We recently connected with Jiaqi Sun and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Jiaqi, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

Growing up in an artistic family, it seemed as though destiny had predetermined my path towards a career in the creative realm. As a child, I was fortunate to have both my parents encouraging me to engage in creative activities such as drawing and painting. I attended to art classes and explored various artistic mediums. It was only natural that art and design slowly but surely became my true passion. I feel lucky that my parents are wholeheartedly supportive to me, as they themselves had pursued professions that ignited their own passions. As I delved into the world of Graphic Design in college, I was deeply fascinated. Graphic design, motion graphic, typography, zine. There is so much areas to explore and the process of making beautiful design is a pleasure. Also spreading joy and delight through my work, became my driving force and fulfillment.

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?

I’m Jiaqi Sun, a 23-year-old graphic designer originally from China, now based in New York. Currently working as the sole designer at a startup company. In this role, I manage various design responsibilities, including overseeing brand identity, creating visual assets, developing digital ads, website design and handling various other design tasks.

As a designer, my passion spans across various areas of the field, including graphic design, motion graphics, typography, zine and so on. However, my deepest passion lies in branding and typography. Within my projects, I love to involve creative custom typefaces and integrating them into brand identity systems. Crafting unique letterforms allows me to discover and express my distinctive design voice.

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

Being a designer is truly fulfilling. We get to engage in various projects, and unlock numerous design possibilities. We look at the world through our design lens. It’s cool to use our creativity as a tool to help clients stand out in the competitive market, amplify the voices of others, and, most importantly, contribute to building a better world.

Aside from that, it is excited when your design finally come to life through production. When you unexpectedly spot your work while walking down the street. You will feel really proud of yourself.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

It’s a common misconception among non-creatives that designers have the freedom to design whatever they please. When I was in design school, I too held this notion, envisioning a designer’s life as one primarily focused on the act of designing itself. However, I’ve come to understand that effective design extends far beyond just creating aesthetically pleasing visuals.

In reality, one of the most critical aspects of being a designer is communication with clients and gaining profound insights into clients’ true needs. Striking the right balance between understanding clients’ needs and staying true to our own creative vision is very challenging, yet it’s an essential lesson in our profession.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.jiaqisun.work
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jiaqi-sun-a3467a198/