Check Out Yuchen Xie’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Yuchen Xie.

Hi Yuchen, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I was born and raised in a small city in central China. Since childhood, I have been a quiet child who loves drawing and reading, and books opened up new worlds for me. During high school, driven by a passion for publishing and a love for niche cultures, I founded a bi-monthly small-circulation magazine with my friends, where I also got introduced to layout design for a magazine. I had been the editor and graphic designer for six years till we decided to cease publication because physical publications gradually struggled against the rise of new media. Influenced by my mother, who studied metallurgy, and my father, who worked in the pharmaceutical industry, I chose to major in chemistry during university. Due to my interest in books and craftsmanship, I also studied graphic design, printmaking, and textile arts. Additionally, I took extracurricular courses in classical Japanese language research and linguistic analysis of Japanese. Therefore, I graduated from university with a dual degree in Chemistry and East Asian Studies, with a minor in Studio Art.

After working in a laboratory for a year and the cessation of the magazine, I started taking on some graphic design projects in my spare time. When I was hesitating about what I wanted to do as my career, I came across the evening courses at ArtCenter Extension and graphic design courses at California State University, Los Angeles. This nudged me to apply for the MFA program at ArtCenter College of Design.

For someone studying abroad for the first time, away from my parents, mathematics and chemical formulas accompanied me through the initial language barrier. During my freshman year, my English was not sufficient to fully comprehend other people nor accurately express myself. Looking back, this experience has been precious and meaningful that built up to today’s Yuchen.

Everything I had experienced paved my path to ArtCenter College of Design, where I could explore Graphic Design in different aspects. All teachers encouraged me to explore and try different approaches; I’ve learned to see graphic design as more than a fixed-answer question. Graphic design, to me, is balancing my understanding of a concept and how to convey such a concept to others. I learned not only the knowledge of graphic design but also a philosophy of problem-solving through design, fostering innovation, and embracing possibilities. I’ve been honored to have the opportunity to work with Illumination, Vanity Fair, and VOGUE.

Turning passion into a profession is a challenge, yet it never exhausts me.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has been a rough road with ups and downs. It started with the language and culture. For someone who grew up in a vastly different cultural background, culture shock and a lack of confidence bring fear, but that fear later forged me stronger. After surpassing the language barrier, I encountered another challenge related to my cultural background.

For native speakers, understanding Western typefaces is more instinctive, as they see designed books, layouts, and advertisements every day. However, as someone from another language family, appreciating the subtleties and differences between various English typefaces took more than time. This was not as disadvantageous as expected because it allowed me to observe fonts with a fresh perspective, which was where I fell in love with typography.

Despite not formally studying many graphic design-related subjects in school, my self-directed learning has been fueled by motivation and passion. Additionally, My undergraduate studies from diverse academic backgrounds have provided me with new perspectives to conduct research in social sciences and humanities. I believe all the experiences of me trying something new eventually made me a better graphic designer; life works in mysterious ways.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a multidisciplinary graphic designer specializing in brand identity, editorial design, and transmedia. As you read above, my background is a unique combination of science and art — chemistry showed me a different way of conducting research and deconstructing matters at a particle level. In a design team, I promote critical thinking and strategies to push the boundaries of design. I encourage everyone to be passionate about creating a story. As a designer, I love the adventure of multiple iterations, continuously acquiring new skills, and always keeping curious about the world.

So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
I was fortunate to have Annie Huang Luck as my teacher, and words would not be enough to express her influence on me. I first met her at ArtCenter Extension, and she later played a pivotal role in my decision to choose ACCD. Annie has extensive knowledge in the fields of graphic design and book layout. She is not only an outstanding designer but also a warm and friendly mentor, and she inspires students to reach higher goals. During my time as her assistant, working with her every week became a moment I looked forward to. Her passion for design left a lasting impact on everyone in the class, including myself. Under her guidance, I not only learned the essence of graphic design and book layout but also developed a profound interest in this field. Annie Huang Luck’s instruction has provided me with a clear vision for my future career. She made me realize that becoming a university teacher and instructing in typography is an aspirational goal. Her passion, patience, and professional competence make me believe that I can one day become an outstanding design educator, just like her.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://yuchenx.me/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yuchenxiedesign/