Meet Scarlett Ssu-Chia Chen | Motion Designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Scarlett Ssu-Chia Chen and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Scarlett, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
Before my artistic journey in the US, I pursued a major in Economics during my undergraduate studies in Taiwan. Around my junior year, I began questioning myself if economics was truly my calling, struggling with uncertainty about my future. It was during this time that a senior designer offered invaluable advice, encouraging me to reflect on the question: ”What can I envision myself doing from morning till night every day in the future?” This insight was a turning point. I have always held a deep interest in arts and design. But in the past, I lacked confidence in my artistic abilities. However, when envisioning a future where I’d be engaged in something from morning till night, I discovered my desire to be involved in creative industries.

So, I embarked on a journey to explore various aspects of creative fields. When I got into motion design, I felt a profound excitement and joy that I hadn’t experienced before. As an introverted individual, I had always struggled with expressing myself. However, through motion graphics, I discovered a powerful medium to convey my thoughts and feelings to others and foster connections. This inspiration led me to transition from economics to motion design with a clear goal in mind: to become a motion designer and collaborate with diverse, talented artists to create work that could touch people’s hearts.

Therefore, I headed to New York to pursue a master’s degree in MFA Computer Arts at the School of Visual Arts. After completing my studies, I relocated to Los Angeles and began working as a motion designer.

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.
About my artwork, I specialize in creating vibrant animations using 2D and 3D motion graphics. I like to take the viewers down an emotional, wild, but surprisingly smooth ride through my fantastical animation, which is full of energy and happiness but also with a touch of trippiness. With a background in Economics of decision-making, I design with sensitivity to audience needs and effectively solve their problems.

One of my representative works is my thesis film “Overthinking Tea,” a project I directed, designed, and animated entirely on my own. This animated short tells the story of a girl struggling with overthinking, drawing from my own experiences. Through this project, I want to turn my negative experience of overthinking into a blessing and let those who have similar experiences know they are not alone.

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’m a foodie. I like to explore good food and really enjoy making the food I love into animation. (That’s why you can see there is a lot of food in my animations!) Therefore, I will definitely plan a foodie journey in LA. We would start from the east and work our way to the west, savoring a variety of cuisines such as Asian, Mexican, Italian, Mediterranean, and more. Alongside the culinary adventure, we’d immerse ourselves in the artsy vibe at the museums, gaze over the entire LA skyline at the Observatory, watch the stunning sunset on the beach, and enjoy our nights at a jazz bar.

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?
Firstly, I want to dedicate my shoutout to my instructors in SVA, Adam Meyers, India Lombardi-Bello, Kun-I Chang, and Anney Bonney. From the difficult first year to the struggling thesis year, there were many moments when I felt overwhelmed and uncertain, but the support you gave me made me strong and grow. Thank you for always thinking of my needs and providing me with the strongest support. I don’t think I could have gotten through all of this without your help. I am so honored to have been your student.

Additionally, shoutout to my fellow artist, Jessica Wu. As someone who always suffers from self-doubt and fears, I always struggle with both my artwork and personality. However, your words always lifted me up and helped me to believe in myself. Thank you for always telling me my good points that I didn’t notice, and making me secure whenever I feel scared. Your warm company during my difficult time has meant the world to me. I feel incredibly lucky and grateful to have you with me on this journey.

I am deeply grateful for the people who have accompanied me along the way. They have provided unwavering support during challenging times, shaping me into a more compassionate and resilient individual.

Website: https://scarlettchen.art/

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

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

Image Credits
Scarlett Chen