GARSON YU

Garson Yu is President and Creative Director of yU+co., a digital media design and production company with offices in Hollywood, Hong Kong, and Shanghai. In 1998, Yu founded the business in Hollywood and more than a decade later, the LA office has expanded to a staff of 28 and growing. A chance to work on a project for the Beijing Olympics led to the establishment of yU+co.'s Hong Kong office in 2006 and shortly after, the creation of yuco[lab] which focuses on new media, interactive and experiential design.

yU+co.'s story-driven approach to design has resulted in work that is described as both whimsical and clever, engaging and exquisite. Acknowledged as one of the leading film title designers in the business, Yu has worked on more than 200 feature film titles over the years and collaborated with A-list directors such as Ang Lee, Sydney Pollack, Oliver Stone, Zack Snyder, Ridley Scott and Spike Lee.

With a focus on creating good design that works across many different platforms, yU+co.'s diverse client list includes major studios such as Disney, Paramount, Warner Brothers, and Universal; leading gaming companies such as Ubisoft, Activision and Capcom; cable networks such as HBO, Discovery Channel, Turner Classic Movies and the Cartoon Network; and prominent advertising agencies such as Draft FCB, Ogilvy & Mather, Chiat Day and Deutsch. A native of Hong Kong, Garson holds a MFA degree in Graphic Design from the Yale School of Art.

Where were you born, where do you live, did this effect your design style or sensibilities? I was born in Hong Kong, and I now live and work in Los Angeles. I studied graphic design in the US and I have always been influenced by Western culture, even when I was in Hong Kong. However, I always have Asian aesthetics in my soul.

If you were not a designer, what would you be? A sculptor. I always wanted to be a fine artist because I could create things for myself, not for others.

What is your design process, do you sketch first, go to the computer, take days off to get inspired? I think and I observe. Ideas are everywhere around us. Observation is the key to discovering new ideas. As the Bible says "there is nothing new under the sun". When I start a project, I'm afraid I am the victim of modern technology— I go to the computer first before I sketch. Research is a big part of my creative process.

What is one thing you have done to help weather the economic downturn? Be focused. I always want to explore and try different directions in my work. But in this economy, I've learned to be efficient and stay focused.

What is your greatest strength and weakness as a designer? My greatest strength is to see things and turn them into something unique. My weakness is in dealing with the business as a designer.