We were lucky to catch up with Yuqun Huang recently and have shared our conversation below.
Yuqun, we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?
People around me nurtured my resilience. I am fortunate to work in one of the leading design studios, yU+co, where everyone is incredibly talented and diligent. Their trust in me has been a significant factor. I encounter fresh design challenges and technical hurdles daily, and I appreciate the chance to explore new things regularly. The working environment shaped my design logic centered around creating meaningful collective experiences through dynamic digital content.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
As a designer at yU+co,I’ve been involved in creating title sequences for movies and TV shows, including “Monkey King” (2023), Star Wars: Ahsoka (2023), and The Little Mermaid (2023). I had an opportunity to design a set of Chinese stamps inspired by the Qing dynasty’s jade seal for the Monkey King (2023), which was later approved by the executive producer Stephen Chow and used for the movie’s main on end.
While working on the title sequence, I particularly enjoyed the research phase. It allowed me to dive into that time period by listening to music from that era, looking at art pieces from that time, and reading the stories behind the characters. This stage excited me because it helped me connect deeply with the atmosphere and stories of that era.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
1. Adaptability: This valuable trait was instilled in me by my colleagues. I discovered that exceptional designers are consistently open to discussing fresh concepts and offering constructive feedback. 2. 3D Proficiency: Utilizing Cinema4D provides me with creative freedom in my design process. It empowers me to bring nearly any vision to life and enables me to craft impactful style frames with narratives while maintaining a sense of coherence.
3. Intellectual Integrity: English computer scientist Paul Graham once stated, “Honesty is a wellspring of empowerment.” As a creator, this integrity cultivates an ongoing sense of curiosity toward the content I’m engaged with. Continually asking myself, “Why am I pursuing this?” ensures my design’s efficacy in distilling the narrative.
Paul also suggested it is essential to work on something we are deeply interested in. Your passion will propel you to invest more effort than mere diligence ever could. I deeply agree with that.
Thanks so much for sharing all these insights with us today. Before we go, is there a book that’s played in important role in your development?
“Meditations” by Marcus Aurelius holds a passage that resonates deeply with me: “No matter what actions or words others may display, I am committed to goodness. Just as an emerald, gold, or purple maintain their inherent qualities, always declaring: ‘Despite all, I will remain true to myself and display my authentic essence.'” I find solace in listening to the audiobook during my runs – it has a profoundly soothing effect on my soul.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.yuqunart.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cocomotionyuqun/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coco-yuqun-huang-293b00148/
Image Credits
Design: Yuqun Huang (Coco) Inspired by Nikolaus Schatz’s tutorials
