We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Coco Shin. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Coco below.

Coco, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

In Year 2 at university, I worked on a project titled “Exploring Practice.” The project asked students to reflect on their core interests and consider how their audiences engage with their work. As an illustrator who enjoys creating comforting and healing art, I decided to design a series of therapeutic objects called “The Cosmic Dream Set”, which helps people sleep.
The set includes a weighted pillow, neck cushion, hand-held stress toy, and lavender spray, accompanied by a manual with instructions on how to use the products. I also composed a meditative soundtrack to create an immersive experience. The objects are inspired by fractals in the galaxy, as their repetitive patterns can regulate stress. I also designed this set using a soothing colour palette based on colour therapy to enhance the relaxing atmosphere.

“The Cosmic Dream Set” is meaningful to me as it is a therapeutic project for both my audience and me. Since this was my last project in Year 2, I felt a lot of pressure to create something I would be proud of. Choosing sleep as a topic helped me approach the project with a relaxed attitude and develop my work using meditative processes. Moreover, sewing the objects by hand and painting on fabric made this project enjoyable, as these repetitive processes emptied my mind of worries. These are also time-consuming techniques which I didn’t get to explore much in the academic year due to my hectic schedule, so I am very grateful that this brief gave me the opportunity to hone my skills in these aspects. I hope people who use “The Cosmic Dream Set” can experience the same relaxation as I did while creating this project.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My name is Coco and I am an illustrator born and raised in Hong Kong. I have always enjoyed drawing cartoons and reading illustrative books as a child, and this passion only amplified as I grew older. When I was a teenager, I started considering making my hobby into a career, which prompted me to travel to the UK to study Illustration and Animation at Kingston University. Throughout the course, I discovered I am very experimental and enjoyed trying different media in my work. At the moment, I am still exploring processes and forms that I want to focus on, but the tone of my work is often healing, vulnerable and comforting. I want to use my skills as a visual storyteller to make art that touches people’s hearts and creates escapism for them from the real world.

My creative works often include physical objects such as books, prints, ceramics, and embroidered goods. I really enjoy working traditionally and using sensory-stimulating materials. I also like creating work that requires a lot of making and hands-on processes, making me feel more connected to my craft.

What sets me apart from other makers is my versatility and experimental attitude. My interest in various creative processes helps me adapt to the needs of different clients and thrive in a collaborative working environment. As a growing illustrator, I don’t want to limit myself to a particular style or specialism. I want to use my craft to forge connections between different creatives and customers. After all, a jack of all trades is better than a master of one.

At the moment, I am most proud of my Instagram art account, which has grown for the past three years. I usually post reels about my life at university and the processes behind my work. Maintaining a posting schedule is a form of discipline and a promise to my younger self that I will work consistently towards my goal of working in the creative industry. My Instagram account also attracted the attention of notable art galleries in London, inviting me to display my work. Even though social media is difficult, I understand I have to push through in order to gain more exposure and expand my creative social network, which will open doors to many work opportunities.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

A lesson I had to unlearn is making art that people would like. Growing up in a competitive academic environment, I was always under the impression that I had to create art that my teachers or educational institutions wanted to become a successful illustrator. This led to a massive burnout and almost caused me to give up my dreams of studying illustration at university, as drawing no longer made me happy. In the past couple of years, I started to focus on myself instead of comparing my progress to my peers, which rekindled my passion for art. I believe that making what you love is the most sustainable way for you to thrive in the creative industry and not lose yourself in the pursuit of success.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

Many non-creatives don’t understand that an artist’s path is usually non-linear. For many common careers, such as the corporate world, employees’ paths are like ladders: they start at the bottom and gradually reach the top through promotions. However, an artist’s journey is like a map, with uncertainties and instabilities. More often than not, creatives take on multiple jobs to explore different disciplines, usually short-term rather than permanent. By journeying on different paths, artists can gain a deeper understanding of their practice and eventually find a specialism that they wish to focus on. Many non-creatives believe such artists are lazy or lack ambition simply because they don’t follow the conventional path. However, they need to understand that the nature of our work is fundamentally different. The definitions of success and fulfilment vary for everyone, and we should respect and support our creative family members or friends on their journey of self-discovery.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://cocosportfolio.wixsite.com/my-site-4
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yourbluecoconut/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@yourbluecoconut
• Other: Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@yourbluecoconut?_t=ZG-8sShh3XkovA&_r=1

Image Credits

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