Three Questions with Shaung

Short interviews with select JLers about all things life and creativity.

Who or what inspires you as a person?

I genuinely enjoy graphic design and visual arts as a whole. I’m fueled by a need to see concepts come to life. Daily, mundane things that people typically ignore catch my eye. From the size of numbers on building addresses to logos on the street to the craftsmanship of items and things people carry on the subway.

I also draw inspiration from the late, great Virgil and people like Seth Macfarlane, the creator of Family Guy, who is a jack of all trades. I’m intrigued by those who thrive in several lanes.

Outside of visual arts, music has influenced me throughout my career. Although I’m not a musician, I have a deep relationship with music that started when I was young. I’ve had my RnB, Old Soul, and Hip Hop phases through the years and have recently fallen into rave music. Lately, I’ve been trying my hand at cooking. I’ve probably finished all the cooking and baking shows on Netflix.

Did you always want to be a designer? If you weren’t a designer what would you be?

I’ve always wanted to be some sort of a visual creative, and I initially wanted to become an illustrator. I also considered becoming a fashion designer, but I naturally fell into graphic design. The apple didn’t fall too far from the tree as I come from a family of creatives. My father and sister are painters, and my brother is in the fashion industry, so ending up in graphic design seemed like the best vehicle to channel my creativity. If I wasn’t a designer, I’d curate and serve edible creations. The feeling I get from serving people food is unmatched.

Where do you see your career in 5 years from now, and what advice would you hope you hold on to or hope you remember for your future self?

I’d hope to have my own entrepreneurial venture in the next five years. A piece of advice I’ll hold on to is: always go where you are wanted and never underestimate your value.