Meet Jiawei Wu | Graphic Designer & Visual Artist

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

Hi Jiawei, do you have any habits that you feel contribute to your effectiveness?
As a personal habit, I like to curate my own private moodboard. It involves organizing daily life photos that catch my attention, browsing inspiring pictures and texts online, and categorizing them into my favorites. This practice allows me to quickly find sources of inspiration and create mind maps when I need them for a project. Moreover, when I work on intricate design tasks, I often refer back to the materials I have sorted before, using them as fragments of life to consider various details and scenes. In this way, my personal approach to life seamlessly integrates with my professional design process.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
As a communications designer and visual artist, I am passionate about storytelling. For me, a successful project should have a cohesive system that connects everything from start to finish and includes additional elements to engage and captivate the target audience. I always strive to uncover the story behind my projects and continue exploring new possibilities. Drawing from my Eastern background and Western lifestyle, I blend cultural influences to create unique designs that appeal to a global audience. As my audience consists of individuals who have had exposure to diverse experiences and talented professionals in the field, they are often inspired by and connected to my artistic work and achievements as a graphic designer. My goal is to create a unique journey for the audience to experience and remember.

This approach, however, was not always easy for me. As a young visual artist, I used to prioritize visual appeal over storytelling and logical systems, resulting in works that lacked a coherent story and struggled to communicate with the audience. My creative world felt isolated and self-serving. It was only after I started to observe life and listen to others’ stories that I began to change my perspective. I collected stories from different people, searched for connections, and incorporated them into my work. Moving to New York introduced me to many talented individuals who provided new insights and challenges to my existing mindset, sparking my creativity and leading me to explore new directions. Step by step, I shifted my creation methods to find the best way to showcase my work, embracing the journey of exploration and excitement that comes with discovering unexpected directions.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Taking my friends to the Avenue of Stars would be an ideal choice since we all enjoy watching movies. Some of the famous films featured there could provide us with great inspiration for design or creation. It would be an interesting trip, and I would love for them to join me. We could also visit Mulholland Drive to take in the breathtaking night view or the Angels Flight railway to unwind. Of course, we would have to grab some main chicks, sit in an open space, and exchange insights on our lives.

If my friends visit in the summer, we could also consider going back to Willow Beach Marina for some boating activities. It would be a fantastic opportunity to appreciate the natural scenery of the turquoise lake through the transparent bottom of the boat. Being close to nature, we would be able to absorb its vibrant colors and bask in its beauty. As visual artists, I believe this experience would be both comfortable and awe-inspiring.

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?
When I initially joined the design industry, I faced a plethora of professional challenges. One of my first assignments was a branding identity project that demanded a thorough grasp of design ideology and comprehensive ability. At that time, I felt uncertain and lacked confidence. Fortunately, Camilla, a colleague with extensive experience, stepped in to guide me. She encouraged me to participate in every project and shared her knowledge of design thinking, including techniques for visualizing ideas and logical induction. This collaborative process allowed me to discover and develop my unique design strengths while enhancing my creative expression to the fullest. I am deeply grateful for her invaluable assistance in my professional growth and am excited to continue expanding my horizons and capabilities with her as my role model.

Website: https://www.behance.net/jiaweiwu

Instagram: peeeee8

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jiaweiwu5/

Image Credits
Jiawei Wu