Serene Liu
Costume & Visual Designer
Working with line, silhouette and texture to explore how bodies, cultures and narratives intersect.
Serene Siyu Liu
About
I am a costume and visual designer working between Eastern aesthetics and contemporary theatrical language.
My practice focuses on silhouette, texture, and the emotional tension created by restraint, ritual, and transformation.
Trained in both China and the United Kingdom, I approach costume as a narrative device—an artifact that carries history, culture, and the psychology of the character. I work across theatre, film, and conceptual design projects, often merging handmade craft with experimental processes.
Film projects
A period ensemble film blending historical motifs with theatrical visual language
Role: Costume Illustration & Fabrication Supervision
Work Focus: Created costume illustrations, supervised production progress and detail adjustments, supported digital textile printing.
Cliff Walkers（2021）——《悬崖之上》
A Zhang Yimou historical spy thriller set in 1930s Manchuria
Role: Design Assistant
Work Focus: Conducted costume research and construction; responsible for selected costume break-down.
Burning Star（2024）——《孤星计划》
Contemporary Chinese feature film exploring themes of duty, sacrifice, and human resilience.
Role: Costume Design & Fitting Coordination
Work Focus: Produced costume design drawings, oversaw fabrication workflow, and participated in full costume fitting sessions.
Full River Red
Full River Red is based on a meeting between the Southern Song Dynasty and the Jin Dynasty. It tells the story of a group of righteous men who sacrificed their lives to eradicate evil.
Concept & Design Sketches
Crafting Process
On -Screen Presentation
Television Productions
-
![]()
Sisterhood——08/2021 - 11/2021
Period drama set in early 20th-century Nanyang.
Work: As a leading member of the costume team, overseeing dyeing tests, fabric treatments, ageing processes, and coordination with the costume workshop throughout production
-
![]()
Sword and Fairy——05/2022 - 09/2022
Fantasy drama rooted in Chinese mythology and martial-arts aesthetics.
Work: Produced costume sketches, coordinated with makers, and refined details throughout production.
-
![]()
Ball Lightning——07/2021 - 11/2021
Sci-fi drama adapted from Liu Cixin’s novel, blending military, technology and speculative physics.
Work: Created technical costume illustrations and assisted in overseeing the production of specialised uniforms.
-
![]()
Heroes—— 04/2022-07/2022
Republic-era adventure drama combining espionage, folklore and martial elements.
Work: Supported design development, provided costume drawings, and ensured visual consistency across episodes.
-
![]()
Stay young stay passion——04/2021 - 06/2021
Historical family drama set in early 20th-century Guangdong.
Work: Conducted costume research, supported costume making, and assisted with fittings.
-
![]()
Soul Land 2——06/2022-09/2022
Fantasy action series based on the well-known novel and game universe.
Work: Produced character costume illustrations and coordinated with makers, and refined details throughout production
Sisterhood
Design & Fitting
On -Screen Presentation
Sword And Fairy
A character-focused costume design project blending traditional aesthetics with fantasy world-building.
Design & Fitting
On-Screen Presentation
Ceremonial & Event Costume Design
Featuring costume work for the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony
A selection of costume design work created for the Opening Ceremony of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, spanning concept development, sample supervision, and large-scale production coordination.
My Role
• Contributed costume design for selected performance segments.
• Oversaw prototype development and coordinated bulk production with manufacturing teams.
• Served as Costume Director on-site during rehearsals, managing team workflow and ensuring visual consistency.
Design Boards
On-site / Work Documentation
