Shane Xian
GRAPHIC DESIGNER
PORTFOLIO: http://work.shanex.biz/
PINTEREST: http://pinterest.com/snappypanda/pins/
Born in China, raised in Los Angeles and recently transplanted to Detroit, it’s safe to say Shane has a unique perspective on a variety of cultures and the design they inspire. She’s made the most of her skills and time since arriving in Detroit a little over a year ago — whether it’s in the classroom, in the design community, or enjoying some pure Michigan cuisine.
Can you give us a brief background of yourself? Your history? Your accomplishments?
I was born in China, but moved to L.A. with my parents in 2001. I attended Art Center College of Design for advertising and came to Detroit about a year ago to study graphic design at CCS. The WUIs project was featured in the Art Center Student Gallery. My Urban Plotters work and a few more are featured in Art Center’s Behance Gallery as well. Currently, I am working at Detroit Creative Corridor Center on the 2012 Detroit Design Festival as one of the lead designers.

What made you interested in design?
I’ve been a visual person for as long as I can remember. I’ve been collecting provocative visuals for a long time, and started playing with Photoshop and Illustrator in my teenage years. As a result, I ended up in design and love every bit of it.
How has growing up in Los Angeles influenced your work, and how has your move to Detroit shaped or changed it?
I think growing up in a culturally diverse place like L.A. has definitely opened my eyes terms of how far boundaries can be pushed and how things work. L.A. planted the seed of ambition in me. My year spent in Detroit has shown me another side of the story, another lifestyle, another culture and another mindset. Detroit has definitely challenged my problem-solving skills and made me more courageous. I’ve also gained a lot of spiritual growth while living here.
What differences (or similarities) in design culture have you noticed between the two cities?
I think the differences in design culture between the two cities are relevant to the different historical and cultural experiences. I think the two cities have different approaches when it comes to design. One is more focused on presentation and presence, while the other has certain authenticity to it. Overall, I hope to see more design enthusiasts and design awareness in Detroit.
What inspires you?
All kinds of things. But to name a few: Film – Stanley Kubrick, Quentin Tarantino, Sofia Coppola. Fashion – Givenchy, Valentino, Issey Miyake A lot of things also comes from observing daily lives, reading blogs and lots of youtube videos. The littlest details do a lot for me.
Do you have a favorite designer/artist (or a few)?
I think with the internet age it’s hard to have a favorite, or even a few. Every day I go on Behance, Designspration, and Vimeo, and I always find a few designers that I love that I had no idea about yesterday, and they all have amazing work. So it’s hard for me to pick a favorite.
What is your favorite Michigan-made product?
Michigan pretty much converted me to beerism. All of these local breweries have delicious beers. The BBQ scene is really amazing too. I love Bert’s ribs.
What is your favorite aspect of AIGA?
AIGA is a great platform for us to meet each other and have this network of support and inspiration.
What does your work space look like?
My workspace can be in the beautiful DC3 office, or my living room with Netflix on, or coffee shops like Fourteen East on Woodward and Kirby. It’s just me and my laptop. So it’s more fun to hop around.
What have been some of of your favorite projects from the past year?
My favorite projects from the last year has to be Ann Arbor Film Festival and Urban Plotters.