Gena Jongsukkijpanich’s Stories, Lessons & Insights

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Gena Jongsukkijpanich. Check out our conversation below.

Gena, really appreciate you sharing your stories and insights with us. The world would have so much more understanding and empathy if we all were a bit more open about our stories and how they have helped shaped our journey and worldview. Let’s jump in with a fun one: Are you walking a path—or wandering?
I’d say I’m walking a path because I have a direction and goals I’m working toward, but I also enjoy a bit of wandering along the way! Exploring new ideas, meeting different people, or taking on opportunities that aren’t strictly planned often gives me fresh perspective and can even reshape the path itself. It’s really about holding on to that sense of purpose while also enjoying the present moment, and staying open to curiosity and discovery to guide me forward.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi everyone, I’m Gena! I’m a concept artist and designer, born and raised in Thailand and now living in SoCal. I love creating worlds and visuals that tell stories and spark curiosity. Over the past few years, I’ve worked as a concept artist on projects ranging from commercials and games to shorts and feature animation. I’m always excited by the chance to bring imagination to life and make art that tells stories and resonates with viewers!

For me, art is both a path I’m committed to and an adventure I get to explore every day — inspired by the little things around me, new experiences, and the people I meet along the way. Outside of work, I enjoy traveling, trying new foods, hanging out with friends and chatting about all the exciting things life has to offer!

Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What part of you has served its purpose and must now be released?
The part of me I feel ready to release is the constant need to always be the best. Growing up, I thought success was about standing out and individual achievement, but over time, through my experiences and working with others, I’ve realized that creativity and art are really collaborative. We inspire each other, reflect each other, and elevate ideas in ways we couldn’t do alone. Letting go of that pressure has allowed me to focus more on connection, curiosity, and shared exploration. It’s made my work and my process more fun and meaningful, and all the connections I have made with people around me have inspired me more than ever!

What fear has held you back the most in your life?
The fear that’s held me back the most is the fear of failure. It’s simple, but it shows up in so many ways, like worrying if my work is good enough, hesitating to try something new, or overthinking decisions. I think part of it comes from caring deeply about what I do and wanting to do it well. I’m still learning to navigate it, but I’ve started to see this fear not just as a barrier, but as proof that I care a lot about my work that I don’t want to fail. It’s still tricky for me to acknowledging the fear while letting it push me to work thoughtfully, take risks, and keep growing, but i hope that I’ll be able to find that balance soon!

Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What’s a belief you used to hold tightly but now think was naive or wrong?
I used to think that my art had to be ‘good’ for people to care about it, like if it wasn’t praised then it didn’t matter. But I’ve realized that art is so subjective. Different things resonate with different people, and even small or imperfect details can really connect with someone. Letting go of that old belief has made me more willing to experiment, take risks, and focus on making work that feels honest and meaningful to me, rather than trying to meet some idea of approval or trying to get likes from social media.

Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
If I knew I had 10 years left, I think I’d stop letting the fear of failure hold me back. But honestly, that’s something I want to stop now, not just if there’s a countdown. I’ve definitely hesitated a lot in the past, worrying if my work was good enough or if I was ready. But the truth is, failure is just part of art and life. Every sketch or experiment teaches you something, even if it doesn’t work out. So I want to be able to just go for it, create boldly, and see what happens. The regret of not trying feels way heavier than actually failing, because at least when you fail, you learn and grow from it. I’d rather have messy attempts than missed chances.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://genajong.portfolio.site/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/genajnsx
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gena-jongsukkijpanich-715086207/
• Twitter: https://x.com/genajnsx