Meet Andrew Hwang of Los Angeles

Today we’d like to introduce you to Andrew Hwang.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I grew up near the Pomona Drag Racing Strip, where cars were always a part of my life because I heard them racing my entire childhood. My father used to buy cars at the Pomona Swap Meet, so I was exposed to the culture from a very young age. I was also somewhat of a latchkey kid. As the third son, I had a lot of freedom to explore and do whatever I wanted.

For a while, I was on track to become a college athlete. I spent most of my early adolescence playing sports, particularly American football. But somewhere along the way, I discovered the internet. I spent countless nights on Tumblr and YouTube, absorbing everything the internet had to offer; battle raps, funny videos, music from overseas. That exposure opened up an entirely different world to me and eventually led me toward two of my greatest passions: cars and design.

I went through several community colleges, exploring different areas of design, from interior design to product design, before eventually landing in Transportation Design at ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena. I struggled with sketching cars in the beginning. I had spent so much of my youth playing football that I was entering a world that required a completely different kind of discipline and way of thinking.

My father passed away when I was 18, right as I was beginning to figure out what I wanted my career and my life to look like. The years that followed were definitely a roller coaster. Eventually, I transferred into Graphic Design after discovering what would become my final calling through a roommate who was studying graphic design at school.

After graduating from ArtCenter and making my way through the uncertainty of the pandemic, I was fortunate enough to meet so many incredible people who supported me and helped shape the person and designer I am today. I owe a tremendous amount to my friends, family, and mentors who stuck with me throughout that journey. Two mentors who had a particularly meaningful impact on me are Cheri Gray and April Greiman.

In recent years, I’ve had the opportunity to work with brands such as Leica GmbH and Rivian Automotive. Today, I’m a Senior Graphic Designer at AETHER Apparel, a small but mighty company here in Los Angeles.

And these days, I spend more and more of my free time back where a lot of this all started: with cars. I race my little sports car at tracks called Willow Springs Raceway and Buttonwillow, near Rosamond, CA, and continue to explore the intersection between cars, design, and the cultures that first inspired me.

Looking back, I don’t think I would have found my way here without all of the people, places, and strange turns along the way. I’m thankful that you would even consider someone like me for an interview for this publication. More than anything, I’m grateful for the friends, family, and mentors who have believed in me and helped me get here.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I serve as the leading voice for brands. I often pull inspiration from deep history. I am kind of a nerd in that sense. I am most proud of not a particular project but mostly proud of the friends that have excelled and shine next to me. Sometimes I get to design clothes. Sometimes I get to design events. Most of the time. I am trying to wrestle with marketing and trying to spend the majority of time with my family. What sets me apart from the others is maybe our first and last names haha.

Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
Currently, I am really into CafeRunner podcast on Spotify. My number one resource usually comes from being outside in the world. I am very intrigued by food and beverage industries. The faded, crusty signage in LA and New York City are often my favorite typographic references that I keep going back to in my photo album. I guess my Pinterest is actually my photo album. I am always taking photos and screen shots of random things that I find interesting. Lastly, a lot of my inspiration can be found on racing cars and the fashion archives online. Shout out to Khan at dampmagazines. My favorite brand right now is Hysteric Glamour. Also! Album covers are really fun to look at, I put my Spotify on shuffle and see what I can get. Music and fashion also plays a huge role in my visual language.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @ondreue

Image Credits
Credit Andrew Hwang @ondreue