Interior designers have a challenging job, and it shows in their results. The need to design functional and aesthetically pleasing spaces can often overshadow their deeper artistic desires. Many of the industry's professionals have mastered combining beauty and practicality. However, many still overlook the emotional and cultural dimensions that can take a space from comfortable to truly beautiful.

Add in the tendency for the industry to focus on trendy aesthetics instead of timeless ones, and you might understand how sometimes spaces end up with a superficial aesthetic that lacks a genuine artistic connection.

The industry's norms need a challenge, and Qinghua Wang is bringing it. She goes beyond conventional design solutions with an approach rooted in a deep appreciation for cultural heritage, a profound connection to nature, and a dedication to creating spaces that evoke honest emotional reactions. Her high-end interior design addresses a deeper, more meaningful nuance.

Art Inspired by Culture and Nature

Wang’s personal history influences her work. Her earliest inspirations come from Suzhou, China, where she grew up surrounded by the city's rich architectural heritage and dynamic natural environment. These left a lasting impression on her. Even as she studied finance at Arizona State University, memories of that landscape, those gardens, and those age-old buildings nurtured something special inside of her.

In 2020, when it was time to move on to the next level of her education, she pursued advanced studies in interior design at the Pratt Institute, launching a career driven by passion and artistry. This eventually led her to New York, a city renowned for its vibrant, modern architecture and thriving artistic and cultural scene.

In this city filled with creative energy, Wang developed a profound interest in museum exhibition and brand retail design. She mastered the art of infusing creativity into products, allowing each piece to resonate with customers and impart greater value to the brand. Wang's ability to create spaces that not only showcase products but also elevate the entire customer experience has set her apart in the competitive retail design industry.

Qinghua Wang's Vision: Spaces With Depth and Story

While the interior design industry produces beautiful spaces, those that resonate with a more profound impact are rare, much less that can create a lasting emotional impact. Designers sometimes use natural elements and only occasionally integrate cultural inspirations. Their absence leads to spaces that can feel impersonal and disconnected from the world around them.

"In the field of design, culture is not just an element," says Wang, "It's the foundation of creativity, inspiration, and meaning." Her design philosophy uses these elements to engage all five senses, creating impactful space that can be seen, touched, smelled, heard, and even tasted. "Whether it's the texture of natural materials," she says, "The interplay of light and shadow, the soothing sounds of nature, or the subtle aromas that evoke a sense of place, each element is carefully curated to create a holistic experience."

Space as Art: The Cle de Pleau Beaute Spa Room

One of Wang's most recent and notable projects is the Clé de Peau Beauté spa room at Bloomingdale's in South Coast Plaza, an accomplishment of retail design. It's a luxurious beauty salon that follows the brand's specific concept. Wang's design features a symmetrical structure with three warm tones: eternal gold, infinite blue-black, and lively white. "The diverse lighting methods and gold materials together," says Wang, "Enhance the modernity and luxury of the overall space," all part of bringing out the aura of "Infinite Radiance," that the salon and brand are known for.

The Value of a Deeper Design Philosophy

Qinghua Wang's designs have a way of elevating interior spaces to the level of art. It's a unique art that brings out cultural depth and natural inspiration to achieve a greater emotional resonance. These are essential aspects of her design philosophy. "It is what gives spaces depth," she says, "Meaning, and a connection to the people who inhabit them."