Meet the Artist Behind the Playful Designs That’s Captivating the World

Malaysian Graphic Designer, Vanissa Foo is making huge strides in the global scene with her iconic quirky illustrations at just 27 years old. Scrolling through her Instagram feels like stepping into a whimsical wonderland. Her recurring fictional character, ‘Humana,’ appears in nearly all her designs, embarking on adventures like wandering around a beautiful garden or performing in a theatre.

Bursting with life and personality, Vanissa’s eye for pattern, composition and colors translates into her much admired, inimitable ‘Humana’ illustrations. It is not just her huge following on social media who love her artwork; industry professionals do as well. She has received several international awards such as the prestigious D&AD Awards, Taiwan’s Golden Pin Design Award and the New York Art Directors Club (ADC) Award.

“The birth of ‘Humana’ was quite accidental, it originated from my assignment. I didn’t realise we had to report our work progress so I quickly and spontaneously drew this character in class. When the teacher saw it, she thought it was interesting and I immediately thought of expanding the concept.”

The Graphic Design degree graduate from The One Academy explained how creating ‘Humana’ taught her to embrace the beauty of making mistakes and overcoming the fear of failure. With a passion and just pure excitement for creating art, she dives deep into her journey as an artist in this playful, energetic interview.

Vanissa’s illustrations reflect her personal feelings and everyday life embodied through her alter-ego, ‘Humana’. Dressed in bright colors, polka dots, baggy pants, and garments adorned with bows and ribbons, the character is quite literally a vibrant extension of Vanissa herself.

“The first zine I published was strongly influenced by my mix-and-match fashion. The second zine, ‘Humana’s Theatre’ was related to dance because I love dancing. Last year, I created ‘Humana’s Garden’ because I have a phobia of butterflies so my design concept is a garden without butterflies.”

Before her success, the graphic designer-cum-illustrator from Negeri Sembilan shared her early struggles with self-confidence and doubts on pursuing an education in art and design. Growing up in a family that owned a small coffee shop, she had never taken formal art classes despite her love for drawing. She often envied her schoolmates who could paint murals and portraits—something she felt she couldn’t do.

“At that time, I considered giving up art and focusing on my studies. Until one day, I saw a marker at the stationery store and found it so special so I bought it, took it home, grabbed a book and started drawing until midnight.”

To her surprise, she had created something beautiful and that sparked the confidence she needed in herself. Her newfound passion even caught the attention of classmates and teachers, who asked her to design the backdrop for their graduation ceremony. From that point on, she was determined to do whatever it took to pursue a career in arts.

“I made a trip alone across states to enroll at The One Academy because I was eager to study there. Studying Advertising & Graphic Design enhanced my aesthetic sense and helped me gain a lot of knowledge about design. This is the foundation every designer should possess.”

Watch the exclusive interview to learn about pursuing game-making as a career!

Other than developing her design skills, it was in her Creative Entrepreneurship class that she learned to focus on creating independent works. It served as a foundation that led her to make a life-changing decision.

“By the time I turned 25, I knew it was time for me to make a change. I resigned from my day job because I wanted to fully develop ‘Humana’. I wanted to see what achievements I can accomplish.”

Today, ‘Humana’ has collaborated with renowned brands like Nike, Chagee, The Olive Tree and Uniqlo. Her designs have even blown up into large-scale installations at Changsha IFS Mall and Qingdao in China, as well as Kao No Ie (顔の家) in Kyoto, Japan. With more collaborations, projects and installations on the horizon, she has not only achieved what she set out to do but continues to push boundaries.

“There are many things you can only learn through experience. It requires a step-by-step approach, everyone should prioritize the fundamentals. Having faith in yourself is the first step towards success.”

There's so much more to her story than this article can reveal! Dive into the exclusive interview and join the fun as we explore her journey to thriving success!

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