Queens Gazette: Michelle J. Li is a Chinese American costume designer and production designer for film, TV, stage and new media. She combines her extensive graphic and fine arts background to wield color, form, and pattern with finesse to create fresh and whimsical work.
3 comments:
It was really exciting to read from a fellow successful student’s perspective. I am someone who is interested in both costume and scenic design, and it is super inspiring to read that Li has been able to pursue both passions professionally in her career. It’s also really encouraging to know that she wasn’t exactly sure what she wanted to be for most of her life. I still feel a little lost on what I want to do in the future, and that’s comforting to hear. I was also surprised to learn that she lives in New York, since she works in film. It’s good to know that it is still possible to live on the East Coast and do design work for film. I also love the fact that she started out by working on independent films. That’s something that I’m really interested in and would love to do. In addition, I admire her ability to work both on film and theater and I feel like that could be something that I could do in the future. I think that would be a great combination of both passions.
It is always exciting to see what young CMU alumni are up to in the industry. Its also really interesting to see how Michelle has not only been successful in the field she mostly studied (costume design) but also that she has done some work in production and other things that interest her. Besides the fact that she designed the costumes for theater camp and I am so excited to be able to see it after the trailer, I am also really interested in her other works. I didn’t quite realize how many other credits she had. What really struck me in this article though was what she said in the interview section about having a work life balance when you are just starting out in school or as a designer in general. It is nice to hear from someone who is young and successful that your goals in the industry are achievable even more so if you work hard not only in your field, but for your mental health/social life. I will definitely be seeing theater camp when it comes out, and I will definitely at least try to take her advice.
As someone who is fairly certain that I would like to pursue the costume design concentration next year, I loved reading this article about Michelle J. Li. I definitely related to a lot of what she discussed in this interview. My parents have always encouraged me to do what I love and go into a career path that I am passionate about. Since costume design is a bit of a niche career, I was definitely nervous about majoring in it, especially because I was very unaware of all the job opportunities that are available in this industry. Seeing how successful Michelle J. Li has been through has made me feel a lot more confident, and also because she is Carnegie Mellon Alumni it has helped me to see more possibilities in the future. While I’ve always loved fashion, sewing, clothes and costumes, all aspects of design interest me. It was cool to read that she also worked as a production designer on a project, so I know I won’t have to be boxed in to one field.
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