Designs have the power to drive social change and inspire leaders to propose changes to improve the community. Creating the right design is critical for providing a rationale for these changes and convincing policymakers to take action. Ziqi Liu is a graphic and UI/UX designer who creates compelling narratives with her graphic designs to stimulate leaders to address social issues.
Based in Pasadena, California, with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design from the ArtCenter College of Design, Ziqi has been conducting research-oriented designs for many clients. She has developed mood boards, prototypes, and various digital designs, like brochures and flyers, for mobile apps and product launches. In one of her projects, she proposed the redesign of CPAP masks and wearables, making her a valuable asset to the healthcare industry.
Ziqi’s project, “When Innocence Hurts,” has brought attention to the sexual abuse of children with disabilities. Children with disabilities are at a more significant risk (2.9 times higher) of sexual abuse than those without disabilities because of their vulnerability. However, children with intellectual and mental health challenges face a risk 4.6 times greater than non-disabled children.
Despite these statistics, policy discussions and advocacy efforts fail to adequately represent the demographic of sexually abused children with disabilities, so this group does not receive sufficient support services. Major organizations typically have exclusive operations, meaning that agencies geared toward crime and victim services are unlikely to address special needs individuals. Consequently, organizations concentrating on serving those with disabilities usually fail to address crime victimization.
Ziqi chose the Vera Institute of Justice to design a project for them as a case study. It is a national non-profit organization that strives to advocate for impacted persons and influence leaders to make community-wide changes. Vera empowers activists and researchers like Ziqi to transform the social system into one that is fair and just and treats everyone with dignity.
In the “When Innocence Hurts” project, Ziqi made intentional design choices to capture the voices of victimized children. She used elements like hand-written messages and Braille to remind speculators of the innocence of the children and to help them engage with the children. Her usage of Braille allows readers with visual impairments to connect with the heart of her message.
Ziqi earned a gold medal for the International Design Awards in 2023 and a silver medal for the MUSE Creative Awards for this project. Her winnings demonstrate her human-centered perspective of creating meaningful designs for her target audience.
As a zine, the project amplifies awareness of the situation, drawing attention to the matter and driving transformative change in society. It is a call to action to give sexually abused children with disabilities the support, care, and attention they need.
About the Author
Melissa Deangelis is a UI/UX designer who advocates for environmental issues like climate change and global warming. She inspires local businesses and the community to join critical movements with her compelling narratives and designs that illustrate impact solutions.
Published by: Khy Talara
