An Inspired Chat with Xiaojun Huang of Toledo, OH

Xiaojun Huang shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Hi Xiaojun, thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: What are you chasing, and what would happen if you stopped?
I’m chasing the strange, the playful, and the overlooked in everyday life—objects and ideas that spark my creativity and feed my design. If I stopped, my work would lose its soul.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m a designer and educator currently exploring how typography can convey meaning even without being read or pronounced in a traditional sense—focusing on the intersection of Eastern and Western visual cultures. In my academic work, I encourage students to experiment with playful and meaningful ways of creating designs that serve both community and public spaces.

Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
I thought success meant doing what others expected. Now I define success on my own terms..

What did suffering teach you that success never could?
It reminded me that design isn’t just about fixing what’s broken—sometimes it’s about living with the questions, letting uncertainty breathe, and allowing it to guide the creative process.

Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What’s a cultural value you protect at all costs?
Playfulness and humor.

Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. Could you give everything your best, even if no one ever praised you for it?
I will, but it’s hard. We just need to remind ourselves to be kind to each other.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
Xiaojun Huang

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