Today we’d like to introduce you to Yu Xin King.
Hi Yu Xin, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Hello everyone, thank you so much for having me here. My name is Yu Xin but I go by my last name, King. The tiny and sunny island of Singapore is where I come from and where I got a diploma in Visual Effects and Motion Graphics from Singapore Polytechnic in 2019. In Savannah, I graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) in Motion Media Design from Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) in 2022.
Art has always been a root to every aspect of my life as I grew up drawing, crafting, painting, and dancing since I was five. I fondly remember making ceramics, sculptures, and acrylic paintings in the art club back in primary school. Participating in classical ballet, lyrical, and contemporary dance performances was also a big part of my life from 2006 to 2019.
My interest in motion graphics sparked from Polytechnic, where I learnt the foundations of motion analysis, dynamic typography, and broadcast design. Being exposed to the idea of creating various forms of moving imagery that is only limited by imagination and creativity got me intrigued to step foot in this journey. Upon receiving a scholarship to further my studies in SCAD, I was given the wonderful opportunity to deepen my knowledge, sharpen my skills, and develop my design style through the guidance from my professors, peers, and family. My time in university made me discover what I want to do with motion design as a tool apart from learning about the technical aspects of it. Working on projects on my own and with other talented individuals of different backgrounds made me realize that I would love to dedicate my designs to amplify the voices of others and myself, and to express the intangibles through the use of animation.
I got here where I am today thanks to all the people who believed and supported me. My encounters of meeting new people and living in different environments with different cultures have left a huge impact on me to devote my craft in creating motion designs as a form of experience for others.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
There’s the saying that smooth roads never make good drivers, which actually made me grateful for experiencing many unforeseen circumstances when I was an international student during the pandemic. My journey in university began in the SCAD Hong Kong campus when the 2019 protests were happening there. My encounters of witnessing demonstrations, hearing about the struggles from the people there, and having the campus being shut down all happening during my first year of university was indeed a crazy experience that I would never expect. COVID hit during that period too which got me flying back to Singapore to attend virtual classes that were situated in US time zones. The uncertainty of being able to complete my studies due to not being able to travel and the social unrest surrounding the world made my viewpoint of the future bleak during that period.
I tried to counter the negativity by using them as a form of motivation for my projects. One of them being an infographic piece about facing a creative block, as I noticed my classmates in SCAD were experiencing it more frequently due to feeling cooped up at home. The project “Creative Block: Your Frenemy” serves as a reminder to all creatives out there that they are not alone when it comes to running out of ideas, and that it is part and parcel of crafting something great during the process.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I specialize in creating 2D designs and animations using After Effects. Even though I always strive to work on projects of vastly different topics during my time in SCAD, my professors and peers told me that I have a very distinctive style. I would say that I lean towards working with extensive color schemes, snappy transitions, and bold graphic designs with illustrative and organic elements. I love getting over-the-top at times with my animations which makes the process fun for me.
One thing that sets me apart from others is that I love involving my peers and current events happening around me as sources of inspiration. I rely on the experience of others to be a mosaic of my works, with my proudest project so far being “IN SIGHT”. It was my senior year project which featured the voices of 18 unique individuals who expressed the things that they discover, acknowledge, and realize through art. This idea was motivated by a survey that was published in the Straits Times in 2020, which stated 71% of the Singaporean respondents view artists as the most non-essential profession. Upon watching the uproar and conflict it sparked on social media, this project was done in hopes to grant me my wish for art to be seen as a collective effort that is influenced and initiated by everyone, be it intentionally or subconsciously by artists or non-artists. It also serves as a celebration for the growth and enrichment of life with the power of art and artistic belief.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
Enjoying and trusting the process. It may sound like it should come naturally but I often find myself giving this reminder to others and myself. I believe these are very crucial qualities for me to stay focused and motivated. It also applies to stepping out of one’s comfort zone to experiment on new topics or styles.
One quote that I would like to share is that “If you are the smartest person in the room, you are in the wrong room”. It sticks with me which helps me to overcome self doubts. Embracing the fact that there is always a takeaway from every encounter and every individual that we meet pushes me to surround myself with new connections and experiences that never fail to go a long way.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.behance.net/KINGYUXIN
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pixel_dust.mp4/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yuxinking
