Augustina(Ao) Liu: Believe in Yourself
Senior Product Designer
by Elizabeth Lavis
|08 Aug 2025
Augustina Liu is a Senior Product Designer at Toast, President of the IDEATe Institute of Design, Engineering, Art and Technology, and unofficial Chief Design Enthusiast. While she wears many hats, Liu manages her time and staves off burnout through effective prioritization, time management, and communication. “I start by assessing the urgency and importance of each project, which helps me prioritize my tasks effectively,” Liu says. “Time management is crucial, so I set realistic deadlines and create a structured schedule that allows me to allocate focused time for each project.”
Liu also builds in breaks, which allow her to recharge, and loops in her colleagues and clients to manage expectations and foster collaboration. “By maintaining this balance, I can stay productive and engaged across all of my projects without feeling overwhelmed,” she says.
Liu is a strong advocate for self-belief, especially for up-and-coming designers. “Persistence is essential in the design field,” she says. “There will be moments when you doubt your abilities, but it’s crucial to believe in yourself and your creative instincts. Confidence in your design choices will help you stand firm in your decisions and contribute effectively to your projects.” She also emphasizes the importance of embracing change and evolution in design, as well as being adaptable when the unexpected happens. “These moments are opportunities for growth and innovation,” Liu says.
"Selfeel", Augustina(Ao) Liu, Ethan(Yuxi) Cui
Liu’s passion for design was born out of her volunteer experiences at the No. 1 Social Welfare House in her native home of Changsha, Hunan, China. “I assisted seniors with vision, hearing, and mobility challenges and helped them adapt to modern technologies,” she says.
“This experience got me interested in creating socially responsible designs that are empathetic, inclusive, and accessible to people with all types of abilities. During college, I thought about how we can create designs that empower people, regardless of their abilities. That question became the guiding star of my artistic odyssey, and I ended up pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Human-Centered Design and Engineering at the University of Washington.”
For Liu, the most important aspects of a design are inclusion, accessibility, and sustainability. “I believe that design should serve everyone, regardless of their background or abilities,” she says. “It’s essential to create solutions that empower all users and ensure they can fully engage with and benefit from the design. Additionally, sustainability is a key consideration in my work. I strive to design products and experiences that are not only effective, but also environmentally responsible.”
She also believes that the future of design will be significantly influenced by a combination of inclusion and accessibility through advancements in artificial intelligence. “As the global population ages, there’s an increasing need for designs that cater to diverse abilities and ensure that technology is accessible to everyone,” Liu says.
“AI can play a pivotal role in this by providing personalized experiences that adapt to individual needs, enhancing usability and accessibility.” Liu thinks that this evolution will improve user experience and empower a broader range of people to engage with technology. “I see a trend toward creating solutions that are not only functional, but also empathetic, addressing the real-world challenges faced by various user groups,” she says.
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