Today we’d like to introduce you to Shengjie Wu.
Hi Shengjie, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
This is my 7th year studying in the United States as an international student. This is my story of chasing a design dream in the United States.
I had my first graphic design class in my junior year of high school. I still remember the first time I used Adobe Photoshop to create a design work. It was a digital collage. Adobe allowed me to try different styles by cutting some pieces differently or adding different effects to the pieces. I was dramatically attracted by the diversity and creativity of graphic design.
I applied for business as my first major at Washington State University to support my parents’ wishes. At the same time, I chose some art classes to improve my art skills. I wanted to show my design capability to convince my family that I could design. In my sophomore year, I switched my major to a design-related major, and I finally had the chance to put all my effort into my dream and convince my parent that I could make creative works.
After three and half years of studies at Washington State University not only helped me build my design skills but also helped me to learn storytelling, coding, filming, and the concept of graphic design. However, I recognize that my design skills still have a lot of room for development after I finish two internships during my bachelor’s degree. I also realized the importance of leadership and the facets of running a business. Therefore, I made one of the most important decisions in my life which was to try my best to apply to my dream school for my graduate degree, ArtCenter College of Design.
Preparing application documents and waiting for the school’s response was the hardest part of the application. It was also a hard time for me since I could only keep my visa for 180 days because I was not able to find an internship to keep my OPT visa. Hard work pays off; I finally grabbed an incredible opportunity to continue my dream at ArtCenter College of Design. It is a three-year program. When I stepped into the design door in Pasadena, I finally experienced the deeper charm of graphic design. I have more time and energy to experiment with different possibilities of design. A deeper exploration of how design becomes a bridge that surpasses conventional boundaries. It connects people through complex information, provocative ideas, and diverse cultures.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Preparing my application documents and waiting to hear back from the graduate school is a challenge. Since my family and friends had no experience in the design field, I prepared all the documents myself. While waiting for a reply from the school, I tried to find a job to maintain my visa but failed. Therefore, if I do not get any school admissions within this period, I can only stay legally in the United States for 180 days.
Being a designer is always a challenging but interesting road. Learning how to balance personal life and projects is one of the biggest challenges. As a designer, I would always want to explore different possibilities in visual design. investing time in finding inspiration and detail checking. chasing limits to produce a design with purpose. Sometimes I get so involved that I lose track of time. Working overnight could always happen. When inspiration runs out, I feel a lot of pressure and always push myself to explore more designs. The pressure of it makes me struggle to handle the balance between my personal life and design project.
During the holidays, not being able to be with family and loved ones in China is one of the biggest challenges as international students. We always have to fight against loneliness.
Learning how to handle the pressure in the school is a big challenge. It has a dramatic amount of pressure to study in a school that always allows students to chase their limits and is full of highly talented students. It’s always a lot of study and work. Creating an amount of work and keeping quality at the same time is challenging work. Working overnight could always happen. Being able to handle stress is the necessary way to enter society.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m a Graphic Designer specializing in typography and branding. I have a passion for collecting things. The collector’s mindset allows me to approach each project with a fresh outlook, offering designs that meet the brief and bring a unique perspective and connection that sets the design apart.
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
Since I was a child, I have had the habit of collecting things. My passion for collecting has shaped my aesthetic sensibilities and fueled my creative fire. The act of gathering a diverse array of objects provides me with a rich visual library. Immersing myself in this tangible world of collected artifacts helps me to gain fresh perspectives and a heightened sensitivity to detail.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.shengjiewu.info/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sheng_jx
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/-shengjie-wu/
