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

JJ, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

For my degree project at RISD in Graphic Design, I created the project Sinful Magical Girls to celebrate girlhood. I wasn’t always comfortable about being a girl. My internalized misogyny slowly faded as I watched more magical girls’ cartoons. Just as magical girls are always symbols of love and peace, I invited my friends and formed a group of sinful magical girls embodying the seven deadly sins. We “sinful” girls wrote passages on our past experiences or reflections of not being virtuous. Accompanying a book and a website (https://jiejianjj.github.io/webtype/projects/confession/confessions.html) of confessions, I hand-crocheted seven butterfly tops for each girl, drew one text typeface, designed one variable font, and tufted one magic circle rug. I have also taken pictures of each individual: freckles on the left cheek, a vaccine scar on the right arm, or cellulite below the hips. The tiny details abstract the human figures yet make them more humane. By initiating the confessions, we regain the power, reclaim our explanation of the guilt, and carry our evilness. Every design element is made by a woman for women. This project celebrates our journey to face our evilness, honoring girlhood in this stupid manhood and the struggle and pain we have experienced due to our disapproved sins.

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

My journey through art education was tumultuous, marked by a struggle to find my place and voice. In the halls of RISD, I grappled with questions of identity and purpose, unsure of where I fit in as an Asian, Chinese, and female-identified artist.

During those formative years, I poured my thoughts into a heartfelt passage, grappling with doubts about the value of my art and its ability to effect real change. I questioned the privilege of creating art while others suffered and the role of artists in shaping the world around them.

It was amidst this uncertainty that I stumbled upon moments of clarity. While the art world buzzed with flashy graphics and grand gestures, I was drawn to something more grounded and authentic. I realized that my true passion lay not in creating spectacle but in the simplicity and sincerity of self-expression.

For me, art is about more than aesthetics— connection, communication, and empathy. It’s about finding meaning in the mundane and truth in the everyday. My art reflects who I am—a testament to the power of authenticity and vulnerability in a world that often prizes superficiality.

As I continue my artistic journey, I remain committed to using my work as a force for positive change. Whether through painting, sculpture, or any other medium, I strive to create art that sparks dialogue, fosters understanding, and inspires compassion.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

Though often taught and believed to create mesmerizing flashy graphics as a “graphic designer,” I find myself more inclined to deal with type and type only. I believe graphic design is still about plain communication, and the core of it lies in typography and letters. Letters allow us to read, reading constitutes languages, and languages give letters forms of emotions and purposes. The authenticity that letters naturally encompass and the sincerity behind their creators always fascinate me. The forms of communication, or graphic design, have been expressed in many different ways through distinct letterforms or the arrangements of single letters, such as in concrete poetry. The letterforms already hold the power to communicate the meaning behind the texts, and being able to read and receive their senses is a powerful tool we have. I want to dive deeper into creating letterforms and encapsulating emotions within the letters.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

“Joan Didion’s The Year of Magical Thinking” deeply resonated with me. Her candid exploration of grief after the sudden loss of her husband and her daughter’s illness felt incredibly personal. It reminded me of my own experiences with loss and how I’ve navigated challenging times.

Didion’s raw honesty made it feel like she was sharing her story directly with me. Her reflections on memory and perception prompted me to reconsider how I make sense of the world.

Overall, the book served as a comforting reminder that it’s okay to feel lost and that there’s strength in confronting our emotions.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://jjjiejian.me/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jiejianjj/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jie-jian-996037173/