I hold a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Fashion Design from Parsons School of Design, graduating in 2023. My upbringing within a multicultural background, belonging to a Chinese minority group, exposed me to diverse perspectives. Having studied both arts and science in various cities and abroad—including Beijing, Yanji (China), Seoul, London, and New York—I cultivated an open-minded approach and developed an appreciation for diverse ideas and styles.

These experiences have led me to refine my unique style, creating a visually engaging and laid-back aesthetic.

Surprisingly, I only became interested in a creative career after finishing a semester of economics in 2017. Before that, I was on a typical path in my hometown, working hard and doing well in exams to pursue majors in science or the humanities, like literature and history, at university.

Art was never on my radar. Studying it meant taking specific drawing and painting classes with exams to test your skills. Since I was focused on science and doing well academically, spending time on art studies seemed impractical, let alone considering a career in the arts.

In a nutshell, my preference is for vibrant designs. I have a deep appreciation for colors and their ability to evoke diverse emotions. For instance, the turquoise, violet, coral, mint, and light pink hues in my collection impart a sense of freshness and tranquility, coupled with a hint of excitement from the unknown. I find joy in observing how different colors interact. In my perspective, the combination of color, form, texture, and details contributes to an overall aesthetic, and, for me, color stands out as the most crucial element when evaluating designs.

My primary design enthusiasm revolves around the utilization of color, as evident in a carefully curated palette bursting with lively energy. Additionally, I prioritize crafting engaging forms, paying close attention to the interplay of positive and negative shapes, ultimately producing designs that exude a memorable sense of playfulness.

This collection features key elements such as various ruffles, voids, loosely woven yarn, and small crochet pieces resembling bags (resembling flowers as well).

I aimed for my collection to exude warmth and hospitality, choosing soft materials like fur, tweeds, knit fabrics, and felted yarn. Opting for hand knitting and crochet, I found these methods best suited to express my creativity and provided a sense of freedom.

During the material development phase, I experimented with various knit, sewn, and crochet swatches, combining them in different ways—some featuring fur, others plain and solid, and some with abstract designs and loose yarn. After assessing the results, I settled on crochet as the primary method for shaping forms and creating the products.

The final products took shape organically during the creative process. Initially focusing on crafting small creatures through crocheting, this led to the spontaneous development of larger prototypes. This inspired the incorporation of wearables into the collection, allowing for a more profound expression of the world's essence. The decision to expand beyond creature-inspired products enriched the variety of shapes and forms in my collection, resulting in a more vibrant representation of the world.

An illustrative example of my intuitive design process is a body piece initially conceived as a potential top or skirt. However, it transformed into a whimsical, oversized handbag—a creative twist I hadn't initially envisioned. I revisited and revised many pieces to ensure harmonious shapes and colors, creating an overall look that is both fun and soft to the touch. My hope is that viewers will delight in the colorful, playful designs of my collection.

Through a thoughtfully curated palette, COLLECTION TZII7211 establishes a unique style, providing a delightful and soothing visual encounter. The collection crafts a playful and vibrant world through digital illustrations and crochet designs, catering to individuals who appreciate cuddly, colorful creations.

Recognizing the challenges that come with adulthood and the difficulty of finding moments of relaxation, especially for those living alone, I aim to design pieces that bring joy to tired grown-ups. The intention is to evoke happy memories of childhood or provide simple emotional and physical comfort for challenging times. The goal is to momentarily lift the viewers' seriousness and offer a sense of relaxation. The designs predominantly feature hand-crocheted pieces made with meticulous care and attention to each stitch.

I see this collection as a representation of my passions and skills, which is why I have chosen to submit it for awards.

• Individuals with strong enthusiasm.
• Creative freedom.
• A dynamic and thrilling atmosphere that is constantly evolving.

A) Be brave enough to start and persevere.

B) Set a defined objective. Understand your desires and identify strategies to navigate challenging periods.

C) Establish a transparent budget.

D) Efficiently organize and schedule your time. Monitor the time invested in various activities.

E) Prioritize a well-balanced life. Avoid compromising your health during work. Self-care is crucial.

I attribute my family, particularly my grandmother, for their unwavering support in my education and career. Their encouragement was crucial, especially considering the challenging decision to switch my major and embrace a different environment. It wasn't easy, particularly because none of my family members had a background in a creative field.

I am thankful for their support in allowing me to pursue my passion and for consistently caring about my well-being and maintaining a healthy work-life balance.

Don't overthink it—just begin and persist! This advice is directed at individuals, like myself, who often procrastinate due to the fear of producing designs that might not meet their expectations. I hope they can overcome that fear and simply initiate or continue their work, even if only for a few minutes or seconds.

Not every creation needs to be flawless, and there's no need to stress about achieving perfection. I believe that creativity often blossoms when we allow ourselves the freedom to experiment and explore various approaches to our ideas.

Appreciate every (positive) opportunity. And don't solely wait for them; actively seek them out regularly!