Interview with Wen-Chia Chang from United States

It all started with my mom introducing me to the musicals and movies. Since then, I have been very drawn to musicals and collecting musical posters from some notable shows. After graduating college, I worked as a salesperson in the Theatre and Concert Hall. I had an opportunity to do the design for children's summer camps, where I started to realize my passion for design. I was then self-taught in Photoshop and Illustrator and made my way into the AAU Graphic Design, which was my first step into the creative and design industry.

I stepped into the world of design when I took an undergraduate course in animation, where my teammates and I won an award! Later on, I was engaged in numerous poster projects with the National Theater and Concert Hall and created visual and marketing material for children's camps.

In 2021, I joined an SF-based Gaming company as a Visual Designer. Working with a brand like this has pushed my creative thinking and brand execution even further. It has been a blessing to work with super-talented people and create amazing visual and product graphics for product launches. I hope to continue growing and honing my design skills to bring holistic and engaging design to life.

For me, creativity could be simple, iconic, and impactful. Creativity is the capacity to redefine the old with new perspectives and create and infuse unique experiences in people's lives.

While studying, one of my professors told us: "Don't just be a designer; be a storyteller." The value of a creative idea or design is not solely in its aesthetics but in the way you present it, the meaning, and the purpose it conveys.

So, when I work as a designer in my company, I'll clear out my questions and know the business goal after receiving the brief. Then, I will do the research, directing my attention to the essential information that needs to be conveyed to the audience. After that, I will explore various design styles, start collecting references, and explore several directions. The last step is sketching ideas from one or two concepts that the client chose. Having feedback back and forth during the process and eventually coming up with an idea that we both agree on and are happy with.

I love doing the research, but sometimes I spend too much time on it that I need to set a time to stop. For me, research could help me understand more about the topic I'm working on. It allows me to dig deeper and not just scratch the surfaces, giving more depth to my design.

I'll describe most of my creative style as a sense of cosmic, gaming-like, and tech-driven.

Yeah, Absolutely. My hometown's diverse history certainly taught me to be more open-minded and willing to try different approaches or mix materials to ac achieve what's best for the ideas.

It's an honor to receive this award. Having this award boosted my confidence as a designer. And no doubt, it motivates me to create more work and I'm happy to share this with my family and friends.

I chose this personal project to enter the 2023 MUSE Creative Awards because it represents my country's history, in which the people before me fought for our land and brought freedom, harmony, and peace to my country. I'm really grateful for that, and I think this piece also means a lot to me.

Creativity, innovation, and kindness.

My home country has a diverse history. We have been colonized by several countries. And each brought their uniqueness and aesthetic into my country in different forms. I think that makes the creative industry in my country open-minded, innovative, and dynamic.

We live in a world where technology has changed dramatically every day, and it is essential to keep up with what is coming, what the trends are, what technologies are the latest, and how we can have them involved in our design process. It will make us better designers to create more impactful and meaningful works.

Looking back, I wish I had made more connections with people earlier in my creative journey. Like, genuinely getting interested in their stories and learning from them has been inspiring and has expanded my perspective more than any online resource ever could. It takes time to meet those fantastic friends or mentors who take you to the next level in your career, but every connection has its value. So, it’s essential to cherish the relationships that bring you joy and allow you to share your passions.

Inspired by my mom, who instilled in me a love for exploring new ideas and embracing different perspectives, exposing me to movies like Star Wars and encouraging me to stay curious. I am also a gamer. Gaming with visually stunning design, interface, and art have all been significant influences that have shaped me into the designer I am today.

My desire to create remained strong over the years. I continued to develop my design talents, and I naturally gravitated toward careers that would allow me to follow these creative paths.