“I see design as a way of telling stories.” Wen talked us through his work, opening up about his creative process and the inspiration behind his distinctive design style. Kuan-Wen Chen, who goes by Wen Chen, is a New York based Taiwanese designer whose portfolio spans across printing and digital platforms. Coming from a marketing background, his journey into design began during his college days, where he crafted posters for friends’ events and his band’s gigs. During his senior year at college, he created the visuals for the graduation showcase and immersive experiences for both physical events and digital media. The showcase gained the attention from China Times, the prominent news in Taiwan, and drew crowds from far and wide.
Following graduation, he embarked on a transformative chapter, pursuing his Masters at New York University in Interactive Telecommunications. Reflecting on the move, he remarked, “It was an eye-opening experience when I saw everyone expressing their point of view through different methods.” recalling seeing people creating mesmerizing visuals with creative coding. “It almost feels like walking into an art school and learning how to paint with code and Arduino board.”
The onset of the 2020 pandemic brought unforeseen challenges, prompting Chen to pivot towards digital media as a means of offering solace amidst adversity. One of his notable projects, “View from outside”, emerged as a digital sanctuary, inviting individuals to share their window views and express their emotions. To his surprise, many artists and musicians echoed this project and shared it on social media, creating an influential impact. It also earned accolades from media sites, including Marie Claire Taiwan Magazine. “I came to realize, my design not only tells my own story, but also becomes a vessel of others’ narratives.” He added.
In New York, Chen cultivated his career in design and has shown his talent. He has been working with top-tier clients for creating immersive marketing experience, and it earned him several awards, including BizBash’s Event Experience Award and ADWEEK’s 2022 Experiential Award. “I feel like New York City has always made me push forward and try new things.” Crediting the city’s relentless energy and pressure for fueling his growth, he pushed boundaries and explored new avenues in design, continually seeking to innovate.
He also explores his passion in design and illustration through his personal projects. “It’s just so fun to work in different mediums, almost feels like you’re speaking another language, and feel the grasp of the culture behind it.” His work includes illustration, risograph prints, and even video games. Eelbay, the game that he created with friends in 2023, has become a hit on itch.io, one of the biggest indie game platforms, and has been well acclaimed on the App store. His often cute and simple art style has become a trademark and can be seen in art fairs and magazines, “I somehow find it so endearing to create and read. It’s a powerful way to weave deep feelings in seemingly naive and simple graphics.” He added.
And he said the story is still moving forward. “I am always eager to do more.” When asked about his next steps, he declared, outlining his plan on publishing and making more design projects. “I am planning to publish my zine in the summer about New York City and boba tea, connecting the emerging food culture trend with my childhood memories. Also, I am releasing more illustration and graphic design works at art book fairs.” With each new project, he continues to expand his design vision and transform the stories through visual lens. He is ready to share his evolving narrative with the world.