Today we’d like to introduce you to Jack Hoac.
Hi Jack, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I was born and raised in a small town in Southern Vietnam. I recall my childhood filled with so much love for art-making. I would just grab a bunch of colored pencils and draw houses all over my bedroom walls until getting yelled at by one of my parents. However, throughout most of my education back home, I felt like art was never taught properly. The focus on standardized testing always overshadows the importance of creativity and fostering it. So, in 2017, I made an impulsive decision to move across the globe to study in the US with the support of my parents, even though they still jokingly complain about the messy walls I left behind.
After finishing high school, I spent another four years in an art school in Chicago, where graphic design literally became my passion. I started to spend more and more time analyzing billboards and movie posters, standing at a shampoo aisle for half an hour just to look at their packaging, and became more observant to all the typography around me. And a city like Chicago was such a perfect place for that.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Looking back at those four years in art school, it felt like I spent the first three years constantly questioning and uncovering what I was actually interested in and how I wanted to evolve as a designer/artist. Besides taking fundamental design classes, I spent a lot of time making digital illustrations, learned motion graphics and taught myself 3D modeling. It’s like playing dress-up and putting yourself through hundreds of outfits until you find the one that fits the best. As an art student, I also wanted to find a balance between graphic design and fine arts in my practice, so it’s a constant self-evaluation to see where I’m at with the work that I produce.
I think being a design student, your eagerness to gain experience and work exposure is also very easy to be exploited. During covid, I remember being so desperate for a job where I can finally put my skills into work that I became a victim of an online scam. The scammers did their usual trick and posed as business owners looking for help to brand their businesses, and I was naive enough to say yes without a doubt. In the end, I ended up with a disabled bank account and almost lost a lot of money, but I was glad to gain myself a lesson. As much as I was still salty about the incident, I managed to turn the work I did for this scammer into a whole passion project, which I still unironically talk about in job interviews.
Growing up super introverted and shy, I also had a hard time putting my concepts into tangible words and articulating my ideas effectively. However, with the help of friends and design student groups, I gradually found my own voice and became comfortable expressing myself more eloquently. Even though I was still at a loss for words when some of my extended family members, who knew nothing about graphic design, said something like, “Oh, so do you design houses?” after hearing that I work as a graphic designer.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’d love to call myself a visual communication designer who specializes in brand identity. With a BFA degree, I also sometimes tell people that I’m a multidisciplinary illustrator to make things spicier. When working and experimenting with typography, I usually put myself in the shoes of an artist and allow myself to explore freely beyond any design conventions. It’s easy for designers to get caught up in crafting their work around practicality and forget to play. Although I believe it is through exploration and pushing creative boundaries that designers discover innovative solutions and unique design approaches. And I think this mindset and way of working often allows me to produce more refreshing and satisfying work.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
As someone who always finds themself drowning in work, I would say work-life balance are the three words I think about the most at night. I always have to remind myself to eat better, sleep better, drink more water, and never forget to check in on the people that I care for. I believe that balance is the key to feeling more fulfilled, and I still strive for it.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.hoactuanquyen.com/
- Instagram: @bobaffection
Image Credits
Jack Hoac
