Life & Work with Jiuyun (Jiuwell) Sunzhou

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jiuyun (Jiuwell) Sunzhou.

Hi Jiuyun (Jiuwell), thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’ve always loved storytelling and drawing since I was a kid. When I graduated high school, I discovered entertainment design for the first time; that’s when I applied and got accepted into the entertainment program at ArtCenter.

During my study at ArtCenter, I was taught the importance of curiosity and finding out how things work, which principle I valued deeply and try to apply to all of my designs. I also enjoyed exploring and experimenting with different art styles and design genres, and through the process, I’m beginning to discover aesthetics and design philosophies which I gravitate towards.

It was an important moment for me when I took some classes from the transportation design department. It was an eye-opening experience to see how another design field approaches the design process and problem-solving. This experience opened a new door for me not only to the world of car design but also to all types of other fields such as fashion, architecture, product design, graphic design, etc.

I’m fascinated by how other designers across different disciplines express themselves through their creative works and craftsmanship. I would like to learn from these artists and designers, and I hope eventually, I may as well discover and solidify my personal style.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
There were many difficulties spreading from academics to personal life. Workload and all-nighters were very painful during the times at ArtCenter, but there were both damages and rewards. I think the most difficult for me is finding out my own voice in the design and determining what I can contribute to the world as an artist and a designer. Looking back, I think I have overcome a lot of struggles along the way, but I’m still on the journey to discover more futures and challenges.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I specialize in Worldbuilding and character design. Storytelling is my biggest passion and therefore, I try to implement stories in all of the characters I create. I always look for ways to remind the viewers about a character’s story through visual elements and design choices. Besides characters, I also love to design the world they live in because the environment around a character influences their stories strongly.

I have confidence in my understanding of art and design fundamentals and translating them into dynamic sketching, as well as bringing the sketches to high-quality finish renders. I’m also comfortable learning and adapting to different art styles.

What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
Movies and games have always been trying to achieve higher fidelity and upgrade the viewers’/players’ experience. With the current development in VR, I think it’s possible that entertainment media is going to take steps into new technologies and try to achieve an even more immersive experience.

With the introduction of AI, I believe the design industry is going to face changes across the fields. Although AI still has many big issues and flaws waiting to be solved, I think it can be a powerful tool for artists and designers to learn and adapt.

Overall I believe the industry is going to continue to grow and evolve, and I’m excited to participate and see where it’s heading.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.jiuwelldesigns.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jiuwell.cloudart/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sunzhou-jiuwell-4761421bb/
• Other: https://www.artstation.com/jiuwellmonkey