Shanghai Publishing and Printing College —
When you can’t be yourself, be a carrot.

Mengying Yuan is a Generation Z designer and illustrator who is signed to Riguan Visual Studio and has already collaborated with a Chinese rock band in illustration design. Six years ago, she started studying painting systematically and graduated with a major in visual communication. After that, she worked part-time at a studio and company in Shanghai for further study and experience. Currently, she studies Film & TV Animation, a joint Sino-French educational programme at Shanghai Publishing and Printing College. She focuses on graphic design, animation production, VI design, packaging and book cover design. Specialised in all kinds of interesting and weird things, she is constantly trying new things and new styles of painting – and believes that there is no unified standard and thinking.

Interview with Mengying Yuan, Shanghai Publishing and Printing College

Red Dot: When and how did you discover your enthusiasm for communication design?
Mengying Yuan: When I was in high school, I liked to go to various art galleries to watch exhibitions. When I stood in front of the painting, I had a such complicated emotion, then I knew what I should do in the future.

What is your personal vision for the future?
Have an adventure and grow carrots on Mars.

What intention do you pursue with your award-winning work?
Reading is not just a visual act and words are just abstract patterns, while abstract patterns are also the sound of books.

Which three words best describe your award-winning project?
My past, myself, my future.

Was your award-winning work inspired by current social issues?
Nowadays, fewer and fewer people read physical books. The words need to be seen, and the text needs to be experienced.