Lingyi Kong: Shaping Civic Life
/ Board Director of AIGA Boston, Brand Designer, Educator
by Elizabeth Lavis | 13 Oct 2026
"Receiving a Gold Award from the Indigo Design Award stands as an important recognition of both the originality and impact of my practice”
Lingyi Kong’s personal philosophy is that design is not only about creating artifacts but also about shaping civic life. “I often return to Cicero, the Roman statesman and philosopher, who argued that a life of virtue is defined by service to the community and by cultivating wisdom that transcends personal gain,” they say. “For me, this means approaching design as a civic practice: building systems, frameworks, and cultural platforms that empower others. Cicero’s insistence on the clarity of thought and ethical responsibility resonates deeply in the age of AI. As designers, we are not only making visual or technical choices; we are making decisions that affect identity, equity, and the future of public life. My philosophy is to see design leadership as a form of civic duty. We must question assumptions, act responsibly, and ensure that technological progress expands human dignity rather than diminishes it.”
Kong is the board director for AIGA Boston and unofficial Mars Pharaoh, and they were always fascinated by science fiction, animation, speculative technologies, and imaginary worlds. “I am from Baoding, China,” they say. “As a child, Yu-Gi-Oh! Left a lasting impression on me. I was deeply inspired by the way it combined imaginative technology with cultural and philosophical questions, which sparked my own creative journey. This early interest led me onto the path of technology and art, where I have continued to explore how emerging tools shape cultural expression. Over time, this trajectory has resulted in internationally recognized achievements. My work has been showcased in iconic venues such as Times Square, and receiving a Gold Award from the Indigo Design Award stands as an important recognition of both the originality and impact of my practice.”
In 2025, Kong founded Mars Pharoah, an award-winning design studio focused on AI-driven digital media that brought together cultural narratives, experimental visual systems, and socially engaged strategies with generative and interactive technologies. “Looking back, I see clear continuity between my childhood fascination and the work I do today,” Kong says. “What began as an interest in imagining future worlds has evolved into a design practice that pushes the boundaries of digital media while remaining rooted in cultural insight and social impact.”
Kong is driven by the opportunity to shape how design evolves as a discipline in the age of AI. “I see my role not only as a maker but as a leader; someone who builds systems, standards, and frameworks that enable others to create responsibly and imaginatively,” Kong says. “AI is reshaping every aspect of the industry, from workflows to authorship, and I am motivated by the challenge of guiding this transition so that design remains human-centered and culturally responsive. For me, this is not stepping away from design but re-entering it from another angle: leading the conversation on how technology and creativity intersect and ensuring that the next generation of designers sees AI not as a shortcut but as a catalyst for systemic innovation.”
Kong sees their professional growth as not only a mastery of new tools, like AI, but also shaping the conditions under which design and technology evolve. “I will continue to grow by expanding my leadership roles and developing curricula that redefine how AI is taught in design education, building cultural projects that amplify underrepresented voices and contributing to organizations like AIGA and CAA to influence standards at an institutional level,” they say.
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