Meet Ying Han

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

Hi Ying, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
I pursued an artistic and creative career because storytelling has always been a part of my life. As a child, I loved sharing the stories my mom told me, carefully choosing the right time and setting to captivate my friends. This passion for storytelling eventually found its way into art, starting with painting characters on rocks with my dad and marveling at how light transformed them. Over time, I realized that graphic design was a powerful medium for storytelling, allowing me to communicate ideas clearly and creatively to diverse audiences. From exploring contemporary views on love through abstract poster designs to addressing societal expectations of women through intricate leaf-cutting projects, design has become my tool to reflect, question, and connect with the world around me. I see storytelling as the thread that weaves through every project I undertake, turning ideas into visual narratives that inspire, challenge, and invite others to share in the story.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Graphic design is a storytelling tool for me. The stories I tell reflect my observations, curiosity, and thoughts about life. Life can be annoying, frustrating, and confusing. My art aims to bring peace to myself by understanding these negative emotions. I hope the stories I tell can help others to feel less alone when they are experiencing these emotions as well.

Modern Love Manifesto is a project to tell a story about love. In my twenties, my personal and friends’ experiences with love made me curious about how modern relationships differ from those of previous generations. This curiosity led me to interview people and create posters that showcased contemporary views on love. I used abstract silhouettes with colors, and typography to express each “manifesto” about love.

Beauty Farm is another ongoing project that stemmed from observing societal judgments and expectations about women’s appearances and behaviors. Using leaves as a metaphor, I record the impact of societal scrutiny. By cutting and shaping leaves, I symbolize how women adapt and reshape themselves under the pressure to achieve an ideal. This project explores the tension between natural individuality and societal standards.

My storytelling journey started when I was a kids. My mom, a great storyteller, filled my childhood with stories, and I loved retelling them to my friends. Over time, I realized that form and content are the keys of a good story, which is similar to graphic design . Typography, colors, shapes, layouts, and videos are the forms, each of these elements plays different roles when I need to emphasize different factors in my design. Whether for clients or myself, the form needs to match with the content and story.

My graphic design journey has not been easy, and I am still finding my way. When I first encountered graphic design as someone with a fine arts background, I initially thought it seemed somewhat “basic.” It felt like nothing more than arranging similar-looking fonts on a flat surface in different ways. However, once I started studying it systematically, I realized how deep and intricate the world of graphic design truly is.
Each typeface carries its own personality, different colors evoke distinct atmospheres, and various shapes elicit unique emotions. When these elements are combined, the possibilities for visual expression are endless. The challenge for me has been figuring out how to use the simplest and most direct methods to deliver a clear message while considering the audience—the “listeners” of the story—and ensuring they understand what I aim to convey. The only way to tackle this challenge is through continuous experimentation and practice. I began immersing myself in great works, analyzing not just graphic design but also photography, illustration, and other art forms. I studied how these works communicated their messages and applied those insights to my own designs. At the same time, I gained experience by working on projects for different clients, creating multiple options for each design, and comparing them to find the best solution.

Passion drives me to explore, and passion drives me to practice. Practice, as they say, makes perfect. Through repeated trials and ongoing learning, I’ve come to appreciate that graphic design is not just about visuals; it’s an art of storytelling. My goal is to use my designs to tell the most compelling stories to every audience I reach.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If my best friend were visiting, I’d plan an itinerary that highlights the best of Baltimore’s art, culture, and food. We’d start with brunch at Pitango Bakery + Cafe, enjoying the sunlight and sea views, followed by a visit to the American Visionary Art Museum, known for its unique exhibits and excellent branding. From there, we’d walk to Federal Hill, a perfect spot for panoramic harbor views, and later enjoy a crab dinner nearby—though I’m allergic, my friends always love Baltimore’s famous crabs. To end the day, we’d head back to the Inner Harbor to take in the beautiful night views and, if lucky, spot some ducks wandering around.

Over the next few days, we’ll visit the Glenstone Museum, with its amazing landscape art and wonderful outdoor views. The Walter Museum has a speacial museum Night on Thursday; the National Aquarium has half-admission sales on Friday night; and the Baltimore Zoo has penguin feedings and brushing the lama’s fur. We can also take a stroll through the city to explore the city’s graffiti art, local galleries, and live music bars.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’ve been incredibly fortunate to be part of supportive design communities, both in school and at work. They generously gave me feedback and courage. I also want to give a big shoutout to designers everywhere—I deeply appreciate their creativity and hard work. Their inspiring projects have motivated and challenged me to keep exploring the vast possibilities of design. I especially want to thank my internship supervisor, Du Xiao. He exemplifies a designer’s passion and perseverance. His professionalism and meticulous attention to detail taught me that exceptional design requires care, patience, and a profound understanding of every element you create and present. He emphasized the importance of balancing logic with intuition and approached design as a true craft. His high expectations and unwavering commitment to precision in his work left a lasting impression on me.

Website: ying-han.com

Instagram: ying.han.0122

Linkedin: Ying (Hannah) Han