You might not know Yiying Lu's name, but you've probably seen her work. She created the Twitter Fail Whale and designed emojis like the dumpling 🥟, chopsticks 🥢, takeout box 🥡, fortune cookie 🥠, and bubble tea 🧋 that millions of us use every day.

Born in Shanghai, educated in Sydney and London, Yiying now works from San Francisco where she helps global companies like Disney, Apple, Adobe, and Microsoft design things that make sense across different cultures. It's tricky work — how do you create something that resonates in Beijing and Berlin, Tokyo and Texas?

Yiying believes design can bring people together, even when we don't speak the same language. Through her talks at TEDx, SXSW, and Adobe MAX, she shares what she's learned about creating symbols and experiences that connect us all.