Interview
Can Ge
1 Congratulations on winning the MUSE Design Awards! Can you introduce yourself and share about what inspired you to pursue design as a career?
I’m a designer with a background in architecture and a focus on systems thinking and public experience. At Uber Eats, I lead product initiatives across global markets, while also pursuing independent work that explores the intersection of technology, civic engagement, and spatial design. My interest in design grew from a desire to understand how people interact with environments. That led to Apex AR, an augmented reality tool that helps the public visualize and respond to urban design proposals on-site. The project reflects my belief that design should empower participation and bridge the gap between citizens and the systems that shape their cities.
2 What does being recognized in the MUSE Design Awards mean to you?
The MUSE Award affirms the importance of public-focused design and experimentation. Apex AR challenges traditional planning processes by making them more accessible and responsive. Being recognized for this work reinforces my commitment to creating tools that invite broader civic participation. It also marks a key milestone in my independent practice. The visibility supports my ongoing efforts to bring inclusive, research-driven design into spaces where public voices often go unheard.
3 How has this achievement impacted your career, team, or agency, and what opportunities has it brought so far?
The award has broadened the reach of my work beyond the tech sector. Apex AR has been exhibited internationally and sparked collaborations with urban researchers and public space practitioners. It also led to jury invitations for global design awards, allowing me to contribute to the broader creative community. Professionally, it strengthened my voice in advocating for participatory and experimental design methods, and helped position my work at the intersection of technology, equity, and the built environment.
4 What role does experimentation play in your creative process? Can you share an example?
Experimentation is central to how I work, especially when designing for emerging contexts like civic AR. In Apex AR, I tested different ways for citizens to engage with spatial proposals—such as leaving feedback directly in physical space through AR markers. A breakthrough came when I built real-time feedback loops that let people see their input reflected in updated 3D visuals almost instantly. These tests helped shape the system into something participatory, intuitive, and grounded in public experience rather than abstraction.
5 What's the most unusual source of inspiration you've ever drawn from for a project?
Theater set design unexpectedly shaped my thinking for Apex AR. Stage environments are built to immerse audiences in speculative futures. That idea inspired me to use AR not just to present plans, but to let people feel them in context—walking through proposed changes in real space. This lens helped me reframe urban design as something experiential and time-based, rather than fixed and top-down.
6 What’s one thing you wish more people understood about the design process?
That design is not decoration. It’s a way to bring clarity, empathy, and accountability into complex systems. In Apex AR, the process included prototyping, civic research, and interface design—all grounded in public context. Design works best when it disappears, leaving behind understanding and connection.
7 How do you navigate the balance between meeting client expectations and staying true to your ideas?
I see design as negotiation, not compromise. When expectations feel limiting, I try to uncover the real need behind them and reframe the brief through insight and testing. In Apex AR, the original goal was showcasing AR tech. Through research, I reframed the project around public participation—aligning innovation with deeper purpose.
8 What were the challenges you faced while working on your award-winning design, and how did you overcome them?
The biggest challenge was designing for unfamiliar behaviors in public space. AR tools are often optimized for retail or gaming, not civic dialogue. I addressed this by running field tests with diverse users and co-developing feedback methods with urban planners. The final system emerged from iterative, place-based experiments rather than assumptions.
9 How do you recharge your creativity when you hit a creative block?
I leave the screen and return to physical space—walking the city, sketching, or just observing how people interact with environments. I also draw from outside disciplines like theater or urban sociology to shift my perspective. Creativity often returns when I stop trying to solve and start trying to notice.
10 What personal values or experiences do you infuse into your designs?
Growing up between cultures and cities shaped how I see public space—as something that can empower or exclude. I value transparency, inclusion, and design that responds to context, not trends. These values guide projects like Apex AR, where the goal is to make civic systems more open, legible, and shared.
11 What is an advice that you would you give to aspiring designers aiming for success?
Learn to ask better questions. Success comes from developing your own lens on the world, not just mastering tools. Start projects even if they feel too early or unusual—that’s often where your voice emerges. Above all, treat design as a responsibility. If you can shape experiences, you can also shape access and equity.
12 If you could collaborate with any designer, past or present, who would it be and why?
I would choose Cedric Price. His systems-driven, human-centered approach to architecture anticipated many of today’s design challenges. He believed that spaces should evolve with their users, not be dictated to them. That ethos aligns with how I approach participatory tools like Apex AR—designing frameworks, not just forms.
13 What's one question you wish people would ask you about your work, and what's your answer?
I wish more people asked, “How do you define success in public-facing design?” Because for me, success is not about perfection. It’s about whether people feel heard and empowered. In Apex AR, that meant building tools that were not just functional, but inviting—tools that helped people see their city as something they can help shape.
