Daily Inspiration: Meet Helen Xie

Today we’d like to introduce you to Helen Xie

Hi Helen, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Before I got into graphic design and began my graduate practice, I was studying something completely different. I came from a family that has very little to do with art and design, so growing up, I never thought that it was an option. Yet, I kept finding pleasure in printed ephemera, publications, and design objects around me. In college, I joined the student magazine where I worked as a layout designer. I began taking more graphic design courses, and the formal training led to more making. The pandemic hit before my senior year, when I began to think about what I wanted to do after graduation. I knew I wanted to pursue graphic design, but it took some thinking and a lot of courage for me to decide on taking on a path completely different from what my undergraduate degree has prepared me for. In the end, I took a leap of faith, and I’m grateful for the decision I made. Even though graduate school has been challenging, I’m fortunate to be able to work in a field that I’m passionate about.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It took me some detour just to become a creative in the field. There was a lot of anticipation built up about my idea of what a graphic designer is, and reality has taught me that being one is more difficult that I thought it would be. The initial thrill quickly turned into doubt as I grappled with issues with confidence, self-expression, and burnout. There is so much more about being a good graphic designer than just technical design skills—cultural literacy, storytelling, and conceptual thinking all play a big part. There is also the pressure of creative plateau that I constantly face and try to get out of.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Currently a lot of my work has been focused on web design, but I also work on publications and posters. My interests in the digital and the physical has influenced my approach to design—I always think about how my audience will interact with my work and how that interaction will in turn affect their experience with both the design and the content. The current focus of my graduate practice is on nature, ecology and human interaction with the environment. My attempt is to use graphic design as a medium to investigate our relationship with nature.

We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
This wasn’t necessarily my favorite childhood memory, but one that has been coming to me recently. It was a summer when I visited my mom’s hometown in Northern China. I grew up in the city, so I rarely had any chance to be around nature. I remembered exploring with my cousins and finding a stream glistering under the sun. We jumped in and splashed around, feeling the cold water on our sunburnt skin. The water was so clear that we could even see the little fish swimming around. Thus began our competition of seeing who can catch the most fish—the details were lost to me, but the snapshot of that moment still brings me joy.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://helenxie.com