We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Ruihan Xu a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Ruihan, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Have you been able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen? Was it like that from day one? If not, what were some of the major steps and milestones and do you think you could have sped up the process somehow knowing what you know now?

It wasn’t a full-time living from day one — like many creatives, I started as an intern in motion and graphic design, working with studios like Dazzle and McCann Worldgroup. During that time, I had the opportunity to observe, support, and collaborate with creative directors across a range of projects, which gave me both a clearer understanding of the industry and valuable hands-on experience.

Like many early-stage creatives, I went through an inevitable phase of uncertainty — realizing I hadn’t yet developed a strong eye for what makes commercial work truly effective. My early output wasn’t always polished, but I was aware of the gap and stayed proactive in learning and adapting. With time, things steadily improved.

Later, due to visa and market constraints, I transitioned into freelance work — collaborating with clients such as A-LINE Studio and SOT Shanghai Dance Theatre Co., Ltd. This phase brought new challenges: I had to think directly from the client’s perspective, manage full project pipelines independently, and sharpen both my technical skills and my communication and problem-solving abilities. It was a demanding but transformative period that significantly accelerated my growth.

Eventually, I moved into a full-time role at OnMed, where I finally had a stable income and a more defined creative identity. Working in a B2B environment pushed me to develop a well-rounded skill set and gave me a deeper understanding of how companies operate from the inside. I also came to realize that being embedded in the client-side process is crucial to truly balancing aesthetics with business goals — a realization that almost fundamentally reshaped the way I approach design.

After OnMed, I was fortunate to join Brand New School as a freelance 2D animator, where I worked on a project for AMD and contributed to a Google team — an incredibly rewarding experience that allowed me to grow under the guidance of an inspiring creative lead and an amazing team. That period helped me deepen my understanding of timing, speed, precision, and execution at a professional level.

Following that, I was later invited to freelance for teams such as Google Labs, &Walsh, and This is Bien, and also considered for full-time roles at studios like Mother Design. Although I wasn’t able to take them due to visa constraints and my return to China, I’m genuinely grateful — to me, these opportunities were affirmations of my growth, capability and potential, and I deeply appreciate being seen and considered. I hope our paths cross again someday.

Looking back, yes — had I known then what I know now, I could have probably sped up the journey. But I believe the most meaningful growth comes from hands-on experience. Every step, even the tough ones, laid the foundation for where I am today.

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

I’m a motion designer and creative with a background in both motion design, animation and graphic design. My journey began with internships at studios like Dazzle and McCann Worldgroup, where I worked alongside seasoned creative directors and gained hands-on experience in visual storytelling across formats.

Over the years, I’ve built a practice that blends narrative clarity, emotive rhythm, and content-driven motion design. My work spans brand animations, motion systems, digital campaigns, and more editorial or expressive visual pieces — across agency, in-house, and independent contexts. I’ve contributed to teams like Brand New School, OnMed, and collaborated with clients such as A-LINE Studio and SOT Shanghai Dance Theatre.

I specialize in translating abstract ideas into motion languages that feel alive — helping brands not just look polished, but move, in every sense of the word. I care deeply about pacing, energy, and emotional tone, because I believe motion isn’t decoration — it’s identity, intent, and connection.

What sets my work apart is a balance of creative sensitivity and structural thinking. I love building systems that are both expressive and strategically grounded, and I value the quiet, human moments that thoughtful design can create.

I’m most proud of the journey itself — from early internships, to freelance projects, to full-time roles, and eventually to freelance invitations from teams like Google Labs, &Walsh, and This is Bien. Each step not only expanded my skill set, but also deepened my perspective as a designer, communicator, and collaborator.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

I believe fair compensation is one of the most fundamental ways to support designers and creatives. When people are paid fairly for their work, they have more mental space, time, and motivation to push creative boundaries and explore the future of design.

For international creatives, I think more inclusive and flexible visa policies would make a meaningful difference. Many talented designers and artists face barriers that prevent them from staying and contributing to the communities they love. If those restrictions could be eased, it would allow for a richer, more diverse creative ecosystem — one where different cultures and perspectives can come together to shape how we see and create beauty in the world. Creativity thrives in diversity — and the more voices we welcome, the more inspiring the work becomes.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

At the core of my creative journey is a desire to connect — to create visuals that don’t just look good, but feel meaningful to the people who see them.

I’m deeply interested in how motion and design shape the way we experience content, culture, and identity. Whether I’m working on a campaign or a short piece of micro-animation, I always aim to build something that resonates emotionally and adds something thoughtful to the conversation.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://ruihanxu.com/
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/rooohan._.x?igshid=MTIyMzRjYmRlZg==
• Linkedin: http://linkedin.com/in/ruihan-xu-b6243b264