I’m a textile designer with nine years of experience, and I graduated from China Academy of Art and London College of Fashion. Before building this platform, my first attempt at user customisation actually started with my MA graduation project. With the help of Jingyi, I built a customisation platform that allowed users to design their own fabrics almost like cooking a meal. 

Now, at a time when AI products are everywhere, I’ve been reflecting on my role as a maker — someone who spends their days cutting threads in the studio and getting their hands stained with dyes. I keep asking myself: how can our understanding of materials and craftsmanship be used to connect with users more directly? How can we offer not just a product, but an experience — and a chance for people to step into the role of a designer themselves?

That’s how we decided to start with something everyone loves: pets.

I have a five-year-old ginger cat that I rescued when it was just one or two months old. My phone is full of photos of its daily sleeping positions and silly moments, and I’ve always wanted to preserve the memories it has left in my life. Today, there are countless pet-related products out there — phone cases, keychains, and more — all ways to remember our furry companions. But we wanted to create something more sustainable, more multifunctional, and to explore a customised way of living. That’s how Moodmold was born.