Meet Jun Lin | Designer

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

Hi Jun, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
Turning ideas into tangible things has been an enduring source of fulfillment for me. I think a lot of creative people feel the same way. I chose graphic design because it’s a trade all about form-giving: shaping ideas into meaningful forms that hopefully resonate with others.

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 often think of myself as a print designer first, but over the past few years, I’ve dabbled in many other things (like motion work, video editing, planning a small exhibit, event branding, packaging, community research; expanding the breadth of my skills) which makes me more of a generalist, out of necessity.

Because of this, I’ve done a lot of learning on the job. Through these experiences, I’ve gained important problem-solving skills that allow me to tackle, head-on, a variety of challenges. Though learning on the job can be stressful, I’ve found that the moments of triumph—where I figure out something all on my own—are incredibly rewarding. Each time I overcome a challenge, I figure out what I have a knack for, and I gain more confidence as a designer.

In a similar vein, I’ve also learned when to just go for things and not limit myself to one type of design. There’s definitely immense pressure I put on myself to produce everything at the highest fidelity possible (in a short amount of time), but if I can overcome those mental hurdles, I often find that it’s not that scary, and that all challenges are opportunities for growth (and an opportunity to make something cool!).

Finally, I love working with my collaborators, and I feel emotionally attached to my work. As a result, I put a lot of care into the work I do, and this dedication is what shapes me as a designer.

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 only feel qualified to give bookstore recs! Here are some in L.A.; any one of these is worth checking out! Used and rare books: Other Books (Boyle Heights), Alias Books East (Atwater Village), The Iliad Bookshop (North Hollywood), The Battery (Pasadena); Art books: Skylight Arts Annex (Los Feliz), Arcana (Culver City), Artbook (Arts District); Indie bookstores: Stories (Echo Park), Prospect (Culinary books in South Pas), Vroman’s (Pasadena), Octavia’s Bookshelf (Pasadena), Tomorrow Today (Chinatown), Now Instant (Chinatown).

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I am grateful for all my friends and instructors during my studies at ArtCenter College of Design. This experience was very formative for me, and with their encouragement and support, I’ve learned so much about graphic design and where I want to exist in this line of work.

I also want to give a shout out to the organization I work for called Deem. Deem is a global platform focused on design as a social practice. At Deem, I get the opportunity to work with the best and brightest. From engaging with our contributors to staff (i.e. editors, designers, and art directors), I feel that I grow as a designer and person every day. It’s also very fulfilling to work on projects that have such a clear purpose—and at Deem, that purpose is to foster more equitable and inclusive spaces through design. I feel very lucky to work somewhere that aligns with my values.

Website: junlin.info

Instagram: @junlin.info