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

Cindy, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. If you could go back in time do you wish you had started your creative career sooner or later?

Definitely—I wish I took it seriously to explore my creative potential much earlier in life. I was already drawing everyday, doodling in the margins of notes, doodling for my friends and classmates, and creating mini comics for myself. The energy to learn, create, and make mistakes (emphasis on mistakes) was there. Thinking back on those days, that was pure freedom — not feeling pressured to create something perfect. But I digress…

If I could do it all over again, I wouldn’t have allowed external expectations and pressures distract me from art making. I would’ve been consistent early on, having the freedom as a kid to explore my many interests and build up skills—to do it all when I wasn’t crippled by perfectionism and the pressures of social media to capitalize on my skills.

As of now I feel like I am making up for lost time: taking it slow to discover myself, my favorite mediums, and my creative voice.

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

By trade, I am a UX/UI designer within IBM’s Sustainability Software division. Outside of work I am an illustrator for the most part. Back when I lived in the DC area I used to participate in art shows, art markets, and even created work for a fundraiser. It’s been awhile since i’ve created new illustrations, but lately I’ve been exploring different art forms such as photography and textile crafts.

If there’s anything to know about me, it’s that I am visually inclined. I always obsess over details (like good branding and packaging) and consider myself inherently an artist and designer through and through, ALWAYS looking to learn new skills and apply new mediums.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

If anyone were to ask me this question 6 years ago, I would’ve said that I hoped to make it big with my art just like those I idolized. I wanted to travel, meet other artists, showcase my work at large art shows, and paint murals. I wanted to establish myself as an artist full time and collaborate with others.

But to be perfectly honest, these past few years have been incredibly tough for me. I struggle with anxiety and depression which compounds my perfectionism and imposter syndrome. It has sadly affected my drive. So as of now I am taking it slow to re-discover the passion I once had as a kid; re-orient myself to create for fun, to experiment, and ultimately to embrace mistakes.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

I come from a family of Vietnamese refugees who wanted what was best for me and pushed me to choose a secure career path. They were proud of my creative abilities, but ultimately encouraged it as a hobby and nothing more. For years I pursued a neuroscience pre-med path, but once I started taking art classes in undergrad (shoutout Professor Chawky Frenn), I felt right at home.

Cheesy, I know.
But for once I didn’t feel like a fish trying to climb a tree. I felt authentically myself and confident to speak up. Towards the last few semesters of undergrad I realized medical school and research weren’t for me. I still graduated with a neuroscience major (and an art minor), but ultimately wanted to pursue a career that would allow me to be more creative—whatever that was.

Thankfully in 2015, my manager introduced me to UX design, which also inspired me to dabble in other interests such as visual design, concept art, and animation.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cynthesys/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cynth/

Image Credits
Cynthia Hoang