Today we’d like to introduce you to Wanqing Zhang.
Hi Wanqing, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My two years at Pratt Institute have been enriching and rewarding. During this period, I had chance to know many outstanding peers and experienced professors, including my mentor, Maria Gracia. She is my professor in visual language at the school, providing me with a high degree of creative freedom. She always encourages my ideas and helps me reorganize the logic of my work. Under her guidance, I completed the installation artwork “She Said,” which I am satisfied with. “She Said” is a series of installation works calling for attention to the rights of females. I collected 100 stories from media platforms about females facing unequal treatment in intimate relationships due to gender. Through this work, I hope to raise awareness of gender equality and empower the voices and stories of women.
Additionally, I would like to mention another professor of mine, Kevin Gatta, who has extensive experience in the field of commercial graphic design. Under his guidance, my skills in commercial design have greatly improved. Based on market research on Pandora, I designed a marketing plan that closely associates their flagship product-charm, with users’ personal experiences, portraying Pandora as a witness to users’ special moment. Through this approach, I aim to stimulate people’s desire to purchase. Taking New York as an example, I creatively combined New York landmarks with Pandora products using illustrations and interactive elements to capture people’s interest and encourage them to explore Pandora’s products further.
Furthermore, my graduation project has been a highlight of my two years of study. I chose Chinese adolescents’ depression and their parents as the focal point, delving into the reasons behind the negative attitudes held by Chinese parents towards teenage depression. I analyzed and researched from various perspectives, including history, Chinese culture, media culture, and social background, attempting to find an outlet for this issue and urging Chinese parents to understand their motivations. Through the combination of touch design with visual arts, I simulated various depression symptoms, helping audiences understand how depression significantly impacts patients. This project was inspired by my own story, and I hope it not only provides answers to my past experiences but also hopes if it can help alleviate depression for a teenager or increase understanding of depression for a parent. I am very grateful for the assistance of my professor, Cristina Gabriele, throughout the entire design process, and I am delighted to announce that this work has been honored with the 2023 IDA Multimedia/Other Graphic Design Gold Award.
In these two years at Pratt, I have not only explored the field of experimental art but also made significant progress in commercial design. I am filled with anticipation for the art and design field, hoping to continue challenging myself and creating more impactful works.
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?
My undergraduate degree is in Engineering Management, and I decided to study Graphic Design in graduate school at Pratt.
In the beginning, I frequently experienced uncertainty due to my engineering background and perceived a gap in theoretical knowledge compared to my design-major peers. However, the supportive environment at Pratt, especially the encouragement and guidance from my professors, played a pivotal role in boosting my confidence. Professors at Pratt routinely recommended insightful books, pinpointed design principle issues during our classes, and offered valuable insights to enhance our portfolios. Through this teaching approach, I gradually developed confidence in myself and continually improved my skills!
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
My graduation project has been a highlight of my two years of study. I chose Chinese adolescents’ depression and their parents as the focal point, delving into the reasons behind the negative attitudes held by Chinese parents towards teenage depression. I analyzed and researched from various perspectives, including history, Chinese culture, media culture, and social background, attempting to find an outlet for this issue and urging Chinese parents to understand their motivations. Through the combination of touch design with visual arts, I simulated various depression symptoms, helping audiences understand how depression significantly impacts patients. This project was inspired by my own story, and I hope it not only provides answers to my past experiences but also hopes it can help alleviate depression for a teenager or increase understanding of depression for a parent. I am very grateful for the assistance of my mentor, Cristina, throughout the entire design process, and I am delighted to announce that this work has been honored with the 2023 IDA Multimedia/Other Graphic Design Gold Award.
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up.
When I was young, I traveled around with my parents, and the trips helped me to see a lot of things and slowly developed my habit of observing people and things. Slowly, this habit became a kind of curiosity for new things.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://ritazhangdesign.wixsite.com/portfolio
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/wzhang-rita
Image Credits
Wanqing Zhang
