We caught up with Illustrator, Dingding Hu to chat about how she developed her style as an illustrator, where she thinks design is heading over the next 5 years, and what's on the cards both professionally & personally for the next 12 months.
What’s the worst design job you’ve ever had and how does that make you a better designer?
I once worked as a design assistant in a homeware product showroom. It was the worst because I was paid minimum, yelled at frequently and didn't get to do creative work at all. However I was in charge of keeping a lot of things organized everyday, and it has taught me invaluable lessons about office management that still benefits me until today. I can say it laid the foundation for me to work for myself!
Give us the elevator pitch on what you do.
I'm an illustrator who specializes in documenting daily life in a simplified modern digital style and presenting it with little surprises and humor. My clients varies from newspapers to public art, as well as illustrated product. My goal is to use illustration to reveal daily extraordinary as well as delight and inspire others.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
Plan your day the night before.
How did you develop your style as an illustrator and what tips would you have for others?
The process is a long process of trial and error. It is a combination of learning from people I admire, drawing things that I care, as well as constantly get out of my comfort zone to try new technique! Last but not least, you need to put love into your work, because people can feel it!
Where do you think design is heading in the next five years and how will you adapt?
I think the industry is getting more and more exciting in recent years! For the future, I think there will be a broader platform for commercial illustration application, more interesting illustrated product, and I guess character design might become more important in people's daily interaction on the internet.
What’s on the cards professionally and personally in the next 12 months?
I hope to work on one or two book projects that is true to myself. I am also planning to participate in trade shows for my illustrated product, in the hope of getting them into more retail stores! Besides those, I hope to take on more projects that push me to a better place of idea and technique!
