud Garage), she worked on complex projects across a wide range of sectors including telecom, healthcare, banking, sustainability, manufacturing, law, and blockchain.
Rifang is an Experience Design Strategist and design mentor with over 15 years of international experience spanning academia and industry. Her Master’s in Visual Brand Design from Domus Academy in Milan, combined with exposure to global creative communities, has shaped her multidisciplinary and strategic approach to design. Her career includes key roles at leading companies such as Hitachi and IBM.
At Hitachi’s Research and Development Center in Beijing, Rifang applied strategic design thinking methodologies like NEXPERIENCE to develop innovative business solutions and envision future smart city scenarios in collaboration with Tsinghua University. Later, as a Senior UX/UI Designer at IBM Expert Lab (IBM Cloud Garage), she worked on complex projects across a wide range of sectors including telecom, healthcare, banking, sustainability, manufacturing, law, and blockchain.
She took the lead on several initiatives and collaborated with cross-functional teams on others, partnering with architects, developers, and data scientists to co-create user-centered solutions that blended advanced technology with intuitive design. There, she partnered closely with architects, developers, and data scientists to co-create user-centered solutions that merge cutting-edge technology with elegant design.
A passionate mentor and advocate for inclusivity in tech, Rifang actively volunteers with codebar UK, supporting underrepresented communities to gain programming skills and explore new career pathways. Her expertise spans UX research, service and product design, prototyping, branding, storytelling, and visual language, all driven by a deep commitment to crafting meaningful user experiences.
With an international academic background and collaborations with global brands such as Coca-Cola and Wired, Rifang is known for her curiosity, collaborative spirit, and ability to bridge creative vision with strategic business needs. Whether working on international projects or grassroots initiatives, she brings a thoughtful, user-centered approach that balances innovation with purpose.
“Domus Academy in Milan, Italy, was an exceptional place to explore my design journey. I’ll never forget my time there, filled with cross-disciplinary practical workshops, supportive supervisors, and amazing classmates. The coursework helped me broaden my international perspective on design and taught me how to think critically and creatively.
Milan is a fantastic city to immerse oneself in art, history, and both ancient and modern design. The experience consistently inspired me to rethink my design expressions in unique and innovative ways.”
