Meet Antonia Ye

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Antonia Ye. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Antonia below.

Antonia, appreciate you making time for us and sharing your wisdom with the community. So many of us go through similar pain points throughout our journeys and so hearing about how others overcame obstacles can be helpful. One of those struggles is keeping creativity alive despite all the stresses, challenges and problems we might be dealing with. How do you keep your creativity alive?

For me, creativity comes from staying attentive to everyday details. Walking through the streets of New York or commuting on the subway, I often find inspiration in the way information is presented — from typography and signage to graphic patterns that appear in unexpected places.

I also make space for regular input. I spend time browsing the work of illustrators and design studios to stay connected with what others are creating. When I feel stuck, I focus on increasing my exposure to related projects or visual references. I believe that quantity leads to quality — that insights often emerge after a certain level of input and processing.

But I’ve also learned that time is an important factor. Breakthrough ideas usually come not from rushing, but from allowing enough room for reflection. The early stages of exploration are always necessary, even if the clarity arrives later.

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?

I’m a graphic designer with a focus on branding, UI/UX, editorial, and motion design. My practice moves across these disciplines, but the core of my work is always about clarity — creating visual systems that are simple, thoughtful, and easy to engage with.

What excites me most about design is its ability to feel almost invisible when done well. I believe that good design doesn’t demand attention — it quietly supports understanding, guides the eye, and makes the experience smoother for the viewer. Whether I’m working on editorial layouts or interactive interfaces, I’m interested in how information flows, how hierarchy works, and how to reduce friction between content and audience.

One of my recent projects is Birdy, a birdwatching app designed to make science education feel lighter and more accessible. Rather than overwhelming users with information, the app organizes knowledge in a way that invites curiosity. I see my role as making space for users to explore at their own pace — helping information become easier to find, easier to read, and more enjoyable to learn.

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?

For me, the most important qualities have been observation, structure, and patience.

Observation means staying curious and paying attention to how things work — not just how they look. Structure is about finding clear ways to organize ideas and information. And patience is knowing that good results take time, and that early drafts are part of the process.

I would tell anyone starting out: slow down, look closely, and don’t be afraid of rough beginnings.

What’s been one of your main areas of growth this year?

This past year, I’ve spent a lot of time understanding my own capacity — learning how to plan more realistically and manage my time in a way that’s actually sustainable. Like many creatives, I’ve struggled with perfectionism and procrastination, often being too optimistic about how much I can handle within a certain timeframe. Overcommitting not only makes the process harder, but also takes the joy out of the work. Learning to recognize my limits and pace myself has made the creative process feel much healthier and more consistent.

I’ve also focused on how to better present my work — especially in areas like branding and interaction design, where the way you communicate ideas is just as important as the ideas themselves. A well-crafted presentation can highlight the thinking behind the work and help the project reach its full potential.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://antoniaye.com
• Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/in/wanying-ye-356158356