1 Please give us a brief bio of yourself and your creative background.

My name is Wen-Chia Chang, and I was born and raised in Taiwan. Currently, I'm a graphic designer based in San Francisco, California. I had the opportunity to work at an SF-based Gaming company, a consumer electronics manufacturer that specializes in gaming headsets, peripherals, and accessories, as a Visual Designer. Collaborating with highly skilled professionals and creating visually stunning product graphics for launches has been a highlight of my design career. In addition, I also worked on some side proects during my free time.

2 What made you become/why did you choose to become a creative?

It all started with my mom introducing me to the musicals and movies. Since then, I have been very drawn to musicals and collecting musical posters from some notable shows. After graduating college, I worked as a salesperson in the Theatre and Concert Hall. I had an opportunity to do the design for children's summer camps, where I started to realize my passion for design. I was then self-taught in Photoshop and Illustrator and made my way into the AAU Graphic Design, which was my first step into the creative and design industry.

3 Tell us more about your business/company, job profile, and what you do.

I stepped into the world of design when I took an undergraduate course in animation, where my teammates and I won a Times Young Creative Award in Motion Picture Made for Television in Taiwan. In addition, I have engaged in numerous poster projects with the National Theater and Concert Hall and created visual and marketing material for children's camps. In 2021, I joined an SF-based Gaming company as a Visual Designer. Working with a brand like this has pushed my creative thinking and brand execution even further. It has been a blessing to work with super-talented people and create amazing visual and product graphics for product launches. I hope to continue growing and honing my design skills to bring holistic and engaging design to life.

4 What does “creativity” mean to you?

For me, creativity could be simple, iconic, and impactful. Creativity is the capacity to redefine the old with new perspectives and create and infuse unique experiences in people's lives.

5 To you, what makes a “creative” idea and/or design?

While studying, one of my professors told us: "Don't just be a designer; be a storyteller." The value of a creative idea or design is not solely in its aesthetics but in the way you present it, the meaning, and the purpose it conveys.

6 Tell us about your creative and/or design process.

So, when I work as a designer in my company, I'll clear out my questions and know the business goal after receiving the brief. Then, I will do the research, directing my attention to the essential information that needs to be conveyed to the audience. After that, I will explore various design styles, start collecting references, and explore several directions. The last step is sketching ideas from one or two concepts that the client chose. Having feedback back and forth during the process and eventually coming up with an idea that we both agree on and are happy with.

7 What's your favorite part of the creative process and why?

I love doing the research, but sometimes I spend too much time on it that I need to set a time to stop. For me, research could help me understand more about the topic I'm working on. It allows me to dig deeper and not just scratch the surfaces, giving more depth to my design.

8 Describe your creative style and its main characteristics.

I'll describe most of my creative style as a sense of cosmic, gaming-like, and tech-driven.

9 Do you think your country and its cultural heritage has an impact on your creativity process?

Yeah, Absolutely. My hometown's diverse history certainly taught me to be more open-minded and willing to try different approaches or mix materials to ac achieve what's best for the ideas.

10 Congratulations! As the winner of the 2023 MUSE Creative Awards, what does it mean to you and your company and team to receive this award distinction?

It's an honor to receive this award. Having this award boosted my confidence as a designer. And no doubt, it motivates me to create more work, and I'm happy to share this with my family and friends.

11 Can you explain a bit about the winning work you entered into the 2023 MUSE Creative Awards, and why you chose to enter this project?

I chose this personal project to enter the 2023 MUSE Creative Awards because it represents my country's history, in which the people before me fought for our land and brought freedom, harmony, and peace to my country. I'm really grateful for that, and I think this piece also means a lot to me.

12 What are your top three (3) favorite things about our industry?

Creativity, Innovation, and Kindness

13 What makes your country specifically, unique in the creative industry?

My home country has a diverse history. We have been colonized by several countries. And each brought their uniqueness and aesthetic into my country in different forms. I think that makes the creative industry in my country open-minded, innovative, and dynamic.

14 Where do you see the evolution of creative industry going over the next 5-10 years?

We live in a world where technology has changed dramatically every day, and it is essential to keep up with what is coming, what the trends are, what technologies are the latest, and how we can have them involved in our design process. It will make us better designers to create more impactful and meaningful works.

15 What resources would you recommend to someone who wants to improve their skills in the creative industry?

Looking back, I wish I had made more connections with people earlier in my creative journey. Like, genuinely getting interested in their stories and learning from them has been inspiring and has expanded my perspective more than any online resource ever could. It takes time to meet those fantastic friends or mentors who take you to the next level in your career, but every connection has its value. So, it

16 Tell us something you have never told anyone else.

Shhh... It's a secret.

17 Who has inspired you in your life and why?

Inspired by my mom, who instilled in me a love for exploring new ideas and embracing different perspectives, exposing me to movies like Star Wars and encouraging me to stay curious. I am also a gamer. Gaming with visually stunning design, interface, and art have all been significant influences that have shaped me into the designer I am today. My desire to create remained strong over the years. I continued to develop my design talents, and I naturally gravitated toward careers that would allow me to follow these creative paths.

WINNING ENTRY

Typography
2023
MUSE Winner - City of Sadness

Entrant Company

Wen Chang Design

Category

Typography - Poster