Today we’d like to introduce you to Grace Cai.
Hi Grace, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I grew up in Shanghai, China, and moved to California with my parents when I was in middle school. Coming from a familiar city to a foreign one, everything was new to me. As a millennial, the world was full of curiosity and novelty — from the rapid development of the internet to the emergence of smartphones and computers. Computers have had a significant influence on my passion in my childhood. Ever since I had my first computer in middle school, it has become my closest companion. From that day on, I began exploring the design of electronic games, immersing myself in science fiction movies, and learning video editing software. This embarks the beginning of my story with Graphic Design.
Entering high school, I gradually realized that gaming consumed too much of my time. So, I decided to shift my focus and turned my interests toward photography. Besides capturing beautiful moments and landscapes with the camera, what I enjoyed the most was exporting photos to my laptop and creating color adjustments through Adobe Lightroom, as well as layout design through Photoshop. A course called “Computer Graphic Art” gave me the chance to study the field of graphic design. Looking back, I was always excited every time I entered the classroom. Passion was the driving force that pushed me forward, and I put my trust to it. Finally, when it was time for college, I was fortunate to have the opportunity to study Graphic Design at the ArtCenter College of Design.
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?
The first year of college left me feeling lost and confused. The foundational courses involved sketching, perspective, and color—many of which posed a challenge for someone like me without an artistic background or years of experience in drawing. I knew that I wasn’t adept at drawing. I remember in a sketching class, my classmates exuded confidence and experience while I lagged behind. At the end of the term, when everyone displayed their assignments on the wall, I always felt imperfect in my work. However, to this day, I am still grateful for the teacher in that class who encouraged each student rather than criticizing. Her patience and guidance are what continued to push me to go further.
College provided me with the opportunity to explore the different boundaries in design, from brand design to editorial print and then to the transmedia. Through years of experimentation, I expanded my design skills in different mediums to approach different solutions. This learning journey led me out of my comfort zone. With the help of professors and students at college, I found my rhythm and direction, no longer feeling lost.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a graphic designer with an emphasis on visual identity, branding, and typography. I am obsessed with zooming in on objects like complex watches. Observing and comprehending the internal cooperation and grinding of miniature gears satisfies me. ︎ I do the same with design when I delve into a creative challenge. I examine it from various angles, draw the connection between the subject matter and the problem, and experiment with multiple possibilities. Analyzing the inner workings allows me to get inspiration, make discoveries, and find the best solution.
This summer, I had the opportunity to work as a design intern at a San Francisco-based company, The New Company, a design and marketing company in pursuit of the novel and extraordinary. I am very honored to collaborate with a talented group of people and contribute to several major projects for big brands, including Nike, Riot Games, EA Sports, UFC, and a few more. I am grateful to the creative team for providing me with this opportunity and allowing me to showcase my work in front of the clients. All the experiences have been very meaningful and have contributed significantly to my personal and professional growth.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
I will say that recently, the platform I’ve been using the most and found extremely helpful for my design work is Are.na. It’s a social networking community and research platform for creative thinking and collaborative research. I regret not discovering and using it earlier. Typically, before starting a project, I engage in extensive research. During this process, I lean towards finding captivating images to stimulate and awaken my brain. I like to collect relevant images and videos, and creating a board on this platform is a crucial step for me before diving into design. Browsing through a multitude of images can spark inspiration and develop new ideas in the creative process. What makes Are.na, I think is the ability to connect the aesthetics of designers, creating a vast network. It provides us with a space that is both private and public.
Contact Info:
- Website: gracecai.info
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/gcai-design
Image Credits
Grace Cai
