We recently connected with Ming Cheng and have shared our conversation below.
Ming, 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.
For as long as I can remember, my career path has always been clear: to become an artist. As a child, I was fascinated by crayons, colors, and geometric shapes of all kinds. This passion carried me through high school, where I found solace in creating beyond the confines of math equations and chemistry formulas filled with endless English letters. It has remained with me to this day as I approach the completion of my design degree and contribute to branding projects for various cultural institutions. If I were to define how I found my purpose, it would be to stay true to what I love. Passion and devotion are the best reasons to embark on any journey, and they are precisely why I am eager to keep growing in this field.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
As an exhibition design fellow at the New York Public Library, I create brand identities for various exhibitions related to performing arts. When visitors step into a gallery, they encounter more than just the artworks on display—there are posters, introductions, labels, explanatory texts, and merchandise, all woven together through graphic elements. If the exhibition itself tells a story, my role is to narrate it in a way that is both seamless and imaginative.
What excites me most about this work is how every project is shaped by its subject matter. A ballet exhibition, for example, calls for a focus on movement, making vibrant colors a fitting choice. A jazz-themed exhibition, on the other hand, benefits from a more relaxed visual approach to match the music’s rhythm and tone. Because of this variety, each project feels like a new adventure—exploring design ideas that balance creativity, experimentation, and public engagement.
Currently, my exhibition design for Rhythm Is My Business: Women Who Shaped Jazz is on view at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts through June 13, 2025. If you’re in town, come check it out!
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
What sustains me on this journey is passion, perseverance, and honesty. My love for visual art has been a guiding force, allowing me to recognize my career path early on and to approach my work with both optimism and joy. As an artist, I embrace the limitless possibilities of each project, knowing that dedicating time to exploring the vast landscape of design is essential to creating something truly beautiful.
Amid this deeply personal and emotional artistic journey, honesty remains at the core of who I am. I believe in being truthful with my clients—building every decision on a foundation of respect and open communication. And just as importantly, I must be honest with myself, because only through genuine self-awareness can I create work that resonates with people deeply.
To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?
I am incredibly fortunate to have a mother who has always supported me. Throughout my career, she has been a constant source of inspiration and love. But the moment her influence shaped me most was in my childhood when I first showed an interest in art.
Rather than discouraging me with the pressures of exams and academics, she nurtured my passion for art in a very serious way. Despite our family’s financial limitations at the time, she still bought me watercolors and brushes that were, for us, a considerable expense. She even allowed me to take painting classes on weekends at a studio on the outskirts of town, ignoring the terrible commute distance. Her unwavering support and openness allowed my passion to thrive, turning what was once a childhood hobby into a lifelong calling. I can’t feel more grateful for her as her daughter.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://mingchengdesign.com
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mingcheng-design/
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