Interview
You-Yu Lin
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 the founder of MUYO Design, an interior design studio. My approach focuses on creating calm, enduring spaces through materiality and light. I was drawn to design because I believe spaces can carry emotion. A well-designed environment does not just look beautiful — it quietly shapes how people live, feel, and connect.
2 What does being recognized in the MUSE Design Awards mean to you?
This recognition affirms the direction I’ve been working toward — creating spaces that feel quiet, refined, and emotionally resonant. It is especially meaningful because it reflects that subtle, thoughtful design can still be deeply seen and valued.
3 How has this achievement impacted your career, team, or agency, and what opportunities has it brought so far?
It strengthens trust with both clients and collaborators while creating opportunities to share my design perspective with a wider audience.
4 What role does experimentation play in your creative process? Can you share an example?
Experimentation often happens in the details — through materials, proportions, and light. I frequently explore subtle texture variations to understand how they shift and respond under natural light.
5 What's the most unusual source of inspiration you've ever drawn from for a project?
Inspiration often comes from everyday moments — shifting shadows, aging materials, or quiet scenes. Those subtle, often overlooked details frequently become the emotional core of a space.
6 What’s one thing you wish more people understood about the design process?
Design takes time, especially when refining the details. What appears simple is often shaped through countless iterations and careful consideration.
7 How do you navigate the balance between meeting client expectations and staying true to your ideas?
I see design as a collaboration. I listen carefully and translate each client’s needs into a spatial language that still feels aligned with my design philosophy.
8 What were the challenges you faced while working on your award-winning design, and how did you overcome them?
The challenge was maintaining simplicity while still meeting functional needs. It required constant refinement to keep the space feeling both clean and practical.
9 How do you recharge your creativity when you hit a creative block?
I step away and return to observing real spaces, materials, and light. Reconnecting with physical experiences often helps me reset and refocus.
10 What personal values or experiences do you infuse into your designs?
Calmness, balance, and longevity. I strive to create spaces that continue to feel timeless and meaningful years later.
11 What is an advice that you would you give to aspiring designers aiming for success?
Focus on developing your own perspective. Trends will continue to change, but a clear and authentic design language endures.
12 If you could collaborate with any designer, past or present, who would it be and why?
I would choose Peter Zumthor. His work expresses atmosphere through materiality and light in an incredibly pure and thoughtful way.
13 What's one question you wish people would ask you about your work, and what's your answer?
I wish more people would ask, “How does your design make people feel?” Because beyond the visuals, what matters most to me is the emotional experience a space creates.
