Today we’d like to introduce you to Fandy Wu.

Hi Fandy , thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I’ve been passionate about fitness since high school and never looked back, which naturally sparked my curiosity about nutrition. That interest led me to major in Nutrition Science, and I eventually earned my degree from Boston University.

While still in undergrad, during COVID, I started a fitness and lifestyle social media account, treating it like an unpaid full-time job for years until it grew into something bigger than just a hobby. Over time, I realized I wanted to merge all my passions—fitness, nutrition, and creativity—through design. So, I taught myself graphic design, which led to an opportunity to design exhibition boards for an international textile company. I also contributed to creative brainstorming sessions and represented the team at Texworld NYC in July 2023.

With my self-taught skills and growing portfolio, I got into grad school and am now pursuing a master’s in Communication Design at Pratt Institute.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. If anything, the challenges along the way have shaped who I am today.

Balancing multiple passions—fitness, nutrition, design, and content creation—wasn’t easy, especially when I was treating my social media like a full-time job while still in undergrad. During COVID, I poured countless hours into building my fitness and lifestyle account without knowing if it would ever lead to anything. It was exhausting at times, but I kept going because I genuinely loved creating and sharing my journey.

Then came the transition from nutrition to design. I didn’t have a formal background in design, so I had to teach myself everything—from graphic design basics to motion graphics—while proving I belonged in the field. Breaking into the creative industry without a traditional design degree at first was tough, but I kept pushing myself, building my portfolio, and saying yes to opportunities, like designing exhibition boards for an international textile company. Even now, I continue to say yes to new opportunities. With the rise of AI and technology evolving so fast, I know that the more skills I learn, the more opportunities I’ll have. The position I aim for might not even exist right now, but I’m ready for whatever comes. Right now, I’m overloading my course load while also doing an SEO internship I taught myself to pursue and creating content for an event space called HANA House in NYC. They reached out to me because they enjoyed my content on my food account, so I gladly took the opportunity. It’s also a great way for me to build my network.

Being an international student added another layer of difficulty. There’s always the stress of visa restrictions, job market challenges, and the constant pressure to prove myself. But despite all of that, I’ve learned to focus on what I can control—honing my skills, growing my network, and staying open to new opportunities.

The road hasn’t been smooth, but I wouldn’t change it. Every challenge has pushed me to adapt, work harder, and keep evolving.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
What really excites me about design is the chance to mix creativity with strategy, especially through graphic design, motion graphics, and brand storytelling. I love finding ways to connect with people on a deeper level, beyond just the visuals. Even though I’ve been told I have a pretty strong personal style in design, I’m still figuring out my brand voice and refining it.

I’m really proud of how I’ve taught myself design and built my portfolio from scratch. One of the biggest highlights has been designing exhibition boards for an international textile company and even representing them at Texworld NYC. It’s a huge accomplishment because it shows that dedication and self-teaching can lead to real opportunities, even without a formal design degree. And of course, I’m always learning and growing!

What makes me stand out is the unique blend of skills and experiences I’ve developed over time. I’ve been known as the “gym girl” or the “fitness girl” since high school. I’ve spent years growing a fitness and lifestyle social media account, which taught me a lot about content creation, community-building, and brand messaging. I’ve brought all of that knowledge into my design work, combining my passion for fitness with creativity. I’m also super adaptable and always eager to learn—whether it’s picking up SEO skills for my internship or creating content for HANA House. I’m all about pushing my limits and embracing new opportunities.

At the end of the day, I think what really sets me apart is my mindset. I’m not just looking for design projects—I want to use design to create real, meaningful connections and experiences. I want to tell stories that resonate with people and make them feel like they’re part of something bigger than just a brand or product. That’s what truly excites me about design!

What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
I think the design industry is going to go through some big changes in the next 5-10 years, especially with AI becoming more mainstream. With all the new tools popping up, I see designers who know how to use AI to their advantage—streamlining tasks and working more efficiently—really thriving. But I don’t think AI can replace the human touch, especially when it comes to things like creating brand stories that truly resonate with people and evoke emotion. That’s something only a designer can do.

I also think we’ll start to see new roles emerge, like AI content creators or AI prompt writers, as more people get involved in making AI work for them in the creative process. But the key is going to be how designers adapt and integrate these tools into their work. The ones who can use AI to speed up their process but still keep that emotional connection in their designs will stand out.

At the end of the day, I don’t think AI will replace us, but the designers who know how to work with it will definitely have the edge over those who don’t keep up. It’s all about staying creative while embracing the tools that help make our work even better.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.fandywu.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fandy_wuu/?hl=en
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hsin-fang-wu-3a445a2ba/?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app
• Other: https://www.instagram.com/fandywu_the_foodie/?hl=en

Image Credits
Fandy Wu