Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Avy Jonsay. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Avy, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Let’s start with a story that highlights an important way in which your brand diverges from the industry standard.

I believe any standard wants to remove ideas of deviating. When a process becomes streamlined and used by the entire field, there’s a danger where ideas of innovation or creativity can fall away. Something in the tech world that I have noticed is the idea that imitation tends to trend. If Apple or Meta or Amazon create a design system, people like to follow suit. Because I live within the world of tech design and animation, I look to see where heart and emotion can be infused within apps.

Companies focus on the structure of web design or mobile apps, but when it starts from a place of firm usability instead of the emotional connection of a user, it becomes formulaic and heartless. As an example, I was working on an app based on the Pixar movie, Coco. The intention of the app was about learning to play guitar, and the entire team focused on how to mechanically make sure it felt like a real guitar. I pushed back saying the intention of the movie wasn’t about music at all, but more about family and what connects people together. I wanted the application to use music to inspire the user to feel something family related. I believed that the idea would really unlock another level to what the app could do.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Avy Jonsay. My IG handle is @avyjonsay.story. I am a product designer who also does storyboarding for animation. My main focus on the product side is to make sure accessibility and equity occur within the digital product. Along with the general design, I make a point to make sure any user has the confidence to use the application without any problems.
As for storyboarding, I enjoy boarding out emotional scenes. While others enjoy action or comedy, something about drama really pulls me into the sequence of a scene.
The main thing I’m proud of, especially within my own art, is my focus on connection. We’ve all gone through the highs and lows in life, and if I could capture it and empathize with it within a story or a product, I feel like I helped people and that is important to me.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

I believe all people want to do something that means something. When you start off a career in design, you realize quickly that many of the projects are based on other people’s vision, and your job is to help push that vision forward. As great as that is, I started to yearn to tell my own story, which led me to venture into storyboarding. The moment I was able to separate the passions of the clientele versus my own ideas, I was able to have new sparks of creativity on both ends. I took a leap of faith and started taking classes, attempting to learn the art of storytelling. From directors and movie makers, I understood a completely different medium of expression that I now use to have two different ways of art and business.
Being creative changes every season, and learning to listen to how you want to express it in the next season was vital for me.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

Not many professions allow you to push the boundaries of what is possible, let alone one that is so visual. Once a project is done, there is a physical thing you can look at, hold, touch, and share with others that you can be proud of. You can change a person’s mood, inspire someone, or challenge an idea just by having people see your art. And it can only take a second. That’s powerful.

Contact Info:

• Website: avyjonsay.com and avydesign.me
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/avyjonsay.story/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/avyjonsay

Image Credits
Avy Jonsay