Meet Awa Yin | Character Designer

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

Hi Awa, why did you pursue a creative career?
To become a character designer is the dream I want to achieve. Zootopia has always been my favorite film. When the main character Judy takes the train to Zootopia, I was astonished by the diverse environment and considerate devices for every kind of animal. That was the first time I approached the concept of character designer, and this feeling buried a little seed of dream in my heart: I want to be on a team to develop these ideas.

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.
For me, creating something itself is a real challenge. Unlike artists who can draw whatever they want anytime, I am more like a person who has to think before doing anything. I often spend a lot of time thinking before drawing, and even while drawing. I understand that I am not an artist who is good at every creative field, and I have to do research and study for a while to get the slightest approach and feeling for my work. For example, it took me a long time to learn about coloring because I didn’t know what color palette and vibe was the one that I liked. I’m also studying perspective by myself recently. We had perspective class for a semester in Calarts but I’m still unsure if I really understand how perspective works in my drawing. So I want to learn more and make sure I know how to use it correctly.

I can’t say that the process from learning to gradually getting these principles is all fun. After all, sometimes it is really painful when you can’t figure out while drawing. But the process of going through thinking to picturing the scene from my brain is very fulfilling. I know that there are artists who used to struggle if they liked drawing like I did, but I’d like to say, I really enjoy those moments when I just simply create my own work.

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.
I will probably take my friend to get on a train and go to the Academy Museum. I rarely had time to go downtown when I was in school, but I had once taken a train with my friend. It was really fun. Taking train is a way to experience the place and people, and the train station was so different from where I come from. It was really a great experience! I also really like the Academy Museum. I love their film related exhibition, and would like to go there again.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My parents, who have been super supportive all the way since I wanted to be an art student. And my talented friends Joanne and Yuhan. I couldn’t finish my first year if I have never met them. Thank you guys so much!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/isawa317/