Designing for Motion: Lilian Wang’s Innovative Journey Behind the Skateboarding Hoodie Project at the University of Oregon

When Lilian Wang (legal name Yu Hsuan Wang) arrived at the University of Oregon to pursue her master’s degree, she brought with her the lessons of a childhood steeped in craft and cross‑cultural understanding. Raised in Taiwan, she had studied fashion design in high school, learning the craftsmanship, discipline, and visual thinking that continue to shape her approach. She later majored in Applied Foreign Languages—English and Japanese—and business, a combination that honed her ability to communicate across cultures and work effectively in international teams. This blend of creativity and global perspective would prove essential when she embarked on an ambitious design challenge: creating a skateboarding hoodie that moved seamlessly with the athlete while offering protection.

From Taipei to Eugene: Bringing cross‑cultural craft to sportswear

The project began as part of a multi‑semester innovation initiative. Lilian served as the lead apparel designer and maker for the 18‑month undertaking, guiding concept development, patternmaking, and production. The goal was to design a hoodie that combined style and comfort with functional safety features for skateboarders. “I wanted to create something that felt like everyday streetwear but also protected riders during falls,” she recalled. “We developed a functional hoodie with integrated protective padding to enhance safety and mobility.”

Innovative design unites

Lilian’s team experimented with materials and construction techniques to integrate lightweight padding into a silhouette that allowed full range of motion. She drew on her background in fashion design to ensure the garment remained aesthetically appealing, while applying patternmaking skills to position protective elements strategically. Throughout the process she kept the skateboarder’s experience at the centre, balancing form and function. “The project allowed me to merge design thinking, technical construction and functional creativity, realising that design could be both artistic and problem‑solving,” she said.

Learning through innovation: Lessons in structure and empathy

Designing the skateboarding hoodie pushed Lilian to expand her design philosophy. She discovered that creativity and organisation are inseparable. “Many people think design is only about aesthetics, but I’ve learned that strong design is built on structure, clarity and empathy for the people using it,” she said. The team mapped out each development phase, from researching athlete needs to prototyping and testing. This methodical approach ensured that every design decision was grounded in user experience, reinforcing her belief that creativity becomes most powerful when it solves real problems and connects people.

Challenge sparks growth

The project also reinforced her commitment to stepping into challenges. As an international student tackling a complex technical project, she occasionally doubted her readiness. “One of the most important lessons I’ve learned is that growth happens when you step into challenges that feel bigger than you. Progress doesn’t come from waiting until you feel completely prepared; it comes from saying yes, learning fast and staying adaptable.” This mindset helped her navigate unfamiliar terrain and cultivate resilience, traits that would become invaluable in her later career.

From apparel design to digital storytelling

The success of the skateboarding hoodie project set the stage for Lilian’s transition into digital design. After graduating, she joined Nike’s Go‑to‑Market (GTM) teams in both North America and globally, where she designed internal digital platforms and product guides. She drew on her experience balancing aesthetics and functionality to build tools that streamlined collaboration and made complex product information accessible to teammates worldwide. As a content development coordinator, she also created product guides for iconic lines like Tech Fleece and women’s leggings, integrating creative visuals with storytelling.

Unlock creative horizons

Lilian credits her time at the University of Oregon with teaching her how to merge creativity and strategy. “The hoodie project taught me to think holistically about design,” she said. “I learned that whether I’m patternmaking for a garment or building a digital platform, the goal is the same: to create something user‑centred that brings people together.” Her ability to balance design vision with cross‑functional collaboration has since allowed her to build meaningful digital experiences that support Nike’s global teams.

Creativity without borders: An international perspective

As an international creator now working in the United States, Lilian sees her cross‑cultural background as a source of strength. “Design is a language that connects people, ideas and cultures,” she said. The skateboarding hoodie project embodied this philosophy, drawing on her Taiwanese roots and U.S. education to produce an innovative garment that resonated with athletes. She believes creativity has no limits—it can exist in process management, collaboration, design systems or storytelling. Her mission is to show that thoughtful design can bridge industries, empower people and create positive change.

Cultivate cultural creativity

Lilian also emphasises the importance of cultural adaptability. “As an international creator from Taiwan now working in the U.S., my journey represents the strength that comes from cultural diversity and adaptability,” she said. She aims to inspire other global talents to embrace their unique perspectives as creative advantages, demonstrating that diverse backgrounds can fuel innovation.

Having navigated both academia and industry, Lilian shares practical advice for young designers. She reminds them not to limit themselves to one definition of creativity. “Creativity can exist in teamwork, in strategy, or in the way you make processes simpler for others. Be curious, keep learning, and trust that your unique mix of skills and perspective can bring real value.” She urges aspiring creatives to prioritize empathy and user experience. By focusing on real needs—whether that’s protecting skateboarders or making digital information easy to digest—designers can create solutions that resonate across cultures and contexts.

Lilian also encourages emerging talents to embrace uncertainty. “I often doubted whether I was ready to lead large‑scale projects, especially in my second language,” she admits. “But the skateboarding hoodie project showed me that saying yes and staying adaptable leads to growth.” She stresses that challenges are opportunities to expand one’s creative and technical skills, and that perseverance is key.

Create inspire transform

The lessons Lilian learned designing for motion continue to shape her ambitions. She aspires to grow as a creative leader in digital content and brand experience design, building bridges between storytelling, technology, and innovation. Her long‑term vision includes consulting with fashion, sports, and lifestyle brands to build digital ecosystems that are visually compelling, inclusive, and sustainable. She also hopes to mentor young designers, especially those from international backgrounds, encouraging them to believe that creativity has no borders.

In all of these pursuits, Lilian remains committed to the principles she practiced in the skateboarding hoodie project. She continues to advocate for innovation through digital transformation and for using design as a language to simplify complex information and bring teams together. By blending motion, storytelling, and cross‑cultural insight, she aims to create designs that move people, both literally and metaphorically.

Lilian Wang’s journey from a high‑school fashion student in Taiwan to the lead designer of an innovative skateboarding hoodie at the University of Oregon demonstrates that creativity is as much about problem‑solving as it is about aesthetics. The 18‑month project taught her to merge technical construction with artistic vision, emphasize user experience, and embrace challenges as catalysts for growth. These lessons have guided her transition into digital design and continue to inspire her work at Nike. As she looks ahead, Lilian hopes to empower a new generation of international designers, proving that when design is rooted in empathy, structure, and cultural openness, it truly knows no boundaries.