SARAH LEE 16 IL

GOYANGII

Based in Long Island City, NY

How does your current creative practice tie into your time spent at RISD?

During the final lap of my undergrad experience at RISD, I focused on illustration for children–whether it be through story books or novel pattern and textile designs. Through my professional career, I have continued to pursue children’s product design from stationery to baby apparel. In my personal creative practice, I’ve merged the whimsy of my illustrations with humor that I more closely identify with.

How have you dealt with the challenge of maintaining a creative practice that feeds your soul but also helps pay the bills?

Like many of my peers, I lead a dual creative life. First and foremost, I am a designer breathing life into a brand’s vision and voice for the company I work for. I take care of the majority of my needs through this position. My need for routine, mentorship, fulfillment and paying bills. Once all is done with the day job, I find solace in coming home and finding joy in creating just for myself and my loved ones. Living in New York is tough, but it’s great to be able to have some leftover money at the end of the month to put towards producing my own tangible products. All that I’ve garnered from school and my work place, knowledge or finances, I’ve funneled into my personal creative practice. They are dual lives, but I live with both symbiotically.

Tell us about some of your main sources of inspiration.

Animals, animals, animals! With the increasing sharing culture online, I’ve never been more inspired by all the silly photos that people share of their pets or animals seen in nature. And what can I say, I love meme culture and how new age dada it is. A lot of what I create are reactionary to the things I come across in my day to day browsing.

To see more of Sarah’s work, visit www.goyangii.com