Yixuan Cao is a Ürümqi born, New York based brand designerand art director. She holds a BFA degree from the School of Visual Arts.
She blends strategy with craft, drawing on experience across agencies and independent practice. She turns abstract problems into clear, purposeful design through dialogue and collaboration. Her work helps brands find clarity, create tailored design + social solutions that are both effective and visually strong.
Yixuan believes that design can be more inclusive than it is now. Getting out of the collective practice of western design education, she acknowledges that assumption was made and bias was formed, and there is no such thing as “universal communication.”
She is still seeking her own voice out of all the experience that shaped her. With that said, she is excited about different culture around the globe.
She is currently freelancing.![]()
Feel free to grab a coffee with her (IRL or virtually.)
︎︎︎ Less Information
She blends strategy with craft, drawing on experience across agencies and independent practice. She turns abstract problems into clear, purposeful design through dialogue and collaboration. Her work helps brands find clarity, create tailored design + social solutions that are both effective and visually strong.
Yixuan believes that design can be more inclusive than it is now. Getting out of the collective practice of western design education, she acknowledges that assumption was made and bias was formed, and there is no such thing as “universal communication.”
She is still seeking her own voice out of all the experience that shaped her. With that said, she is excited about different culture around the globe.
She is currently freelancing.
Feel free to grab a coffee with her (IRL or virtually.)
︎︎︎ Less Information
EDUCATION
School of Visual Arts
BFA Design
Parsons the New School for Design
Summer Intensive program
EXPERIENCE
Design Lead, Odd One In
2024—present
Designer, Studio YSFT
2022—present
Designer, Modicum
2025
Designer, Supermorebetter
2024—2025
Designer, BUCK
2024
Designer, DarkMatter Agency
2023—2024
Design Intern, The Working Assembly
New York, 2023
Design Intern, Gretel
New York, 2022
Design Intern, Instrument
New York/Remote, 2022
Design Intern, PepsiCo Design Innovation Team
Shanghai, 2020–2021
Designer, Masks For Unity
Social Movement, 2020
Teaching Assistant, School of Visual Arts
New York, Summer 2019
Orientation Leader, School of Visual Arts
New York, Summer 2019
TEACHING/GUEST CRITIC
Guest Lecturer, Interaction Portfolio I
School of Visual Arts, 2024
Guest Critic, Interaction I
School of Visual Arts, 2023
Guest Critic, Interaction II
School of Visual Arts, 2023
Guest Critic, Basic Graphic Design II
School of Visual Arts, 2021
Guest Critic, Basic Graphic Design I
School of Visual Arts, 2019
Teaching Assistant
School of Visual Arts, 2018
School of Visual Arts
BFA Design
Parsons the New School for Design
Summer Intensive program
EXPERIENCE
Design Lead, Odd One In
2024—present
Designer, Studio YSFT
2022—present
Designer, Modicum
2025
Designer, Supermorebetter
2024—2025
Designer, BUCK
2024
Designer, DarkMatter Agency
2023—2024
Design Intern, The Working Assembly
New York, 2023
Design Intern, Gretel
New York, 2022
Design Intern, Instrument
New York/Remote, 2022
Design Intern, PepsiCo Design Innovation Team
Shanghai, 2020–2021
Designer, Masks For Unity
Social Movement, 2020
Teaching Assistant, School of Visual Arts
New York, Summer 2019
Orientation Leader, School of Visual Arts
New York, Summer 2019
TEACHING/GUEST CRITIC
Guest Lecturer, Interaction Portfolio I
School of Visual Arts, 2024
Guest Critic, Interaction I
School of Visual Arts, 2023
Guest Critic, Interaction II
School of Visual Arts, 2023
Guest Critic, Basic Graphic Design II
School of Visual Arts, 2021
Guest Critic, Basic Graphic Design I
School of Visual Arts, 2019
Teaching Assistant
School of Visual Arts, 2018
PRO-BONO
Volunteer
Billion Oysters Project, 2018
Volunteer
New York Fashion Week, 2018
CONTACT
yixuancao1412@gmail.com
LinkedIn
When she is not designing, she is knitting while watching poorly made clickbait true crime videos on Youtube. While she is designing, she is watching poorly made clickbait true crime videos on Youtube.
Volunteer
Billion Oysters Project, 2018
Volunteer
New York Fashion Week, 2018
CONTACT
yixuancao1412@gmail.com
When she is not designing, she is knitting while watching poorly made clickbait true crime videos on Youtube. While she is designing, she is watching poorly made clickbait true crime videos on Youtube.