While the illustrations and animations of New York–based artist Yiting Nan are delightfully bold and minimal, the details that they focus on feel lived in and realistic, from the way that clothes hang off a windowsill to a chair tied to a street sign with a bike lock. For Nan, much of her inspiration comes from her observations of the world around her. “I’m always taking photos while walking of small fragments that catch my eye: a color combination or a group of objects arranged in an unexpected way,” she explains. “[This practice helps] me collect shapes, colors and small personalities from daily life, which often find their way into my work.” Her love of clean shapes and vivid colors stems from her educational background in printmaking and graphic design, as well as the influence of Saul Bass and Paul Rand. Initially, Nan began studying as a designer instead of an illustrator, as she doubted her ability to come up with ideas without responding to a brief. “At the School of Visual Arts, different paths began to overlap in a very natural way,” she recalls. “I took motion classes, which required me to create my own design or illustration as the foundation for an animation. That was when I realized motion design might be the perfect discipline for me: it allowed me to bring together design, illustration and animation in one practice.” Now, as a freelance artist, she combines her favorite disciplines and media as she sees fit, depending on the project. “To me, the creative world still holds endless possibilities, and I want to keep exploring different forms, disciplines and ways of making,” Nan says. “In the industry, I want to continue contributing to the space between illustration, motion and branding. I like to think of it as ‘fusion’—a place where different disciplines, skills and ways of seeing can come together. I hope to keep building a visual voice that feels truly my own.”