Graphic Design Professor Xiaolei Guo shares career experience and upcoming projects
Can you share a little bit about your experience as a UX designer in the beginning of your career?
During my master’s studies, my focus was on user experience design. After graduating and before starting my PhD, I worked as a UX designer for a period of time. This experience was valuable, especially as I prepared to transition into academia. It gave me a deep appreciation for the importance of empathy in design. I learned how to listen to user feedback, observe their behavior, and truly understand their needs and pain points. While the learning curve was steep, every challenge helped me better understand the critical role of iteration and collaboration in the design process. At the same time, I had the opportunity to work on projects across various industries and collaborate with colleagues from diverse backgrounds. These experiences helped me broaden my perspective and showed me how design can effectively address complex, multifaceted problems. This practical foundation continues to shape my academic journey, enriching my approach to research and problem-solving.
As a new professor coming in, what are your favorite parts about teaching students who are interested in graphic design?
Becoming a new professor in SVS is both exciting and challenging. What excites me the most is the opportunity to combine my research interests with teaching. My research focuses on VR, and I’m thrilled about the opportunities it brings to the design-related domains. In immersive digital experiences, graphic design is no longer limited by traditional tools or formats. VR enables designers to move beyond flat, static visuals and rethink how we use space, light, color, typography, and other elements in immersive environments. This shift makes graphic design more dynamic and multidisciplinary than ever before. I believe that sharing these possibilities with students is incredibly rewarding. Watching their creativity grow as they blend traditional design principles with emerging technologies like VR is one of the most fulfilling and exciting aspects of teaching for me.
What grew your love/passion for practicing and researching graphic design?
Design is a blend of creativity, problem-solving, and making a positive impact on others, which I find deeply meaningful. It’s not just about making things look good—it’s about creating meaningful ways for people to connect and communicate beyond relying solely on language. Moreover, with the rapid advancement of technology, we now have access to a wide range of new tools and media. As a designer and researcher, these innovative technologies open up opportunities to explore spaces, interactivity, and user experiences in ways that were once unimaginable. It’s a fast-evolving field that requires both practical application and thoughtful research. This dynamic nature inspires me to keep creating, learning, and exploring in this domain.
Is there a work-in-progress project(s) or research by you that you want to talk about?
My current work continues my previous research on using VR in education. I focus on developing VR learning systems that enhance learning efficiency, improve accessibility for diverse learners, and drive better educational outcomes. Additionally, I am exploring the integration of AI virtual agents into VR environments to make learning experiences more personalized, engaging, and impactful for learners from various backgrounds.
In addition to education, I am interested in VR’s potential as a social platform. One topic I am exploring is how VR can help people build and maintain meaningful connections in digital spaces by providing more nuanced, immersive, and embodied ways, using its unique ability to create high-fidelity and multidimensional presence.
Is there something else you would like to share about yourself? It could relate to graphic design, your career, or an outside hobby.
Living and working in a small town like this is something I truly enjoy. I love hiking and outdoor activities, and this area is beautiful and peaceful, without the heavy traffic of big cities. The courses align perfectly with my expertise. But what I enjoy most are the people I teach. They’re smart and inspiring. It’s a great place to work and live.