We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Layla Zhan a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Layla, thank you so much for opening up with us about some important, but sometimes personal topics. One that really matters to us is overcoming Imposter Syndrome because we’ve seen how so many people are held back in life because of this and so we’d really appreciate hearing about how you overcame Imposter Syndrome.
I used to struggle with feeling like I wasn’t good enough, but learning to accept feedback helped me see it as a way to improve, not just criticism. Documenting my progress from early designs to finished pieces showed me how far I’ve come, which was really encouraging.
Also, connecting with other designers was a game-changer. It made me realize we’re all in this together, each with our own style, all still learning. This helped turn my doubts into motivation to keep getting better.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
Recently I started a design company that helps businesses figure out their look and feel – basically, their brand identity. What I love about this is getting to mix creative ideas with smart planning. My goal is to keep things real and creative, helping businesses show the world their unique story through design.
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?
Being Creative: It’s all about keeping those creative ideas coming. If you’re just starting, look for inspiration everywhere. It could be from a cool graffiti, a music video, anything. And don’t worry about messing up. Sometimes the best stuff comes from just trying out weird ideas.
Learning All the Time: Design stuff changes fast. In college, I was always trying to learn the latest design software or following design influencers. The key is to never stop being curious. If you’re new, dive into learning; there’s tons of stuff online to help you stay up-to-date.
Knowing the Basics Really Well: Things like which colors look good together, how to make your designs not too crowded – that’s the bread and butter of good design. If you’re just getting into this, make sure you get these basics down. It makes everything else easier.
Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?
When I get overwhelmed, here’s what I do:
First, I will break it down. I split the big stuff into smaller parts. For instance, if it’s a big design project, I’ll focus on just one small piece at a time.
Taking breaks really works. Seriously, stepping away for a bit helps. Just going for a walk or listening to music can clear my head.
Also, I will talk to someone. Sometimes, I just talk to a friend or someone else about what’s stressing me out. It can help to just get it off my chest.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.laylazhan.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laylazhanx/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pingyu-zhan/
Image Credits
Layla Zhan
