Meet YiJun Jiang | Graphic Designer

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

Hi YiJun, how do you think about risk?
Risk-taking, for me, entails seizing opportunities, embracing adventure without fear, and not only harboring passion for dreams but also meticulously planning to mitigate the risk of failure.

Despite being a young designer at 31, I am keenly observant of numerous details, and I aspire to share these insights with others through my observations. Essentially, whether you’re a designer or in any other profession, encountering various changes and setbacks is inevitable. While I lack a universal method to teach everyone how to cope, I have one simple message to share: “Don’t fear change. Change fear.”

I have two stories to share. The first story is about how I conquered my extreme shyness and fear of being seen, eventually gaining the ability to speak and share my thoughts on stage. Through years of practice, I gradually transformed from an introvert to an extrovert. During my teaching internship in a school environment back in 2014, my supervisor, who was usually the homeroom teacher of the class, often asked me to lecture at the last minute during breaks. It was extremely frightening for me to go on stage without a prepared script or having previewed the material. For the first two or three weeks, I often cried in secret in the restroom after class due to poor delivery and lack of student engagement. However, after being forced to lecture every day, the pressure trained me to improvise speeches or enhance my courage in making proposals. This skill proved to be useful in my later career.

In 2021, Taiwan Professional & Scholar Networking invited me to be the team leader of The World Sandbox, discussing higher education policies and guiding scholarship recipients to engage in cross-generational dialogue. Being able to present the summary of the day’s discussions and share my experience, Professor Han, the Director of Research and Development, was impressed by my speech. Later, I was invited to speak at the National Taiwan University of Arts in 2022. During the speech, I received more than 100 positive feedback comments from students. Some of the positive feedback included: ‘I think the speaker’s content planning is very clear’ and ‘Every page of the presentation is well-crafted, and I will carefully consider the content above for future learning directions and employment issues. The information about scholarships is also very useful.’ Another student commented, “The presenter prepared diligently, provided clear explanations, and I felt that one hour was too short.” The statement, “Even if you fail, it’s okay; set your goals a little farther,” really moved me.

After all, I have been practicing public speaking for as long as I can remember, attempting various methods, practicing continuously, and encountering different scenarios. I hope my audience can easily understand, feel connected, and find it interesting to listen. For introverted people, continuous speaking is a challenging practice. In August 2023, I interviewed and conducted a campus visit for the position of Professor of Digital Communication. Despite experiencing significant challenges during the teaching demonstration, the experience was invaluable. My current goal is to speak English as fluently as I speak Chinese. Respectively, I shared the story of a girl from the countryside who bravely ventured to the U.S. through her own efforts. ‘Love what you do, do what you love.’ Despite the challenges I faced, I gradually overcame them.

The second story delves into my professional evolution. As a youngster, I was enamored with drawing and contemplated three career paths: artist, art teacher, and designer. Initially, I aspired to be an artist, but concerns about economic instability led me to briefly consider teaching. However, my innate desire for creativity persisted. After navigating through various challenges, I ultimately chose to pursue a career as a designer.

At the age of 15, I enrolled in an art gifted class. In Asian society, pursuing fine arts was often viewed as lacking a promising future. Opting for a creative industry career was seen as limiting one’s future career prospects. I am deeply grateful to my parents for their open-mindedness and unwavering support of my choices. After deciding to study animation in college, I honed my animation skills and led a team in a 3D animation graduation project. Although the project garnered awards, during my final year of college, a visit to the largest Taiwanese animation company revealed the realities of the industry. Witnessing the challenges faced by lighting designers and animators, I made a pivotal decision to abandon my aspiration to become an animator, a choice I made discreetly without informing anyone.

I’ve always been inclined to take risks, so it came as a surprise when I was admitted to a reputable university and earned a master’s degree on a government scholarship. At that time, I didn’t select a specific school or education system; I pursued what I truly desired—the creative industry, creation, and design. These experiences have reinforced my belief that design encompasses a myriad of aspects. My favorite aspect of creation is the continuous brainstorming process to manifest visions into reality. With a finite lifespan, my passion for design drives me to explore diverse design fields and embrace interdisciplinary skills.

For me, experimenting and achieving a level of proficiency before seeking assistance or persuading others is paramount. It’s essential to try new endeavors before determining their suitability. In today’s world, mastering a profession used to take years, but with readily accessible information, it’s feasible to learn multiple professions within a shorter timeframe. I refrain from setting distant future plans, as industries evolve rapidly. Instead, I focus on short-term goals, perpetually learning and adapting to new fields with the mindset of persevering through challenges.

My ardor for design has fundamentally shaped my identity, and I am curious to witness my future evolution through continued dedication. There’s uncertainty about the trajectory my life may take, but I believe in the boundless potential of realizing dream professions through perseverance and risk-taking. Life offers numerous opportunities for growth, and while success isn’t guaranteed, embracing risks adds vitality to life’s journey.”

