Feb 23, 2016 See Sophia Chang at the Downtown Independent on Thursday!
How did I meet Sophia Chang? Pretty sure it was when she provided illustrations for some interTrend projects I was working on, including the 20th anniversary tenugui project (photo above) and a dogs-in-the-workplace manual (that will eventually see the light of day). Her lines seem so perfect and effortless, as if images and letters flow perfectly out of her mind and through her hands onto the medium of her choice. But when you meet Sophia, it is instantly apparent that she is freakishly mindful of every detail and how they add up to an overall feel. No wonder her style is so popular and that she has worked on campaigns, lines, and outreach for the likes of the NBA, Nike, Puma…
This Thursday, Imprint Culture Lab will be hosting a talk at the Downtown Independent in which Sophia will talk about her work, her process, and her outlook. I’m glad other people will have a chance to know my friend a little better, too. Did I mention that she is also very funny?
You do so much stuff from drawing (the rawest form of creativity) to social media (which is still formative and always changing). How do you describe your work when you meet someone new? Or even to your parents!
Probably still one of my biggest struggles today after working in the industry for so many years. I’ve started to just say I own a creative agency and we focus on storytelling through design. If people want to know more, then I can dive in further.
Why should people come hear you speak? Do they have to be “creatives”?
It all depends on attitude. If you are open-minded and believe that there is a lesson to be learned everywhere and anywhere, then there’s something for you. Go to bed every night knowing that you learned something new and progress on your path in life.
You’ve been giving a lot of talks lately, from the Apple Store to TED. Is this getting pretty easy for you?
It’s definitely getting easier. I get a lot of email from students, creatives, entrepreneurs, and people who are trying to leave their jobs asking me questions about my path, career, and input. Public speaking is a great way for me to speak on all those topics. I’ve also always enjoyed attending symposiums, panels, etc. as a student, and loved leaving the room overwhelmed with creative passion and inspiration. I hope I offer that to my audiences as well.
How much are you and the moderator, jeffstaple, working together on the talk? Or is he totally going to ambush you?
No idea. We’ll see. I trust him.
Don’t you live around the Downtown Independent now? Got any suggestions on where people should eat afterward?
I love Kazunori! Great place to eat. If the weather’s nice, Little Tokyo is walking distance (for a New Yorker like me, at least) so it’ll be nice to walk off the food afterward!
I had a lot more questions for Sophia, but had to leave something for Jeff. Learn more about Sophia at esymai.com, get tickets for the event at Eventbrite, and follow Imprint on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.