It’s difficult not to notice Hui Luo’s work at a design show. Her illustrations are imbued with a vividness that’s hard to look away from. Made up of cartoon characters (bears and foxes, for example), Luo reimagines certain tropes of children’s books in a way that’s distinct and uniquely her own style.
Bright colour palettes are used – from scarlet reds to near-neon yellows – and the intensity is combined with a style of hand-drawn lines that appear as though they were drawn in a hurried, rushed manner. Perfection and colouring between the lines is not Luo’s style, which contributes to the appearance of her 2D characters being on the move. Such is the case for her graduate project Rollin’ On. It’s not hard to imagine her bright yellow bears coming alive as 3D motion art; the energy and scribbled style of their lines and colouring creating a sense of movement, the characters filled with effervescence.
It’s through the comfort of childhood imagery that Luo navigates the complexities of difficult topics in life. The dialogue between her characters is both sincere and innocent; they talk about dreams, feelings of loneliness and homesickness. “I’ve always loved drawing naturally,” she tells Creative Review. “As for design, maybe it’s because I have so many questions and sadness about this world. I want to create my own language, and picture books help me make heavy subjects more approachable – even humorous.
“I’m particularly good at children’s book creation,” she explains, “especially using picture books to tackle sensitive, complex topics about growing up.”
Rollin’ On addresses this specific period of change and turbulence with lightness and optimism. “It’s a coming-of-age story about a dog,” she elaborates. “The audience is basically all humans. It comes from my own experiences growing up: relationships with parents, teenage rebellion, love and heartbreak, dreams. Most people’s coming-of-age stories are similar in the end. The message is simple: no matter what, just keep rolling on.”
Her inspirations stem from cycles of life too, specifically Simone de Beauvoir’s 1946 novel All Men Are Mortal. “This has been incredibly important to me, especially in moments when I wanted to give up. It’s made my experience of life much deeper,” she says.
Going to university is a coming-of-age tale in itself for those who are able to attend. The experience has allowed Luo to grow personally. “I learned that no matter what, you’ve got to push yourself to connect with others.”
Of course, we’re in the age of AI too – a tool that’s creating upheaval across all industries, including education. Luo’s outlook on AI, like her work, is rooted in optimism. “I have tremendous respect for Teacher AI – I think it’s nearly a miraculous invention,” she says. “No matter what, I always maintain a positive attitude toward new inventions, especially since AI has helped so many people. My attitude toward AI itself is entirely positive; any negative aspects depend entirely on how humans choose to use it. Within legal and ethical boundaries, I’m completely comfortable using it – in fact, I love using it!”
Upon graduating, the future can feel uncertain – especially with the maelstrom of changes happening around the world right now. After graduating, Luo headed to China. “I don’t really have a clear concept of future,” she ponders. “If the future is tomorrow, I’d like to find a well-paying creative job. If the future is many tomorrows, then my biggest challenge will be maintaining a positive mindset for creation. For creators, this is most crucial. Commercial value can only come from truly serious creation and authentic self-expression. I firmly believe that if I focus on doing my own work well, everything else will come naturally.”
The next step into this unclear future, then, is for Luo to find a creative job. Though the future seems vague, she has a clear direction – perhaps unrealised and realised simultaneously, as ambitions often are. “I’d love to adapt my work into film,” she muses, “maybe even become a director. I hope to achieve recognition. I want my name ‘罗慧’ to be known worldwide as a great creator.”