We were lucky to catch up with Nancy (xinxuan) Gao recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Nancy (Xinxuan) thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

I started learning to draw when I was four years old, but it was purely out of interest and as a hobby. Growing up in a small city in China, the education system wasn’t very supportive of pursuing art as a major. The peer pressure and expectations from school pushed me to focus solely on academic competitions until high school. As I got older and started thinking about college and my future career, I realized I couldn’t give up my drawing classes. It became clear that art and visual communication were essential parts of my life. At that moment, I decided to pursue art as my career.

You might wonder why I chose graphic design. My mom is a graphic designer, and her bookshelf was always full of design and art magazines. I think I was influenced by reading those. From that point, I began preparing to apply to ArtCenter College of Design, which ultimately set me on a professional artistic path.

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 a graphic designer with a focus on branding and visual identity. While some might find the concept of a design system confusing, it’s actually all around us. For example, when you think of Aesop, the dark brown interiors and minimalist, type-driven packaging likely come to mind. Or take Target—the red bullseye logo and signature red color are instantly recognizable. This is their visual language, communicating with the audience immediately, whether you step into their store or visit their website. Before a product is even purchased, their visual identity has already spoken.

This identity stems from their core branding values. From logos to color palettes, from graphic elements to image treatments, the identity remains both cohesive and adaptable across all applications.

What sets me apart is my understanding of brand concepts. When I undertake a rebranding project, I dive deep into research to reposition the brand and explore how to elevate it visually. Perhaps due to my background in fine arts, I have a heightened sensitivity to colors and how they can evoke emotion.

We all know that technological advancements are rapidly changing the design industry. There are no limits to design anymore—it’s not just 2D, but can also be expressed spatially, allowing audiences to interact with installations or programs. These multidisciplinary approaches can enhance a brand in unique and engaging ways. The growth of the design industry alongside technology is something I’m deeply passionate about.

For me, communicating visually is not just a career, but a lifelong pursuit.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

I think it’s more about finding inner peace. As an artist, when I draw or design, I feel more connected to life and the nature around me. I can tap into deep emotions from the heart, which I believe is really important for mental health. Whenever I feel upset or depressed, I go hiking, connecting with the trees, air, and sunlight. I observe the shape of the wind, the movement of the clouds, and the colors of the flowers, capturing them through painting or simple watercolor sketches. It feels like therapy, but in doing this, I can feel my energy return, allowing me to focus more on myself rather than being overwhelmed by the outside world.

It’s like a cycle: creating art gives me energy, which, in turn, helps me focus more on both art and design.

I’m grateful for my fine arts background before entering the design world. It gives me an escape into the world of paper and paint when I’ve spent too much time in front of a computer. This process brings me inner peace and energy—and who knows, I might even create more fine art alongside my design work!

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?

I feel like non-creatives often struggle to understand how visuals communicate. Even during my time in college, students in the product design major didn’t fully grasp the perspective of graphic designers. It’s hard for them to see when a typeface feels off, or to understand how spacing and blank space can say more than a design that’s overfilled.

It’s common for people in different fields to have difficulty understanding one another’s expertise. In the world of graphic design and art direction, our eyes are trained to recognize strong visuals. So, if non-creatives can’t distinguish between good and bad branding, it’s understandable. After all, that’s why we do what we do—and how we make a living.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://nancygxx.com/
• Instagram: gaox_xnancy
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancy-gao-59b0471a0/

Image Credits

Claudia Fung
Jack Li
Charlie Lee