We recently connected with Scarlett Ssu-Chia Chen and have shared our conversation below.
Scarlett, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?
I’m Scarlett Chen, a US-based Taiwanese motion designer. Before my artistic journey in the US, I pursued a major in Economics during my undergraduate studies in Taiwan. Around my junior year, I began questioning myself if economics was truly my calling, struggling with uncertainty about my future. It was during this time that a senior designer offered invaluable advice, encouraging me to reflect on the question: ”What can I envision myself doing from morning till night every day in the future?” This insight was a turning point. I have always held a deep interest in arts and design. But in the past, I lacked confidence in my artistic abilities. However, when envisioning a future where I’d be engaged in something from morning till night, I discovered my desire to be involved in creative industries.
So, I embarked on a journey to explore various aspects of creative fields. When I got into motion design, I felt a profound excitement and joy that I hadn’t experienced before. I really love that animation allows me to communicate my feelings to others and connect with them. This inspiration led me to transition from economics to motion design with a clear goal in mind: to become a motion designer and collaborate with diverse, talented artists to create work that could touch people’s hearts.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
Currently, I’m a motion designer in Los Angeles. About my artwork, I specialize in creating vibrant animations using 2D and 3D motion graphics. I like to take the viewers down an emotional, wild, but surprisingly smooth ride through my fantastical animation, which is full of energy and happiness but also with a touch of trippiness. With a background in Economics of decision-making, I design with sensitivity to audience needs and effectively solve their problems.
One of my representative works is my thesis film “Overthinking Tea,” a project I directed, designed, and animated entirely on my own. This animated short tells the story of a girl struggling with overthinking, drawing from my own experiences. Through this project, I want to turn my negative experience of overthinking into a blessing and let those who have similar experiences know they are not alone.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
The first quality is storytelling. As an introverted individual, I had always struggled with expressing myself. However, through storytelling, I discovered a powerful medium to convey my thoughts and feelings to others and foster connections. Knowing that my work resonates with the audience, and brings energy and happiness to people, fills me with the greatest joy. This aspect has been profoundly impactful in my artist journey and is the most rewarding aspect of being an artist for me.
The second one is resilience. There were many moments when I felt overwhelmed and uncertain along my artistic journey. One of the most challenging struggles was realizing my own limitations. I often compared my work to that of my peers, leading to feelings of falling behind and self-doubt. When I couldn’t create the work that was pictured in my mind, I felt frustrated and helpless. Transitioning from economics to art and design also meant I lacked many years of foundational training, so I had to push myself to self-study even harder.
However, it is the experiences and the people who have accompanied me along the way that provided me with great resilience, allowing me to overcome these challenges. Resilience has not only granted me unique insights into my creative work but has also enabled me to approach life with greater maturity.
Last but not least is self-care. I am a highly sensitive person who tends to overthink every input I receive at each moment, which often leads to burnout. When I began my artistic journey, I realized the importance of self-care. I learned that despite the challenges of being highly sensitive, a delicate soul also brings infinite possibilities with a rich inner world. It is through self-care that I have come to understand more about my trait and started to appreciate it as a gift. I realize that only good health provides me with the essential energy to create good work. Both physical and mental health are crucial for this.
These are all areas I am still working hard on, and I believe we can do it! 🙂
Who has been most helpful in helping you overcome challenges or build and develop the essential skills, qualities or knowledge you needed to be successful?
I would say it’s my fellow artist, Jessica Wu. As someone who always suffers from self-doubt and fears, I’ve been struggling with both my artwork and personality. However, Jessica’s words always lift me up and help me to believe in myself. Thank you for always telling me my good points that I didn’t notice, and making me secure whenever I feel scared. Your warm company during my difficult time has meant the world to me. I feel incredibly lucky and grateful to have you with me on this journey.
I am deeply grateful for the people who have accompanied me along the way. They have provided unwavering support during challenging times, shaping me into a more compassionate and resilient individual. I hope that I can keep creating an immersive and imaginative world for viewers to join me on the adventure, and bring happiness and vitality to people through my work.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://scarlettchen.art/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scarlettchen_art/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scarlettchenart/
Image Credits
Scarlett Chen
