Meet Stephanie Wu | Deaf Asian Woman Graphic Designer

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

Hi Stephanie, where are your from? We’d love to hear about how your background has played a role in who you are today?
I am ethically Taiwanese American but also refer to myself as American-Born Chinese Deaf (ABCD). I am a first-generation child of Taiwanese immigrants born and raised in Los Angeles. I am also profoundly Deaf and the only Deaf member of my family. In addition, I have a little sister.

When I was growing up, I faced a lot of challenges due to my Deafness, and my family encouraged me to pursue education and social activities to ensure my success. I started with hearing aids at the age of 3. I learned how to talk by attending mainstream schools and undergoing substantial speech therapy. I also learned piano when I was 8 years old and had many years of training in gymnastics, ballet, and dance. However, because I could only hear loud sounds like thunder, sirens, or leafblowers, I still found all these activities tough and strenuous. In the absence of listening to speech, I became very proficient at lip reading. I learned to adapt to a world made for the hearing. Once I received a cochlear implant at age 12, a whole world of sounds opened up and I improved in my speech therapy. In conjunction, I learned American Sign Language in high school which became a big part of my love for visual art and communication.

Originally, I always wanted to be an artist because I was not fond of subjects that involved traditional written language and numbers. But this evolved as I learned to love creating visual art to communicate messages that can’t be heard but can be seen. One person who greatly inspired me to be an artist is Walt Disney. Growing up watching his movies and going to Disneyland with my family inspired me to create art the way Walt Disney created Disneyland, a medium of art and imagination for everybody to enjoy. I admired his motivation, perseverance, and creativity. At first, my parents had a hard time coming to terms with my goal to become an artist and were resistant for me to go to New York to study graphic design at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT). Their traditional cultural values led them to believe that being an intersectional minority of Deaf Asian, it would be difficult to follow the path of an artist and find financial and job stability while being 3,000 plus miles. It felt like not just the world with its limited accessibility and opportunities for Deaf individuals, but my parents were also doubtful of my agency and goals. But my maternal grandmother encouraged me and believed I could accomplish my dreams as long I did not give up on account of my Deafness.

With perseverance and the support of my loved ones, I went above and beyond my expectations and the wishes of my grandmother by graduating from RIT with a Bachelor of Science in Graphic Design/Public Relations. Graduation only meant the start of a long road of growth. I was devastated to not be chosen for a Walt Disney Animation internship among other lost job offers. With my mother’s help, I landed a job as a graphic/production designer for a home decor company until I was laid off during the pandemic. I felt hopeless, ready to give up, and ashamed because I was afraid of not living up to expectations. Furthermore, the COVID-19 pandemic brought record levels of racial hate against Asian Americans which contributed to my complicated feelings of being an unemployed Deaf Asian artist during this time. How do I succeed in a world that actively works against me? But, my family was very supportive, understanding, and proud of me for my successes thus far. With my family and friend’s support, I finally got back on track by creating my path despite the barriers in this society. I started my own small business creating and selling home decor products. I became a food host of a series called Bellyful by a Deaf content group, Warehouse TV, and I started teaching ASL classes for adults until I finally came to my close dream job. I am currently working for Van Eaton Galleries as a photo editor who collects vintage Disney items for auction. Looking back, I can see how all my hardships and experiences, combined with the love and support from my family and friends have led me here today. And I am incredibly proud of myself for carving my own path and not giving up as a Deaf Asian Woman.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?

Currently, I am a photo editor for Van Eaton Galleries, which collects vintage Disney items for auction. My job is to clean and cut out the images for the website and catalog. The most exciting part of working there is seeing more vintage Disney items and hearing about their fun facts from coworkers. There were times where it was easy to clean and cut out, regardless of how much detail there was to be implemented. My time is spent making sure everything looks good and then uploading it to the server. In general, I would like people to realize that Deaf people also have a great deal of talent, and they deserve an equal chance at working alongside others. It is important for people to be patient with Deaf people as well as open minded when it comes to communicating for convenience.

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.
The sights and food in Los Angeles are endless! I usually take them to food halls with things to do nearby, such as The Original Market, Smorgasburg (usually on Sundays), Citizen Market, Grand Central Market, and 626 Night Market. Whenever I have friends visiting, I always take them to Pine & Crane in Silverlake, or its sister restaurant Joy in Highland Park. They serve the best Taiwanese dishes, and there are many other things to do in Silverlake & Highland Park.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I want to dedicate my shoutout to my family, husband, and close friends who supported and encouraged me throughout. My success is owed to my parents, sister, and husband who deserve recognition for their contributions.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/homwu.gifts/

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/stephanie-wu-1aa83188

Youtube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAbr28S-SxGQgrAfkDM8c6bG4A8GqwEfs&si=7CJv6JFiPn6JN-rX

Image Credits
2 Bellyful Images goes to Warehouse TV