Meet Jane Wu | Interdisciplinary designer specializing in package and branding design

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jane Wu and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jane, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
As a kid, I was easily bored and changed my mind very often. Over the years, I explored my interests and hobbies in many areas. Yet, the only thing that has always kept me interested was art. As I progressed through my education, I attended a secondary school with a strong focus on art and design and enrolled in my first design class during middle school. Despite uncertainty about my specific creative path, I remained determined to pursue a career in the creative domain.

As an interdisciplinary designer, I derive the greatest satisfaction from exploring diverse approaches to problem-solving. The creative industry’s flexibility is both liberating and intellectually stimulating, enabling me to develop a range of strategies to tackle challenges. Working with clients across various industries adds an element of fascination and inspiration, distinguishing this profession from others. Each new client or project presents an opportunity for me to delve deeper into their industry or narratives. The ongoing learning process ensures that I remain engaged and dynamic, as there is always something new to discover.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I am an interdisciplinary designer specializing in package and branding design, currently based in the United States with roots in Hong Kong. My design style is a fusion of Western and Asian cultures. Currently, I serve as the Creative Lead at a Nutritional Beverage company, overseeing all creative endeavors, including a recent comprehensive rebranding initiative spanning the brand, packaging, and online store. Concurrently, I actively pursue a variety of independent projects for clients not only in the United States but also internationally.

My approach to every creative challenge consistently aims to diverge from prevailing trends and competitors, delivering designs imbued with a distinctive essence or enhancements to established ones. I eschew conventional methods. In my package design endeavors, I prioritize integrating patterns and original illustrations. My fervor for typography and editorial design is unmistakable. Recently, I’ve broadened my expertise to encompass UI/UX design. Having grown up with a background in fine art, I find it enriches my design sensibilities significantly. For instance, it enables me to create compositional tension, employ patterns purposefully, and harmonize color schemes. Furthermore, drawing from my experience in photography and video editing enhances my capabilities. Embracing an interdisciplinary mindset, I am confident that my adeptness in navigating various disciplines, formats, and media positions me favorably to adeptly address complex challenges.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I will definitely take them to some of my favorite museums, including The Broad, a contemporary art museum with an impressive collection and stunning architecture. Another recommendation is the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the largest art museum on the West Coast, showcasing both classic and modern art. Besides art museums, I love visiting the Huntington Botanical Gardens, where I find great inspiration in nature. For food, I will definitely take them to Little Tokyo, as I am a big fan of Japanese cuisine.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I am very fortunate to have attended one of the most famous design schools, the School of Visual Arts, for my Bachelor’s degree. I pursued majors in both advertising and graphic design. During my studies, I met my professor and mentor, Olga Mezhibovskaya, who laid the groundwork for my professional creative journey as an interdisciplinary designer. She guided me for three years in various classes, from typography design to interdisciplinary design. She taught me everything I know about typography and has been the best professor I could have had for preparing my senior portfolio. In this portfolio, I had the chance to showcase my diverse design skills and personal interests. Instead of catering to market expectations, my portfolio ultimately presented not just my design skills or aesthetic style but who I am as a person, which makes me stand out among my peers.

Website: https://letjanedesign.com

Instagram: letjanedesign