Meet Lingyi Kong

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Lingyi Kong a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Lingyi, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.

Finding my purpose wasn’t just about personal fulfillment—it was about discovering how my creative work could offer something meaningful to the world. Through years of exploring different mediums and technologies, I realized that my curiosity was my guiding force. It wasn’t just about satisfying my own desire to learn, but about contributing to something larger: challenging perspectives, inspiring dialogue, and fostering innovation.

This purpose became clear as I started blending art and technology, showing me that my role is not only to create but to encourage others to question the world around them and discover their own paths. Ultimately, my purpose is to bridge creative disciplines and push forward new ideas that can shape a more thoughtful and innovative future.

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?

My name is Lingyi, and I hold a bachelor’s degree from the Central Academy of Fine Arts and a master’s degree from the Rhode Island School of Design. I am a designer, illustrator, and programmer. Before coming to the U.S., I had worked for several years as a visual artist in the gaming industry. After moving to the U.S., my growing interest in creative programming pushed me to incorporate my diverse skills into my design practice, allowing me to expand the boundaries of my creations.

I’m the founder of Studio Mars Pharaoh, a design studio that focuses on the integration of design and technology. Our mission is to enhance life experiences through our work while exploring themes of universal significance. We place great emphasis on cross-disciplinary collaboration, and our clients include world-renowned music academies, animation studios, game companies, and publishing houses.

At the same time, I am committed to supporting the young designers. We offer consultation and services to help them grow and develop, supporting the next generation of creative professionals.

My design philosophy centers around communication and exchange. Through design, I aim to connect with audiences across the world who have their own unique insights into design. Mars Pharaoh regularly publishes materials and hosts online workshops, offering not only commercial services and consulting but also contributing to the spread of design education, the integration of design and technology, and various philanthropic efforts.

My recent work, Goodbye Icarus, is a digital design piece that was released in late 2023 in Providence, Rhode Island. This project experiments with programming languages and book structures, exploring the balance between possibilities and limitations, and seeks to bridge the gap between the digital and physical worlds. Through this work, I reinterpreted mythological narratives to push the limits of visual language and digital storytelling. The book was published by the Printed Matter,Inc. and has received multiple awards.

In our rapidly changing world, technological advancements haven’t eliminated feelings of loss, confusion, or unease. In fact, they have introduced even more uncertainties. Through this work, I aimed to create a dialogue about the challenges modern individuals may face. While digital technologies continue to advance design itself, they also reshape human existence—altering how we read, understand, and interact with media. As a designer, I am constantly exploring what it means to create work that is truly human being beneficial in this evolving digital age.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

First and foremost, curiosity. I can confidently say that curiosity has shaped my life. Every time I’ve faced fear or doubt, curiosity has always pushed me to take that next step.

My entrepreneurial journey began and thrived because of curiosity. When I was intrigued by digital design, I immediately explored it. When I became fascinated with the world of self-publishing, I started planning and conducting similar activities. And when I realized that founding a studio would help me better integrate my design resources and work, I went back and learned how to manage a studio. This constant curiosity ensures that I always have endless things to do every day.

Additionally, openness to new things has been essential. Despite my background as an illustrator, I never hesitated to learn programming, technology, even though it was an entirely foreign field to me. On the contrary, when I saw how new technologies could help broaden my design horizons, I wholeheartedly embraced them. Leaving room for exploration is crucial.

Finally, I value communication. Throughout my career, I’ve always sought to connect with the best expert, learning from their perspectives and methods. I’ve established my influence at globally renowned institutions and companies while also remaining open to being influenced by others. Being open to collaboration and constantly learning from people has brought immense benefits to my career.

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?

Throughout my growth, the various people I’ve interacted with have each contributed to who I am today. Every creative individual has been shaped by mentors or influencers. For me, the person who opened this door was my favorite manga artist, Kazuki Takahashi. Even though I no longer create manga or play Yu-Gi-Oh!, the curiosity and anticipation for the mysterious external world that his work evoked have continuously encouraged me to push further.

His work gave me the courage to start creating, which eventually led to my work being noticed, publishing books, giving interviews, becoming a professional, and establishing my own brand. Qualities like attention to detail, talent, and good opportunities are essential to success, but without the courage to take the first step, none of it would have been possible. For this reason, I believe Takahashi’s influence on me has been the greatest and most lasting.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://lingyikongart.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lkong_illust/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lingyi-kong-ba534b23a/

Image Credits

Lingyi Kong