Today we’d like to introduce you to Zhihan Qian.
Hi Zhihan, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My story is not filled with dramatic ups and downs or exciting twists and turns. On the contrary, being born into a middle-class family meant I did not experience many storms. As a child, I was passionate about drawing. Later, I studied design at university – everything went quite smoothly. During my freshman year, I wanted to go abroad for deeper studies into different design disciplines, and my family was very supportive.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
A life that is too smooth can certainly lead to some problems, issues that I did not realize until much later: I seemed to take more time than others to find a direction that I was truly passionate about. As a child I drew, and as I grew up I studied design – this felt more like inertia than a deliberate, thoughtful decision. Throughout four years of university and two years of graduate school, I was constantly searching for an area and direction that excited me. This appears to be a common issue for typical East Asian students who work very hard – once we are in full control of charting our own path, we feel anxious and afraid of not getting immediate positive feedback, which prevents us from taking steps forward. This forms a vicious cycle: because I could not get started, I could not find my passion. And without passion, I remained stuck.
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?
When it comes to completing projects, I tend to go in one of two very different directions: either playing it extremely safe with more introspective themes or tackling some radical, risky socio-political topics. So in my work, you’ll see a lot about my own personal history mixed with some themes that may offend people. For example, my thesis focused on collective narcissists. While ensuring ethical research practices, I delved into some online groups to gather insider information. During this process, I had to carefully phrase my questions and choose who to approach since some target groups were more aggressive towards my identity. The whole experience was intensely stimulating for me. So to assess myself, I’d say I’m someone who stands at two extremes: either going all out or not doing it at all.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
First, I must say that I am far from “successful” by most measures. If I had to identify one essential quality I wish I possessed more of, it would be perseverance. As I’ve grown older, I’ve realized that without perseverance, one can accomplish nothing. Even with some talents, it takes drive and determination to achieve one’s potential.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://ziaq.cargo.site/
- Instagram: @zhihandesign
