By: Scott Tierrnan
With 3.1 Studio, the award-winning designer is proving that empathy and innovation can transform design into a force for real social change.
Ziwei Song is no stranger to the global design stage. With over twenty international awards — including the Red Dot Design Award, the A’ Design Award, and the Muse Design Gold Award — she has built a reputation as one of the accomplished designers of her generation. Her career has spanned consulting for world-class brands like Hilton and Porsche to shaping human-centered digital systems at Verizon. Yet, despite these achievements, Song has always carried a question: in our fast-paced industry, where is the space for real innovation?
This question became the seed for 3.1 Studio, an in-house division of Gemini Films specializing in user experience, interface, and product design. Song founded the studio to embody her belief that design must do more than look good — it must connect, resonate, and endure. “At 3.1, we are not just designing interfaces or logos. We are creating bridges — between people and technology, between brands and society,” she explains.
For Song, 3.1 is not merely a design studio — it is a collective of dreamers who believe that creativity can help build a more empathetic world. “Here, we don’t simply define ourselves as designers,” she says. “We hope to truly use design to drive social change.” The studio focuses on real social issues, from aging and maternal health to inclusivity, sustainability, and even the welfare of stray animals. “We care about all groups in society — the visible and the invisible — and want to use design to give them a voice,” Song emphasizes.
Today, 3.1 Studio is no longer a small, emerging team — it has become a recognized force on the international design stage. Under Song’s leadership, the studio has made its mark in major design competitions worldwide, often sharing the spotlight with global innovators such as Google, Apple, and Dyson. Competing at this professional level, 3.1 Studio has repeatedly won premier honors, including Gold awards from Red Dot, A’ Design, IDA, and MUSE, among others — achievements that speak to the team’s exceptional creativity and global competitiveness.
Photo Courtesy: 3.1 Studio
The name “3.1” reflects this philosophy. Drawn from the rule of thirds, it symbolizes balance, while echoing the infinite creativity of π (pi). For Song, it represents empathy, harmony, and imagination — the core values guiding her practice.
Its brand identity reflects Song’s meticulous approach: a monochrome palette of black, white, and gray for timeless clarity and refinement; geometric shapes — circles for inclusivity, lines for movement — to symbolize connection; and a bespoke grotesque font, Herokid, balancing tradition and modernity. Together, these elements form a visual language that is bold yet refined, structured yet fluid — a mirror of Song’s own design philosophy. This branding design has itself been recognized with international acclaim, winning the C2A Creative Communication Award and the Muse Creative Design Gold Award, further demonstrating the studio’s ability to blend vision with impact.
Ziwei Song envisions 3.1 Studio as a space where empathy and innovation intersect to address key societal challenges. The studio aims to focus on improving healthcare accessibility, supporting community well-being, and promoting environmental sustainability. With a commitment to compassion as its foundation and creativity as its driving force, 3.1 Studio will continue to explore how design can contribute to solutions that enhance the human experience. By prioritizing both functionality and inclusivity, the studio strives to demonstrate that design is not just about aesthetics, but about creating practical solutions that support a more connected and meaningful life. 3.1 Studio’s mission is to create designs that align with its core values, addressing real-world challenges thoughtfully and purposefully.
