Today we’d like to introduce you to Jiaqi Wang.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I am an illustrator and animator right now based in LA. I was born and raised in China, went to grad school in London to study animation in London college of communication. After I graduated, I moved to Italy worked with an amazing motion studio called illo. 🙂
Spent about three years in my early 20 in Europe, it’s influenced my work a lot. Moved to LA last year for a job that I thought it was a dream job. But it seems a full-time job was not really ideal for me. Slowly taking more freelance work during the night. This year I finally become a full-time freelancer chilling in sunny west- coast. And doing the work I want to do, explorating this city at the same time.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
When I was studying in London, I was trying to stay there and find a suitable motion job there. But realize that as a new bee in the motion industry it was hard.
Luckily, I found a lovely studio in Italy they were really kind to take me as an intern and I learned a lot from them. Not just about how to animating and designing, it was a really good vibe in their studio. All the staffs are like a small family, they know how to working hard and playing hard. The ways they work influence me a lot for my feature career.
After that amazing life in Italy, I realized I should balance the work and life, don’t want to stuck in one place. That’s why I choice become a freelancer. And I am lucky that people find me on social media, they just send an email saying like my works and wanna work with me. It was really smooth to transfer from full-time to freelancer.
We’d love to hear more about what you do.
I work with different kind clients, like Target, We work, Peets, Starbucks, MUJI. Mostly are illustration design, mural design. I love to taking notes, observing the things surround me, and add that thing to my work.
Apart from my freelance work, I do personal gif, or short film feels like it is the best way to connect this lovely world. I do really love doing the mural, it can be an iconic art for a place, people take the photo and share it worldwide. It is the moment I feel yes, I did it!
Alongside illustration I love moving image and animation, it is great to see your art being moved! I like hip culture, some time I working with those lit music to bring a bright, vivid color in my work.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
Seems I never regret any decision I made. Even if I can time travel, I will still do what I did — and still doing this in the future.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.Jiaqiwang.org
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: jq.wan
- Other: https://www.behance.net/jiaqiw

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