Meet Demi Lan | Designer

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

Hi Demi, what role has risk played in your life or career?
Choosing between the predictable and the unpredictable, or the safe and risky route, is always challenging. Personally, I have taken significant risks in both my personal and professional life, and these decisions were not easy to make.
One notable risk I took was switching my college major to graphic design, despite having limited technical skills. Initially, I struggled with mastering computer programs, but over time, I adapted and excelled. Later, I ventured into motion design, another technology-intensive field. Although it was difficult at first, the eventual rewards were worth the effort.
I’ve heard that scientifically, people experience a dopamine release—a chemical that induces happiness—after overcoming struggles. Humans subconsciously seek challenges and endure pain because it leads to happiness. Reflecting on the risks I’ve taken, such as moving from Taiwan to the U.S. with minimal English skills, changing my college major, starting a family and having a child at 25 while newly employed, and traveling back to Asia for half a year with a six-month-old during COVID-19 which I end up losing my job and my baby caught COVID on the flight, I realize that these moments were filled with discomfort and uncertainty. Sleepless nights worrying about potential outcomes were common, but each risk taught me valuable lessons.
Not every risk I’ve taken has paid off yet, but many have led to great outcomes. I believe I will continue to take risks in the future. My guiding principle is to live without regrets. If you feel that taking a certain risk is something you’ll look back on and regret not pursuing, then go for it. Regardless of the outcome, it might be a lesson you need to learn, and every experience contributes to your growth.
I once asked a successful entrepreneur and fashion influencer about her decision to leave a stable job to start her own business from scratch. She shrugged and said, “Sometimes we are too free to put ourselves in a cage.” This resonated deeply with me—we have the freedom to take risks and shouldn’t confine ourselves out of fear.
We only live once, and if there’s something you truly want to do, go for it. Having a backup plan is wise, but remember that nothing is ever 100% safe, not even the backup plan. In the future, I might venture into an entirely new industry with no prior experience, starting from scratch once again. Who knows? Life is full of possibilities.

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 thrive on innovation and meaningful design that benefits society. I enjoy creating clever and thoughtful designs that provide solutions to problems. I let my imagination run wild, always thinking of better ways to do things, which prevents me from being confined to a single method of creation. I use a variety of mediums, from digital to textile designs. Inspiration comes from everything around me, whether it’s a wildflower on the road or beautiful art and sculptures in a museum. I often get my best ideas before bed, and I find myself jotting them down quickly in my phone to capture them before they fade away.
I love thinking and researching new knowledge to support my creativity, which helps me overcome challenges. There are so many resources available to learn from and solve problems. I am passionate about innovative and sustainable design that brings joy and fun to people’s lives.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I love to go to ROW DTLA for their pop-up markets and shops the environment there is great for every age. In LA there are a lot of pop-up markets everywhere that feature great creators with hand-made items and those places are my favorite I always are able to find cute and interesting products that are one of a kind. There are a lot of cute shops and restaurants in Silver Lake and the Chinatown area too.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
The most important part of my life is definitely my family, who have been my biggest supporters throughout my life journey and continue to be. I’m fortunate to have a family that gets along well and cares deeply for each other. Everyone plays a different role in supporting me in their own way. They have always given me the freedom to pursue whatever I want and provided me with a safety net to fall back on when things are not going well. In times when I’m confused or feel uncertain about which path to take, they offer their opinions but always leave the final decision to me. It’s very important for me to have them by my side at every step of my life, and I know they will always think the best for me and look out for me.

Another crucial part of my support system is my friends, whom I’ve made throughout the years. These are long-term friends that I met primarily in high school and college. They are like-minded and talented individuals who constantly inspire me. Whenever I hang out with my college friends, it always brings me back to the beginning of those school days, rekindling the enthusiasm and thrill about design. This excitement motivates me and helps me escape the mundane day-to-day routine, immersing me in the world of art and creativity.

Website: https://www.demidesign.info/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/demi-lan/