We recently connected with Edward Chiu and have shared our conversation below.

Edward, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

Two of the most meaningful projects in my career have been the DJI Osmo Pocket and the Dewar’s Double Double campaigns.

The DJI Osmo Pocket project felt like the culmination of my journey with Cinema 4D. I poured all my effort and expertise into it, making it a fitting summary of my early career before transitioning to the U.S. At the time, I knew I was on the verge of leaving Hong Kong to pursue new opportunities, and it was just before I turned 30—a significant milestone for me. Both the client and studio gave me an incredible amount of creative freedom, so I saw it as the perfect opportunity to showcase everything I had learned. Trends and my skill set were different then, but even now, I still look back at that 60-second animation with pride. I handled everything from design, styleframes, animatics, and animation to editing—all on my own. It was a challenging task then, and it remains one of my proudest accomplishments.

As for Dewar’s Double Double, this was the first major commercial project at ManvsMachine where I had a significant contribution, marking a milestone in my U.S. career. It was also where I dove deep into Houdini, creating something both visually stunning and production-ready. The project required fluid simulations, as we developed a concept that transformed a garnished, old-fashioned space into a sleek, modern one using melting objects as a storytelling tool. It was my first deep dive into fluid simulation, and by the end, I had mastered it. This project not only honed my technical skills but also smoothed my creative process, removing many of the roadblocks I’d faced before.

Edward, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I am currently the Research and Design Lead at ManvsMachine (LA), a multidimensional creative studio specializing in design, film, and visual arts. Originally from Hong Kong, I began my career at Carbon, a design and motion graphics company, where I spent nearly six years building a strong foundation in the field. Just before turning 30, I had the opportunity to join Psyop in New York City, a larger media production company, where I worked for two years. Driven by my passion for working at one of the world’s top motion design studios, I transitioned to ManvsMachine.

At ManvsMachine, I have the chance to explore innovative visual languages, techniques, and approaches. I now focus on applying my technical expertise to create bespoke visuals that enhance and drive the narrative of each project.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

Leaving Hong Kong marked the beginning of a journey defined by resilience. Shortly after I arrived in NYC, COVID hit, and the city went into lockdown. Along with the culture shock, I faced an added layer of loneliness and uncertainty about the future. Fortunately, I was lucky enough to meet a few good friends who were there for me when I needed them the most. Looking back, I wouldn’t trade those experiences for anything. They taught me invaluable life lessons that have shaped the person I am today.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

I think here in LA the society has been doing good at involving public with artists. But I’d say with AI emerging, we need to preserve our human creative output more, not necessary against AI, but I think we should be careful with the direction its heading.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @ed.makes.geo
• Linkedin: @edddwardchiu

Image Credits

For 3D renders:
DJI image(blue) – Produced at Carbon
Other images – Produced at ManvsMachine LA