Today we’d like to introduce you to Sean Nagao.
Hi Sean, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
So, I was actually talking about this with some friends recently. What was one of our first memories that shaped our journeys to be designers? I can recall being in 5th grade and pirating a copy of Photoshop so that I could make pixel art and Minecraft skins. From there, I figured out and just played around with the software, discovering Graphic Design as an outlet for my exploration. I went to school in Hong Kong, and while preparing for my undergrad at ArtCenter, I had very limited knowledge of Graphic Design. However, learning from a traditional graphic design perspective at ArtCenter has changed how I think about it. Today, I have spent my time studying typography and book design and have had the opportunity to learn under great designers and create some personally fulfilling and introspective work. Recently, I have come back from Berlin as part of ArtCenter’s study abroad program, and want to shift my focus to designing for myself as an artist, and less as a corporate designer.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I think that one of the greatest struggles I had along the way was dealing with censorship and the ability to express my thoughts on Hong Kong. I had taken HK on as a project topic early when the protests were still happening, and got involved in a situation with ArtCenter’s student gallery and upsetting a population of the student body. One lesson learned from that project was that although I hadn’t received the response I wanted, I had still evoked an emotional response from my audience and even though it was negative, it was more interesting of a project and story that way.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I currently specialize in Typography within Graphic Design. I have worked extensively with many different media, including 3D, packaging design, publication design, and branding; however, I am currently focusing on Typography in book design. I recently completed a book called ‘Paranodal,’ which is 500 pages of custom typography on the social landscape of the Internet, which I am still documenting. I enjoy teaching and TA-ing for courses at ArtCenter and working as an editor in the student-led publication Source Material, where we publish a themed edition each semester using students’ submitted work. Something that sets me apart from others is my international background; I was born and raised in Hong Kong but had an American background, and having traveled and been raised around so many different cultures has given me an appreciation that I take with me in my design career.
Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
Right now, I’m on my journey of understanding who I am as an artist, designer, and human being. The biggest thing I’ve been thinking about recently is balancing my work and life better. I have been working on ways to reinforce that I am not entirely who I am as a Graphic Designer, and engage in the other roles in life that I have as a son a boyfriend, and tap into things that bring me joy and fulfillment, which I can bring into my design as inspiration and create from there 🙂
Contact Info:
- Instagram: seannagao
