Written by Avery Miles
Not every object needs to speak — but the ones that do, should speak with care. This is the philosophy that drives Chinese-born, US-based designer Yefan Liu, whose latest projects explore how everyday objects can become emotional anchors and tools for mindful action.
Following a string of international design awards recognizing her past work in augmented reality museums and interactive design, Liu is now shifting her focus toward slower, more tactile forms of communication. Her new series of objects and packaging concepts explore the intersection of ritual, cultural storytelling, and emotional sustainability.
A Calendar You Don’t Just Flip — You Feel
Liu’s Time Letters to the Wild is a storytelling calendar designed around endangered animal species. Each month arrives as a sealed envelope containing a portrait of an at-risk animal, accompanied by a letter written in the voice of that species.
But this is no ordinary calendar. Users are invited to read, reflect, and then respond. Each letter unfolds into a standing calendar with an empty space for the user to circle a day and write a personal eco-promise. The experience concludes with the user sealing and mailing the envelope — to themselves or someone else.
Every step, from opening the drawer-style box to folding the calendar into shape, is crafted as a soft ritual — asking users not just to organize time, but to mark intention. A QR code on the back links each card to a real-world conservation initiative, encouraging users to turn empathy into action.
Six Teas, Six Scents, Six Moments of Pause
In another project, Liu brings the philosophy of traditional Chinese tea into a contemporary incense experience. Six Teas of the Day is a scent and packaging system where each incense chip corresponds to a different tea type and time of day. The product includes not only the scents but also a booklet, custom brush, biodegradable ash tray, and time-marking stickers.
As users light the incense and gently sweep the ashes into the tray using the small brush, they are invited to match their mood, energy level, and time of day with a corresponding scent. The packaging system takes inspiration from folded herbal manuals and tea books, with each scent narrative connected to a traditional Chinese "shichen" (2-hour time segment).
The result is an immersive, multi-sensory experience that combines smell, texture, and micro-actions into a compact daily ritual.
Designing with Empathy — and Intention
Unlike trend-focused design, Liu’s approach focuses on what she calls "emotional usability" — how a product makes people feel as they use it, and what behaviors it gently encourages over time. Her projects often include folded cards, brushes, interactive elements, and prompts for reflection — all framed in poetic, soft-touch materials.
"When I design," Liu explains, "I’m thinking about the person who will use it at their quietest moment. What are they feeling? What do they need?" This philosophy informs her material choices, packaging logic, and story pacing — a blend of graphic design, industrial structure, and emotional intelligence.
From Award Wins to Impactful Launches
While Liu has already won numerous awards (Indigo, DNA Paris, London Design Awards, IDA Gold), she’s not stopping at trophies. Starting in the second half of 2025, Liu will join the design studio LITE READY as a product designer, where she will further develop these ritual-based projects and help the studio expand into similar emotionally driven product experiences. on crowdfunding platforms like Kickstarter and Indiegogo. The goal is not just to gain traction, but to spark wider conversations around emotional sustainability and cultural heritage through design.
In addition to self-initiated projects, Liu continues to collaborate with independent brands on functional yet emotionally resonant product design — including pet-human furniture and sensorial packaging for wellness brands.
Quiet Objects, Lasting Impact
As Liu moves forward in her creative journey, she remains focused on one key question: Can small rituals lead to real change? Through packaging that speaks and objects that listen, Yefan Liu is quietly designing a new kind of design practice — one rooted not in volume, but in resonance.
More of her work and design philosophy can be found at YefanDesign.
