Meet Airi Pan | Concept Designer and Illustrator

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

Hi Airi, what are you inspired by?
I’d be lying if I didn’t say anime and all the things that brought me joy as a kid. Cartoons, Disney Princesses, Magical Girl Anime, and MMORPGs were my bread and butter growing up and honestly, still is! All that stuff I loved growing up continues to inspire me today. It’s like tapping into pure nostalgia that fuels my creativity, and it makes my inner child the most happy. Shoutout to any of my guildmates who played countless hours of Elsword with me 🙂
That being said, my inspirations today have greatly expanded, to dance, graphic design, great lighting in interior design, and of course, Mother Nature

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’ve been told my art is a unique blend of East meets West. My background in Eastern aesthetics, like Chinese watercolors and anime, mixes with my training and work in Western, Disney-esque animation.
On an emotional level, I always try to draw what makes me incredibly happy. When I experience something delightful, I want to capture it in my art. Many people ask why I always draw characters with rabbit ears, and that’s because I’ve been drawing these two rabbit characters since I was 8 years old, and my goal is to let them experience the happiness I’ve felt throughout my life.
Today, as of writing, I am Principal Concept Artist at Riot Games, and having worked in games, animation both TV and feature, and illustrated for galleries both domestic and abroad. But all of that is just training to draw my own original characters to the best I can >:) !

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?
Alright, if anyone needs Pasadena and East LA recs, I’ve gotchu (cuz that’s where I’ve lived the past 6 years)
My favorite restaurant in Pasadena is Union. I’ve had Michelin star tasting menus in various countries, but Union’s pasta just hits like nothing else.
My favorite cafe to sketch at, is Boy and the Bear. The hot tea is served in a beaker and you feel like a mad scientist
My favorite place to lose myself, would be the Huntington Library. Fields of roses and flowers, with some excellent galleries scattered throughout the property, it really shouldn’t be called a library, but rather, an estate.
My favorite place that I wish to gatekeep in LA: Cos and Pi. Most delicious burgers and avocado toast that you’ll have. But the line is starting to get too long, so don’t *wink wink* go!!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
It’s a total cliche to say a thank you to parents, but it’s still certainly due. Shoutout to Pan Pan (my dad) and Jiajuan (my mom), who taught me the true definition of hard work and grit. I could ask for no better teacher.
In my career and life, I want to shoutout Tiffany Deng, a concept artist at Player First Games. Tiffany was my rock and foundation as I went through school, and was there for almost every single milestone I achieved, and all of my worst moments too. Having someone who can teach you to be kind each and every day and can accept you at your lowest, is more crucial than any program, brush, technique, or even mentor. I am eternally grateful because I think the most amazing human beings, are just around the corner, not decked in accolades or riches, but glowing in the way their heart radiates, and that’s Tiffany!

Website: https://airipan.com

Instagram: @pix_bun

Linkedin: Airi Pan

Twitter: @pix_bun

Other: Tiktok: @pix_bun

Image Credits
Keith Acedera for the first personal photo