Today we’d like to introduce you to Hannah Sun.
Hi Hannah, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I’ve had a passion for drawing for as long as I can remember. Like a lot of kids my age, I spent countless hours watching anime, sketching characters, and wondering how I could create them myself.
Ironically, when I first entered college, I wasn’t studying art at all—I started in Automation Engineering because I knew very little about the creative industry, and it felt like the more practical path at the time. But after my freshman year, I realized I was spending most of my free time thinking about design and creative work instead. So I decided to take a leap and transferred to the Art Institute in Chicago to study Visual Communication Design.
That decision completely changed the direction of my life. During college, I was introduced to motion design and quickly became fascinated by it. I loved how movement could add emotion, personality, and excitement to a design in a way static visuals couldn’t. That interest eventually led me to New York, where I pursued an MFA in Computer Arts and began focusing on motion design full-time.
Since then, I’ve been fortunate to build a career creating animated work for brands, products, and experiences—and, most importantly, doing something I genuinely love every day.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It definitely hasn’t been a completely smooth road. One of the biggest challenges was deciding to leave a more traditional and predictable path. When I switched from studying engineering to design, I was excited, but I also had a lot of uncertainty about whether I was making the right decision.
Another challenge was moving to the United States and building a career in a completely new environment. As an international student, I had to adapt to a different culture, language, and educational system while also trying to find my place in a highly competitive creative industry. There were many moments when I questioned whether I was good enough or whether I would be able to turn my passion into a sustainable career.
Creative work also comes with its own challenges. It’s so easy to compare yourself to others or feel pressure to constantly produce better work. And that work isn’t just work anymore, it’s become something that connects with one’s self more closely and more vulnerable.
Over time, I’ve learned that growth isn’t always linear, and that developing your own voice and perspective takes patience.
Creative work also comes with its own challenges. It’s easy to compare yourself to others or feel pressure to constantly produce better work. What makes it especially difficult is that creative work often feels deeply personal. It’s not just something you do—it can become closely tied to your identity and take on a much bigger role in your life, which can make both criticism and self-doubt feel much more vulnerable.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m a motion designer working in the advertising industry. My professional work focuses on brand films, visual identities, and motion systems, using animation to add personality, emotion, and energy to designs. The same philosophy carries over into my personal work, where I use animation to explore ideas and tell stories in ways that feel fresh and delightful. Whether it’s a commercial project or a personal one, I’m always interested in how motion can create a stronger connection between an idea and its audience.
I think what I’m the most proud of is that i actually turned something i loved as a kid into a career. My engineer background cultivated a curiosity for technical systems and problem-solving, while my passion for art and design has always been there since childhood. I love that I can now bring those two worlds together in the work I do every day.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
There are far too many people to name individually, but I’ve been incredibly fortunate to have family, mentors, and teammates who have shaped my career along the way.
I’m especially grateful to my family for supporting the ambitious and sometimes uncertain decisions I’ve made throughout my life. From leaving my home country to pursuing design and animation, I’m sure not every choice made complete sense at the time. Even so, they trusted me, encouraged me, and gave me the freedom to follow what I was passionate about.
I’m also thankful for the many mentors, teammates, and collaborators I’ve had the opportunity to learn from over the years. The people I’ve worked with have played a huge role in shaping how I approach both creativity and problem-solving today. Being surrounded by talented artists, designers, and creative leaders constantly reminds me how much there is still to learn, while also pushing me to grow and improve. Looking back, many of the opportunities and achievements I’m proud of would not have been possible without their guidance, support, and trust.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://hannahhsun.design
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hannah.sun__/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hannah-hanqing-sun-0b3248b4/
