Behind the MWL Dragon Head Symbol

MWL Dragonhead Logo

Last year, Magical Winter Light’s unique dragon head symbol and other graphic designs were highly complimented and contributed to our award winning marketing efforts. Just as our festival is inspired by the traditions of the East, Magical Winter Lights’ graphics are meant to show the intersection of the East and West that is at the heart of our festival. Are you curious to find out who is behind all of these eye-catching designs? We had a chance to sit down with the creative genius behind this work, Xun Wang, to learn more about the creative process she went through to design the symbols of the spirit of Magical Winter Lights.

MWL: Can you tell us a little about yourself?
Xun Wang: “My name is Xun Wang, aka BunnyIsGood. I’m 29 years old, and I’m a Chinese freelance artist specialized in motion graphics and traditional animations. I currently live in Chengdu, China. I completed my BFA in Digital Animation from Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. Then I worked as concept artist and animator in VHQ Asia, a post-production company in Singapore for 2 years. Then, I moved to NYC to study motion graphics in 2009 in School of Visual Arts, MFA Computer Art.Having been a freelance artist for 7 years, I had worked for clients coming from various spheres and for different kinds of projects: graphic design, illustration, motion, graffiti and web designs. ”

MWL: “How did you get into graphic design?”
Xun Wang: “When I was a freshman in college, I studied a variety of subjects, from foundation drawing to graphic design, and product design to movie making. Although later I chose animation as my major, I still practiced my design skills. And I decided to learn more about motion graphics in USA. Motion graphics and graphic design share the same basic design principles, including balance, unity, rhythm and so on.”

MWL: “What was your favorite design that you created for Magical Winter Lights?”
Xun Wang: “I like the dragon head design and the city elements.”

MWL: “The dragon logo is a favorite of our team’s also and many 2015 Magical Winter Lights visitors. We especially enjoyed some of the detail elements like the yin and yang symbols he has for dimples and how he smiles at the end of our MWL Recap video. How did you come up with the idea and design behind it? Why do you think the dragonhead best represents Magical Winter Lights?”
Xun Wang: “Dragons are one of the traditional symbols of China, and I was inspired by the dragon dance, which is a traditional activity in China especially popular during Spring Festival celebrations. I decided to use geometric shapes of high saturated yellow and red and blue to create a sense of the passion and spirit of our culture to form the shape of a dragon head in a unique way.”

MWL: “What challenges did you face during the design process?”
Xun Wang: “Creating outline was challenging because of the complex combinations of both shape and color, especially the selection of color because it combines both Western and Asian essence. My challenge was how to integrate the traditional concept of China into the western graphic design form.”

MWL: “Can you walk us through your creative process when creating new designs and illustrations?”
Xun Wang: “I did research first about dragons in Chinese culture. Then I started dragon sketches on my note book. Finally, I created an outline and added color using Adobe Illustrator.”

MWL: “Your artwork has been used by prestigious companies like Microsoft. What do you think has contributed to your success as a graphic designer?”
Xun Wang: “The experience definitely contributed to my success, it helped me understand the significance of communication, including how to cooperate and negotiate with others. Additionally, it enriched my experience and helped me be more familiar with the knowledge and practical skills in graphic design.”

MWL: “What advice would you give someone who is interested in pursuing a career in graphic design?”
Xun Wang: “Look more, learn more, and push more for yourself. Practice makes perfect!”

If you are interested in some of Xun Wang’s other works, check out her portfolio here: www.bunnyisgood.com