In today’s image-saturated world, visual design is more than just aesthetics, it’s a form of storytelling, cultural memory, and emotional resonance. From children’s books to gallery walls, from exhibitions to award-winning poster series, illustrator Chenxin Luo is crafting a world where overlooked emotions, identities, and stories find center stage. We spoke with Chenxin Luo about her creative process, cross-cultural inspirations, and how she sees illustration as a platform for redefining who gets to be seen.
For designer and illustrator Chenxin Luo, creativity begins with clarity and intention. Her first encounter with Japanese minimalist design, especially the works of Kenya Hara and Taiwanese designer Wang Zhi-Hong, both of them reshaped her understanding of what design could be. “When a design feels honest, thoughtful, and well-executed, it’s satisfying,” she says. “I always want to get better at that. And I’m fascinated by invisible narratives—what society tends to silence, trivialize, or overlook. Whether it’s private emotions, dreams, or experiences of marginalized identities, my work aims to make those visible, often in surreal or symbolically dense ways. I want people to feel seen through the stories I tell.” It may result from Luo’s cross-cultural background that has become a defining influence in her work. With roots in Chinese visual traditions, she often brings subtle cultural elements into her projects, finding depth and resonance through visual storytelling.
This sense of balance extends into her professional practice. At Peter Coffin Studio, for example, she translated large-scale artworks into book and publication designs that retained the artist’s conceptual weight.“I handled everything from layout and typography to proofreading and preparing files for print. It was very collaborative and detail-focused, with an emphasis on making the design feel like a natural extension of the artwork.”
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One of her most proud projects to date was her collaboration with Dongyi Dunhuang Hotel & Resorts, where she worked as a visual consultant and illustrator. In order to blend ancient Dunhuang mural aesthetics with contemporary design for younger audiences, she got her hands dirty by studying historical topics, traveling to Dunhuang in person, and reinterpreting the spiritual essence behind the art. The resulting series of posters was not only visually striking but emotionally rooted, earning recognition across digital and exhibition platforms.
Besides her individual artwork, she co-founded with her twin sister, GuessWho Studio, gives her a lot of creative inspirations. They’ve built an original IP centered on illustrated twin characters that explore duality, connection, and individuality. Working together feels intuitive for the sisters; they brainstorm, critique, and build upon each other’s strengths, creating work that feels cohesive and emotionally unified.
Her most recent exhibition, “Dollhouse Dreams,” briefly touched on themes of nostalgia and emotional intimacy, exploring miniature spaces as reflections of inner worlds. But Luo sees it as one chapter in a larger creative evolution. The upcoming “Twin Size” project, expanding on the illustrated world she and her sister have been developing, will transform a gallery into a bedroom-like environment that evokes comfort, memory, and connection. “I want to make work that feels warm, which means focusing on everyday moments and human connection.”
“For me, design is about empathy, which means the quiet art of helping people see, feel, and remember. Whether through a printed book, a social media campaign, or a hand-painted illustration, I hope my work is guided by the same purpose: to make communication meaningful and emotion tangible.” As she continues to grow as both a designer and artist, Luo’s vision remains grounded in what first inspired her—the pursuit of honest, emotionally resonant human-centered design.
Presented by: APG
