10 Questions with Hanyue Song

Hanyue Song is a designer of visual communications from Shanghai who currently resides in California. Her work examines the confluence of several disciplines, including visual design, branding & marketing design, user experience, and project planning in kid education.

Hanyue graduated from Pratt Institute with a Master of Fine Arts in 2019 and a Bachelor of Economics in Finance & Banking in 2017, respectively. Her work styles are wide and varied due to her multidisciplinary background, which extends beyond her use of commercial or spontaneous artistic creations.

Hanyue's work has won awards from the Communication Exhibition for Asia-Pacific Visual Arts, Muse Creative Award, Graphis Advertising 2023, Designers for Peace Competition, and American Inhouse Design Award.

hysong.me

ARTIST STATEMENT

Hanyue has gained a lot of knowledge as a visual communications designer from studying other fields, experimenting with various mediums, bringing exciting concepts to life, and applying them effectively to inform, persuade, and entertain. According to her, design entails pushing the envelope of where we are and exploring other solutions to creatively better the situation. She enjoys continually experimenting and coming up with new ideas while working on designs because they, in some small way, can help people improve their lives.

Hanyue enjoys discovering the answers to why questions. Hanyue's approach to life has always been to keep a childish naivety about how she sees the world. She progresses by maintaining her childlike wonder for the world and her commitment to study.

Innate Music Festival, Posters, Print, 594×841mm, 2022 © Hanyue Song

INTERVIEW

First of all, introduce yourself to our readers. Please tell us more about your background and how you began making art.

Since I was old enough to pick up a pencil and begin scribbling, art and design have been my primary hobby. I believe that beginning to study drawing and handiwork at an early age planted the seeds for my future. However, it was a hobby for me at that time.
Later in life, I recognized that I had no desire to undertake any work linked to my primary major, finance. I started contemplating and experimenting in my areas of interest. I began to study journalism, frequently went to art exhibitions, and continually created new things in my spare time.
In the end, I decided to pursue a master's degree in communications design because it allows me to learn a great deal from other fields, explore multiple mediums, bring new ideas to life, and apply them in an effective manner to enlighten, persuade, and entertain.

You graduated in Finance & Banking before turning to art. How does your background influence your current work as an artist?

My background in Finance & Banking may seem unrelated to my current career as an artist, but I believe it has had a subtle yet profound impact on my work. My experience in finance taught me valuable skills, such as the importance of planning, organization, and attention to detail. These skills have helped me to develop a logical and methodical approach to creating art. Additionally, my background in finance has taught me the importance of taking calculated risks and being open to new perspectives, which have helped me to be more creative and open-minded in my artistic endeavors. Furthermore, the experience of working in a highly analytical and strategic field has helped me to develop a unique perspective on the creative process, which I believe has helped to set my art apart. Overall, my background in finance and banking may have led me to pursue a career in art, but it has also helped me to become a more well-rounded and successful artist.

Art Fun! -- Ooodd Tree House, DIY Kit, Prints, 18x18x30cm, 2022 © Hanyue Song

How would you define yourself as an artist today? And what makes you unique?

I enjoy expressing my thoughts in a creative manner. My personal experience will inform my work. I love natural objects and animals. I enjoy asking why questions and figuring out the answers, and I keep a youthful fascination with the world.
I've collaborated with various artists and designers in addition to designing a variety of products for my diversified clientele. I worked with Kerning to design and direct the visuals for the three-day contemporary dance festival Women in Motion at West Bund in Shanghai. In addition, I designed visual materials for both adults and children for the West Bund Museum and for "Centre Pompidou×West Bund Museum Project" in Shanghai.
I appreciate continually attempting and creating inventively during the design process, which can even, in a tiny way, improve the lives of others. I believe that my experience, creativity, and individualized techniques distinguish me from others.

You mainly work with visual communications design. Can you guide us through your creative process?

In all of my design solutions, the needs of the target audience come first. Before selecting the subject, style, method, and medium for my visual design projects, I conduct extensive research. Design, in my opinion, comprises seeking new innovative alternatives to improve the situation and pushing the boundaries of where we are.
I would say that there is no quick route to any destination. Changing my mindset that I am designing for my audience as opposed to projects driven by my personal interests is really difficult. I must put myself in their shoes and assist them in expressing themselves, as they anticipate a tailored strategy by which I may transform concepts into a distinct visual language. There is a need for compromise, as I may not always be able to design how I would like.

How much planning goes into each work, and where do you find inspiration?

My artistic endeavors do not always go as intended. Occasionally, while I create and experiment, I must modify certain directions or try numerous solutions to discover the one that best conveys my ideas. I am inspired by my observations of daily life, masters' works, pertinent research, readings, online browsing, and much more.

Where is My Frsh Air, Performance Installation, 8x8 in, 2018 © Hanyue Song

Where is My Frsh Air, Photography, Digital File, 2018 © Hanyue Song

When creating your art, do you have a role model or an artist you particularly look up to?

It is challenging to say. Many will have varying degrees of influence on my work. It could be his innovative ideas, artistic expression, artistic flair, or even his way of thinking. Each new skill has helped me in my artistic endeavors.

Let's talk about the main themes behind your art. What messages are you trying to convey?

You can notice that my artwork contains many natural and daily objects. To explore, to think, and to make logical use of what nature provides. I appreciate what nature provides, which can make people feel calm and content. I believe it can help my design work in delivering engaging, seamless experiences through creative storytelling.
Through my artwork, for example, the "Still Life" series of illustrations, I hope that my audience feels warm and is aware that they are considered, especially during this difficult time. I believe life will embrace you if you are appreciative of what nature has to offer and focus on the positive. On the other hand, I am awed by nature and wish that people would also be kind to nature. One of my initiatives, "Where is my fresh air?", a performance installation, tries to raise environmental protection awareness.

Your designs are colorful and playful, and in your statement, you mention maintaining a "childish naivety" as a key approach you have toward life. How is this reflected in your work? And how does it influence the outcome?

In order to express the positive energy and information behind the story, as well as to appeal to my audience's emotions, I use complementary colors, and creative techniques in my design work. Not only is it a visual statement, but it also distinguishes my work. When I explore my surroundings with the curiosity of a child, I am able to discover more delightful things and intricacies of life. For instance, the experimental project "Innate Music Festival" is able to capture my audience's attention due to the use of color and the creative way in which I generate the images by moving the pictures during the scanning process. In addition, this project receives the gold IDA Design Award and the silver Muse Creative Award.

What do you hope to accomplish this year, both in terms of career goals and personal life?

My "Still Life" series of illustrations won the Merit Award at the Communication Exhibition for Asia-Pacific Visual Arts. This is a fresh beginning for me to push my boundaries, as I am no longer merely a visual designer. This year, I will continue to communicate my views and thoughts about nature and life through illustrations.
In the preceding year, I competed in numerous design contests and won multiple accolades, including the IDA Design Award, the Muse Creative Award, and the American Inhouse Design Award. As an artist, I will continue to explore new creative techniques and reflect more on the world around us in the coming year. I will become a more professional visual communication designer if I continue to experiment with a variety of materials and mediums.
In my personal life, I will maintain a youthful desire to travel the world.

Finally, what are you working on right now? Anything exciting you would like to tell our readers?

I am excited to be delving into the cutting-edge field of the metaverse, which holds immense potential for innovation and creativity. Through rigorous research and experimentation, I am striving to push the boundaries of this emerging industry and explore its many possibilities. My ultimate goal is to create visually stunning and impactful works and series that truly capture the essence of the metaverse, and I look forward to sharing these projects with the world in the near future.

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