Today we’d like to introduce you to Iting Chen.
Hi Iting, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Life is an adventure. I’ve been on a design journey for the past decade. Growing up in Taiwan, my passion for design was ignited by my father’s work in Japan, which exposed me to various cultures and languages. This fascination led me to dream of working and living abroad someday, though I wasn’t certain where at the time. So, I followed my heart and began my journey as a design student, honing my skills in colors, layout, and typography.
After graduating from college in Taiwan, I embarked on my first adventure to Korea in 2013. There, I pursued a Visual Design program at Seoul National University of Science and Technology, further enhancing my knowledge and expertise. Later on, I worked as the lead brand designer for Taiwan’s Youth Salon, which is a Taiwanese government organization that provides career advice and informational materials for young people. From there, I obtained a master’s degree in Web Design & New Media from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
While I have been studying and working in design since high school, it hasn’t always been a perfectly smooth journey. However, my efforts were recognized and rewarded along the way. For instance, my work was selected for an Honorable Mention in the Times Young Creative Awards, which is a joint Chinese and Taiwanese competition with over 22,000 projects submitted. In addition, my work stood out when I became a finalist in the Plastic IN Value UP design competition, which is a Taiwanese design competition administered by the Taiwan Ministry of Economic Affairs. During this time, I also started building my own clientele in Taiwan, doing design work for businesses on the side in addition to my role as a brand designer.
Despite these achievements, I wanted to progress to new challenges and experience life abroad. In 2018, I made a bold decision to leave my brand designer position in Taiwan and move to San Francisco to obtain a master’s degree. Adapting to life in a new country was challenging in many ways, but I was able to persevere thanks to the support of my friends and family. This was a transformative period for me in many ways, and I took the opportunity to experience as much of the world as I could during the time, traveling to South Korea, Japan, Mexico, Cuba, and extensively within the US. These experiences helped develop my design style and enhanced my ability to connect with people from all walks of life through my design.
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 am currently a designer at a marketing agency based in New York. My expertise lies in the beauty, retail, and finance industries, and I have had the privilege of working with esteemed clients like Capital One, McDonald’s, Kohl’s, Sephora, and more. My projects span across both digital user experience design and visual experiential design.
One project that I’m particularly proud of is the Kohl’s + Sephora collaboration, where I was responsible for all digital visual and UX design. Due to the limitations of the COVID-19 pandemic, I designed a contactless mobile application experience where attendees could safely participate in the event by scanning QR codes to interact with the exhibit and created a seamless journey for users to participate in the event and redeem rewards. The success of the event was incredible, and it earned a Best Event Technology Award from BizBash Event.
I have the opportunity to work with many of the most prominent brands in the world, but some of my favorites are projects with beauty brands such as Sephora, Valentino Beauty, Farmacy Beauty, and Rose Inc. I enjoy having the opportunity to help inspire people to look and feel their best, as design allows me to tap into the visual elements that enhance individual confidence and self-expression. The ability to shape the way people perceive and interact with products and experiences, especially in the beauty industry, resonates deeply with my passion for creating impactful and meaningful design solutions.
We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
One of my biggest takeaways is that change is constant. During the COVID-19 crisis, the world transformed before my eyes. Witnessing such remarkable shifts in relationships, jobs, and technology taught me the importance of being adaptive and open to utilizing new techniques and resources. Every day, it feels like some new technology is changing the world. And, amidst it all, I realized the significance of cherishing human connections, being kind to others, and prioritizing my mental and physical well-being.
With the pandemic-induced pause, I found a moment to reflect on self-care and reflection. Reconnecting with nature became my escape, rejuvenating and inspiring my creative spirit. As a designer, technology is a major aspect of the work I do. However, nature reminds me of the simple joys of being human, igniting a stream of ideas in my creative brain. My love for nature led me to explore 14 National Parks in the US, and I’m eagerly planning more adventures in the future!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://itingchen.com/
- Email: [email protected]
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iting-chen-87b057ab/
