Presenting the kick ass class of Young Guns 22
It’s a kick-ass class. Young Guns 22 is topping the charts in creativity. But are you even surprised? Of course, not. If you’re new here, let me catch you up. Young Guns is a community of incredibly talented individuals – think amazing cinematographers, animators, illustrators, photographers, designers, and directors – and a new class of winners is chosen by an expert jury every year. This year we have 33 winners and among them, we have some very new, very exciting titles to unveil – an Architectural Designer, Composer, Stage & Show Designer, and Colorist.
We interviewed the winners so we could share their prowess with you. And if you’re a NYC local you can snag a ticket to the official YG22 Party at Sony Hall on Wednesday, November 13, 2024, where you will have the chance to meet and greet them.
Young Guns continue to dominate the creative industry, so we’re happily presenting you with the kick-ass class of Young Guns 22.
Yiting Nan
Animator & Illustrator, Wolff Olins
Based:
New York City, United States
Hometown:
Wuxi, China
What were your original impressions of the Young Guns competition, award, and community?
I first learned about Young Guns as a student at SVA - I saw that many of the designers and artists I admire had won this prestigious award. It planted a seed in me, and since then, Young Guns has been the award I’ve aspired to the most.
How did you end up in the creative field anyways?
I’ve loved drawing since I was a kid and wrote “designer” as my dream job in middle school. Though I changed my mind in high school, I still applied for graphic design and went to SVA. My dad, despite not being an artist, always said, “don’t stop drawing,” and his words resonated when I took motion class junior year — where I realized design, illustration, and animation could come together in motion design.
I began my career as an intern at Hobbes, a small but cool studio in Detroit (now part of Duolingo). Now, I’m a motion designer at Wolff Olins and take on freelance work when exciting opportunities arise. Motion design opened many doors for me, letting me explore multiple roles as an animator, illustrator, and designer. It’s like a never-ending upward spiral where these skills constantly influence and support one another.
Congrats on the YG win! Why did you decide to enter this year?
I was actually invited to enter last year’s YG21, which was the first time the award felt within reach. However, I didn’t enter because I was just about to turn 24, recently graduated, and felt I was still too new to the industry. This past year, though, has been incredible. I’ve worked on a variety of dream projects at Wolff Olins and in my freelance work, and my style has really come together with a stronger sense of consistency and identity.
My colleague and friend Melissa, who was on the ADC jury this year, invited me to the ADC 103 ceremony. When I heard Brian Collins announce that the YG award was opening soon, I turned to Melissa and said, “I’m going to enter!”"
You only get to submit six projects that embody you and your talent. So, how did you decide which pieces were good enough to make the cut?
The projects I submitted are close to my heart, each marking a key point in my career. While I considered including illustration work, I felt my animation stood out more, and I also created the illustrations for those projects. One of my submissions is the title sequence for Once Upon A Bite, a Chinese food documentary. It was my second motion project at SVA and marked the start of both my motion journey and the development of my illustration style.
“The projects I submitted are close to my heart, each marking a key point in my career. While I considered including illustration work, I felt my animation stood out more, and I also created the illustrations for those projects.”
What was your reaction when you discovered that you won?
The email came right after our weekly design meeting at Wolff Olins, just before the day ended. Everyone had been congratulating me that week for being a finalist, and I didn’t expect the final news to come so quickly! Overwhelmed with happiness, I was literally shaking as I texted my friends and colleagues. I was about to cook dinner, but I put the meat back in the fridge and suggested to my boyfriend Justin that we go out for a nice dinner. I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face for the rest of the day.
How does your current home inspire your creativity as an artist?
I spent the first 18 years of my life in Wuxi before moving to New York for college. Now, after six years in New York, this city holds all of my creative memories. I’m fortunate to have met so many great professors, colleagues, and friends who shaped my understanding of design. Notably, Richard Mehl and Ori Kleiner, my design and motion instructors at SVA, introduced me to the world of design and animation and have supported me ever since. Talented Enle Li, who I’ve always looked up to and is now a friend, continues to offer guidance and encouragement. And, of course, my boyfriend Justin Zhang, a talented and rising brand and motion designer, has always supported me. Together, we’ve collaborated on some of our best work and grown as creatives.
Now that you’re a part of the Young Guns community, are there any past winners you look up to and admire?
There are too many to list, but a few that come to mind are Enle Li (YG20), Nicolas Ménard (YG12), Jaedoo Lee (YG16), Natasha Jen (YG4), and Danaé Gosset (YG19). Their work is always inspiring, and I’ve learned so much from them. Not that many designers work across both animation and illustration like Enle, Nicolas, and Jaedoo, but they showed me that possibility and inspired me to fuse my skills across multiple fields.
Name a dream project that you have yet to fulfill — maybe Young Guns will propel you in that direction!
I’m especially drawn to projects centered around food, plants, and sports. While I mostly work on digital projects, I have a deep passion for print — calendars, prints, and stationery such as notebooks and tapes. Beyond dream collaborations with brands like Apple, Nike, and Hermès, I’m excited by any project that’s fun and bold. I’d be thrilled to work on anything I can see or hold in real life.
Will we see you at the YG22 party in NYC in November?
Yesss!
Come party with us and celebrate the class of Young Guns 22 on Wednesday, November 13, 6:30 PM, at Sony Hall in NYC!
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