Meet Alan Xu

We recently connected with Alan Xu and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Alan, appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?

My resilience comes from knowing that every failure, every setback, and every time imposter syndrome tries to tell me I’m not good enough only makes me stronger.

When I was diagnosed with narcolepsy in my sophomore year of high school. I would fall asleep in every class causing me to miss lectures and get poked fun at by classmates who didn’t understand what really was going on. Eventually, I shut myself away, spending nearly two years locked in my room. It felt like the only way to have some safety or control was to escape from everything.

But slowly, with the unwavering support of my parents and friends, I found my way back. I learned that resilience is about choosing to stand up after every fall, even when it feels impossible. This experience shaped and taught me that no matter how difficult or isolating the journey may seem, I can always keep moving forward.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I’m a designer focused on visual and motion graphics, crafting identities for companies and artists. Previously I’ve created logo and album campaign for GRAMMY-nominated producer Mustard, album cover and motion for K-pop group NOMAD, and logo and identity for Riot Games’ Valorant 2024 World Championship with the amazing team at Massive Assembly.

What excites me most about what I do is pushing myself to create something I’ve never done before and seeing my work leave a lasting impression. The most rewarding part is knowing that what I create has the capability to inspire, spark conversations, or simply bring joy to those who experience it.

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?

The three qualities that had the most impact on my career are being proactive, genuine, and willing to take risks.

Being proactive means putting yourself in places where opportunities can find you, rather than waiting for them to show up at your doorstep. It’s about reaching out, making connections, and constantly seeking ways to grow. The more you engage, the more opportunities you create for yourself.

Being genuine is about staying true to who you are—having good intentions, being honest, and building relationships without ulterior motives. Real connections and trust will take you further than anything forced.

Being willing to take risks means stepping outside your comfort zone and challenging yourself with things that might scare you. The biggest breakthroughs often come from pushing your own limits.

Advice for those early in their journey: Put yourself out there—apply for every opportunities even if you feel unqualified and scare of rejection. And, this one’s still hard for me, don’t be afraid to fail—every misstep is a lesson that brings you closer to where you want to be.

What would you advise – going all in on your strengths or investing on areas where you aren’t as strong to be more well-rounded?

This is a great question, and there’s no right or wrong answer—it all depends on what you’re trying to achieve and what you’re passionate about. If motion graphics is what you love and all you want to do in the near future, then going all in makes sense. Mastering your craft can open doors to specialized opportunities and help you stand out.

On the other hand, if you want to start a multidisciplinary studio or take on diverse creative roles, then it’s good to improve in areas where you’re not as strong. Running a multidisciplinary studio requires at least a basic understanding of various skills and tools, as well as the ability to connect different disciplines together. Versatility can be just as powerful as specialization, depending on your goals.

There’s a saying I really like: “The only bad choice is not making a choice.”

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Mustard Logo, Done with Josh Steinmetz

VCT24 SUPERNOVA, Done at Massive Assembly

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