Meet Shaowen Liang

We were lucky to catch up with Shaowen Liang recently and have shared our conversation below.

Shaowen, we’re so excited for our community to get to know you and learn from your journey and the wisdom you’ve acquired over time. Let’s kick things off with a discussion on self-confidence and self-esteem. How did you develop yours?

I wasn’t always a confident person. Growing up, I often doubted myself and hesitated to take risks. In fact, I didn’t even believe I could become a graphic designer because I didn’t know how to draw before college. When I started college, I dedicated myself entirely to learning graphic design, often at the expense of socializing. While this intense focus helped me build a strong foundation in design, it also led to serious challenges with socialization, leaving me feeling isolated and unsure of myself in group settings.

Over time, I began to step outside my comfort zone in various ways to rebuild my confidence and self-esteem. Skateboarding, for instance, became a surprising but powerful tool for growth. It forced me to confront my fears, embrace failure, and persist through setbacks. Each small victory, like landing a new trick, made me feel more capable and resilient. Similarly, taking on collaborative design projects and seeking feedback from peers helped me engage more openly and recognize the value of my contributions.

These experiences taught me that confidence isn’t about being perfect, it’s about growth, persistence, and embracing challenges. Learning to balance my dedication to design with personal pursuits like skateboarding and building relationships has been transformative. It’s a journey that continues to shape who I am, both as a designer and as an individual.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

I am a graphic designer who focuses on using visual storytelling to solve problems. In my personal projects, I explore topics such as scars as symbols of resilience in my “Scar Gallery” project and reproductive rights in China and the U.S. I believe design is a powerful tool to foster meaningful connections and spark impactful conversations.

Currently, I work as a graphic designer at Humanscale, a leading office furniture company renowned for its innovative, ergonomic designs and commitment to sustainability. In my role, I contribute to creating visual communications that reflect the company’s mission of promoting healthier work environments and reducing environmental impact, an alignment that resonates deeply with my values.

Whether through collaborations with communities, small businesses, or artists, I strive to create work that resonates, inspires, and contributes to a better world.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Looking back on my journey, I’d say that curiosity, resilience, and adaptability were the three qualities that really made a difference. Curiosity drove me to constantly learn and explore, whether it was diving into new design techniques or understanding different perspectives. It kept me motivated, even when things felt uncertain. Resilience was crucial in overcoming the challenges that came my way, there were moments when things didn’t go as planned, but learning how to persevere and bounce back from setbacks really shaped me into who I am today. Lastly, adaptability allowed me to stay flexible and adjust to the ever-changing landscape of design and technology. As new trends emerged and the industry evolved, being open to change helped me stay relevant and innovative.

For anyone starting out, my advice would be to embrace curiosity, never stop learning and exploring. View failure not as something to be feared but as an opportunity for growth. And when things change (because they will), adapt to them. Don’t get stuck in one way of doing things. These qualities will help you develop a strong foundation, make meaningful progress, and ultimately thrive in your journey.

If you knew you only had a decade of life left, how would you spend that decade?

Although I’m confident in my ability to communicate through design and visual storytelling, I’m working on improving my verbal communication skills, especially in English. I used to be an expressive person, enjoying the exchange of ideas with others and writing poems to articulate my feelings and thoughts back in China. But now, I often feel frustrated because I can’t find the accurate words to convey what’s in my mind. It’s a process, and sometimes it feels like I’m not able to share my ideas as fully as I would like, but I’m committed to pushing through this obstacle. Over time, I’m learning to navigate these challenges, and I know that continuing to practice and immerse myself in conversations will help me become more confident in verbal communication as well.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://shaowenliang.com/
• Instagram: swsamliang

Image Credits

All image credits belong to Shaowen Liang