By Vanessa Santuccione

Jingyuan Huang is a Maryland-based graphic designer and motion creative whose work merges clean, thoughtful aesthetics with engaging storytelling. With experience in marketing design and a growing focus on social media visuals, she creates content that balances strategic intent with artistic expression. Her projects span motion graphics, digital campaigns, and visual identities, reflecting both precision and emotion, as she seeks to connect audiences through movement, color, and narrative.

For Jingyuan, inspiration often comes from life’s small, meaningful moments. Guided by the idea that “art comes from life,” she approaches design with curiosity, attentiveness, and empathy—listening, thinking, and asking questions to understand both her clients and their audiences. She believes that every brand has a story worth telling, and through her creative process, she works to make those stories resonate, encouraging people to pause, engage, and connect with what truly matters.

We asked Jingyuan about her art, creative process, and inspirations.

Can you tell us about your background as a digital artist? How did your journey begin?‬

‭Sure! My name is Jingyuan Huang, you can also call me Elva. I’m a designer based in Frederick, MD,‬‭ currently working in a Marketing Agency. My background spans visual storytelling, motion graphics,‬ branding, web design and prints, with a focus on concept-driven work across different social platforms‬ and campaigns.‬

My journey started kind of differently. I was that type of girl that followed things steps by step. However,‬‭ Fine Arts helped me find a way to express my emotions and feelings. I learned to paint portraits and‬‭ sketched human figures for five years. During that time, I realized that I want to do more than just express‬‭ my own thoughts—I want to help people to express their feelings to the world.‬

‭While pursuing that dream, I became more involved in digital design. I was amazed by how design could‬‭ tell such compelling stories and leave such a strong impression on people. I may not be as talented as‬ Pierre-Auguste Renoir, bringing color to life on canvas, but I can use my own skill to tell my own version‬ of people’s stories.‬

What inspires your work the most?‬

‭I’m often inspired by the little moments from life. It really doesn't need to be big, but it brings happiness to‬ me. The saying “Arts comes from life,” by Nikolay Gavrilovich Chernyshevskiy frequently encourages me‬‭ to be a wonder, a thinker, and a listener. These qualities are crucial for me as a designer. During the‬‭ creative process when a client comes to us with a specific project, it also means we need to repeat that‬‭ process, listening, thinking, and asking.‬

‭For me, design and life go hand in hand. That’s why there are so many companies with attractive stories‬‭ behind their brand. The stories make their audience stop, learn, and fall in love with them. Of course,‬‭ reality sometimes hits harder than we expected, but it’s important not to forget what truly matters to‬ people and your clients.‬

‭Would you like to share a fun fact about yourself with us?‬

‭I don’t like pizza. When I first told my friends about this, they didn't believe me. They tried really hard to‬‭ figure out why. How could I not like pizza? But think about it—everyone has their own individual‬‭ preferences. Sometimes those differences are what help you stand out. Now, my friends are still trying to‬‭ find a pizza I might like and I enjoy the banter around it with my friends.‬

What else do you love to do when you’re not creating?‬

‭I love watching a variety of TV shows and music videos, or spacing out while I listen to music. Initially, it‬‭ was a learning process for me to study great design works. Slowly, it became more of a habit. As a‬‭ designer, I find myself paying close attention to the graphics that are shown. For example, the graphics in‬‭ The Gilded Age‬‭ were amazing—the transitions were well thought out and executed. Or in‬‭ Only Murders in‬‭ the Building‬‭ , the illustrations are fantastic, and they’ve become a signature part of the story. The same‬‭ goes for some music videos. I am sometimes a kpop fan. The music videos are amazingly shot and‬‭ designed, even the logos of music albums. I thoroughly enjoy the art of music—it’s a nice way to take a‬‭ little break.‬

‭What is a profound childhood memory that brings you joy?‬

‭I’m actually a foodie, and one of my most joyful childhood memories is related to food. My grandma used‬‭ to make homemade soy milk and tofu, and she cooked the most delicious soups. Every New Year’s Eve,‬‭ my grandpa would prepare a whole chicken for our family meal. We’d all gather together and enjoy the‬‭ feast—it was warm, comforting, and full of love. Those moments still bring me a lot of joy today.‬

‭What do you think you'd create if marketing didn't exist?‬

‭If marketing didn’t exist, I’d probably make food-related videos. I’d film myself cooking different dishes.‬ After I'm done, I pour myself a drink, and enjoy the meal. What’s more fun and satisfying than eating the‬ food you love? It would be my way of expressing creativity and joy—through flavor, visuals, and‬ storytelling.‬

‭Have there been any surprising or memorable reactions to your work?‬

‭I remember when I first learned how to use After Effects—it was during the pandemic. My professor gave‬ us an assignment to create a short motion piece, and I poured a lot of effort into it, even though I was still‬‭ learning. When I presented it, the professor and some classmates were genuinely impressed. Their‬‭ reaction surprised me because I wasn’t confident at the time, but it gave me the motivation to keep going‬‭ and explore motion design even further. That moment really stayed with me.‬

‭You've won an American Package Design Award. What advice would you give to aspiring digital‬‭ artists just starting out?‬

‭ Just do it. I know it might sound cliché, but it’s honestly the most helpful advice—even for myself. These‬‭ days, younger generations are becoming more and more anxious. The glamorous moments we‬‭ constantly see on social media can be overwhelming and make it hard to break free from our thoughts‬‭ and just start creating.‬

‭But here’s the truth: we’ll never know what we’re capable of unless we take that first step. The best ideas only start to take shape once we begin. As you gain a basic structure or understanding of‬‭ your craft, your path will naturally start to appear beneath your feet.‬‭ I also understand that AI now feels like a powerful force we all have to learn to live with. But that doesn’t‬‭ change the fact that your journey is your own. You are the captain of your ship. Focus on what you love‬‭ and what drives you—and let the rest be background noise.‬