Meet Anqi Qiao | Visual Designer

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

Hi Anqi, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I am an animal lover since I was small. I have too many happy memories about animals when I was kid, when my grandparents took me on their bicycles to petting zoo to fed carrots to the sika deer and millet to the parrots; when I sit on my dad’s shoulders to watch the giraffes and elephants; when my grandpa made cricket cages out of bamboo to keep rickets, and I watch it chewing cucumber and listening to it’s chirping; when I pressed my face against the huge fish tank, watching the tropical fish swimming around and eating fish food on water surface.

My passion in animals making me a curious kid who eager to observe every details in the world. This love for observing led me to start learning how to draw, and I have always enjoyed drawing from kindergarten to high school. I took lessons in sketching and coloring for years. Back then, I wanted to become an illustrator who could bring warmth and joy to people. In high school, I learned about industrial design and developed the idea of designing products that improve people’s lives. My initial curiosity for animals sparked my creativity and guides me through that process and into the design world. I envision a future where products using technology make people’s lives better.

When I turned 19, I moved to Los Angeles and attended ArtCenter College of Design to pursue my dream of design. Now, I am a multidisciplinary designer specializing in visual design, branding, industrial design, packaging design, and 3D graphics. I studied at ArtCenter College of Design for four years and worked in design agency for two years. It has been a journey of self-exploration, full of challenges and obstacles. Whether it was stressful, enjoyable, uncertain, or overwhelming, every step has been part of my journey, making me a better person and a better designer.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
During my work experience, I have created digital design assets for Google, Meta, YouTube, Japan House, and 88 Rising, related to branding, campaigns, and 2D and 3D illustration.

In my personal design work, I describe myself as a dreamer and a visual storyteller. I imagine how future technology could enter people’s lives in a humane and humorous way. I am also very interested in graphic design, using simple lines and shapes to express a brand’s culture and personality.

My designs have won multiple awards. In my packaging design class, I contemplated and imagined how to create futuristic and space-themed packaging designs, or creatively rethink how to eat ice cream in an experimental way. When I hear news about space travel, I reimagine food packaging for meals during space travel. Moreover, as someone who wants a pet that can follow me anywhere, I ponder how technology could be used to design a small drone pet that can accompany you everywhere.

These ideas may seem impractical to most people, but I find joy in exploring them. Imagining future lifestyles and possibilities excites me and sparks infinite ideas.

It’s definitely not a smooth journey. I feel that my 6 years studying and working in design field were a journey of self-discovery.

While the four years of industrial design classes in school were indeed an interesting experience, I gradually found myself weary of endless market research, filleting edges, and countless ideation sessions with basic cubes. I often felt lost during that time. Some of my peers already had their clear goals in college – such as designing shoes, consumer electronics, or furniture. However, I seemed unable to find joy in design for myself at that time, I just finish the homework the instructors gave to me without finding value doing these designs.

Fortunately, I slowly got exposed to courses outside of product design – graphic design, branding, packaging design. Gradually, I realized that I seemed to have a passion for pure visual expression. I enjoyed telling stories with simple graphics or layouts, wanting to express ideas or narratives with my imagination, rich colors, simple shapes. Of course, I hadn’t completely lost interest in product design; I still enjoyed ideation and brainstorming concepts for products. I just didn’t want to do the traditional industrial design anymore. I feel like the ideations in industrial design has too many limitations for me. So, in the months leading up to graduation, I applied and got into a graphic design agency, thus beginning my journey from industrial design to graphic design. Or maybe the combination of both.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
When my friends visit LA for the first time, I’ll take them to Bottega Louie in downtown for brunch and desserts, then to Santa Monica Beach to soak up the sun. We’ll spend an afternoon at the Getty Center admiring Van Gogh’s “Irises” and taking in the panoramic views of LA. Another must-visit is the Huntington Library, which features plants and garden designs from around the world—one of my favorite spots in LA. Griffith Observatory is my top choice for watching sunsets; I always bring my friends there to witness LA’s stunning sunsets. In the evening, we’ll head to Mulholland Drive for a view of LA’s skyline at night. The twinkling cityscape is one of my most unforgettable sights in LA.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My family has always supported me in doing what I love, whether it was trying different hobbies when I was young or studying design as I grew older. I am truly grateful for their unconditional support and understanding. The space they gave me to follow my passions is my greatest treasure in life.

Additionally, I am grateful for my first manager, Kat, who I met at my first job. As I transitioned from school to the real world of design, Kat patiently and kindly guided me on how to become a better designer.

Website: https://anqiqaq.com/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anqi-qiao-0330501b2/