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I believe what sets me apart from other artists and designers is that I have explored every aspect related to design and creativity. From conceptualization to execution, presentation, and closure, I can handle every stage efficiently. Moreover, I can quickly adapt to new environments. I aspire to become a T-shaped designer, meaning I am highly experienced in my field of expertise and have a good understanding of other design-related topics.

Regarding my career journey, I attribute my current abilities to past experiences. During high school, where I pursued Art Gifted Class, I honed my sensitivity to color and light through oil painting, watercolor, and sketching. While studying at the Taiwan University of Art and living independently in Taipei, I seized every opportunity to earn money and gain valuable work experience. I worked as a photography assistant for cosmetic products, enhancing my skills in photo editing based on real-time client feedback. I also created animated components for the publishing industry using Flash animation software, gaining insights into animation production. Additionally, I video editing and do title cards for variety tv shows at a television company. I worked in school office designed posters for events. I taught children to draw in art studios. I worked for art auditions and send out press releases and media pass to journalists. As a certified teacher with 3 years’ experience in school, I developed teaching materials, designed lesson plans, and crafted educational content.

Through these experiences, I have learned that the fastest way to master a skill is to immerse oneself directly in that profession and participate in real-life projects. When applying for jobs, I have never thought about whether I am the strongest candidate, but rather, I have tried my best. The worst-case scenario is rejection. The worst-case scenario is failure. But if I don’t try, I will never succeed. Whether it’s writing, animation, design, web design, or communication skills, I have dabbled in various areas. Why does my design content span so many categories? It’s because, to me, I’m not just designing; I’m conveying a message. I use different mediums and themes to convey a message: “Be true to your work, and your work will be true to you.” I believe this applies not only to design but to any field; you must put in effort to reap rewards.

I hope my clients and the world recognize my dedication and how I am true to the work; I take pride in my professional achievements. I sell an idea or a creative deliverable because I know how much effort I put into it, and I believe I do a good job on the results.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
First, I’ll take my friend to Ponce City Market, where there are plenty of restaurants offering various types of cuisine from different countries to choose from. After dining, we can take a stroll along the Atlanta BeltLine Eastside Trail, a 22-mile path where many people walk, jog, or bike. I enjoy sitting on the steps with friends, people-watching, and observing interactions, which I find fascinating. On weekends, there are street performances along the Atlanta BeltLine Eastside Trail. It’s unique for me to see electric scooters available for rent everywhere, something not common in Taiwan. I’d suggest my friends rent one to explore Piedmont Park. For food, I’d also introduce them to Southern breakfast, like Grits, which I hadn’t tried before coming to the US. Moreover, Atlanta offers authentic Vietnamese and Korean cuisine compared to Taiwan. I particularly love the Bun Bo Hue at Pho Dai Loi. Seo Ra Beol opens 24 hours, and I sometimes go there to enjoy Galbi Tang at midnight. Living in the Duluth Area, I frequent Korean coffee shops and bakeries to get some work done. In downtown Alpharetta, there are breweries where we can sit outside, enjoy some snacks, sip on beer, or walk around while eating ice cream. For outdoor activities, Lake Lanier is perfect for renting a boat and having a party with friends or experiencing water activities like jet skiing, soaking in the sun, and enjoying the relaxed atmosphere.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would like to express my gratitude to all the professors and friends at the Savannah College of Art and Design, especially Professor Rhonda Arntsen. During my time in graduate school, I often felt anxious about the success of each project, but she taught me that failure is okay. When writing my thesis, she encouraged me to grow through my own background and elevate it to the best version of myself. She has truly made me a better designer and scholar.

I also want to thank every colleague at Definition 6, now rebranded as Bridgenext, for welcoming me to the team. A special thanks to my supervisor, Christian Duplantis, who has provided ongoing support throughout my creative journey in Bridgenext. Her mentorship, management, and creative direction, along with her caring and clear feedback, have immensely contributed to my growth.

Furthermore, I am grateful to my professors at the Taiwan University of Arts. As a rural kid attending one of Taiwan’s top art universities, participating in the Taiwan Ministry of Education’s Scholarship Program for Overseas Study in Arts and Design, opened my eyes to the numerous possibilities beyond being a teacher in the art field. It provided me with opportunities to speak at the Taiwan University of Arts after graduation for 8 years in 2022, encouraging young university students to step out of their comfort zones and fostered confidence and a global perspective. In the speech, I help students understand that embarking on international education to broaden horizons doesn’t necessarily equate to shouldering a daunting financial burden.

I want to thank the presidents of Dong An Elementary School and Chung-Li Elementary School for allowing me to pursue my dreams while working as a teacher for the last three years that I was in Taiwan. Lastly, I am thankful to my parents for never interfering with my decisions. I know that my life here is a long journey, and there will be many things I must speak out loud about. More importantly, I want to thank all the twists and turns I’ve experienced in life, which have made me a better person today.

Website: https://jyijun.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yijunjiang0820/

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