Today we’d like to introduce you to Theingi Thann.
Hi Theingi, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Hi! I am a 19-year-old designer based in New York City originally from Myanmar (Burma). I grew up in different parts of Asia but wanted to keep my Burmese name Theingi because it’s an important part of my upbringing and the country lacks a lot of representation. I originally wanted to pursue fashion design at Parsons because I grew up deconstructing my clothes and learning how to pattern cut from them.
However, after experiencing a military coup in Myanmar, I realized I wanted to focus on something that is more accessible and purposeful for me. Currently, I’m studying graphic design and creative coding while collaborating with small businesses and non-profits. My projects encompass a wide range of topics, ranging from human rights issues to web accessibility.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has been a bumpy road.
I am a person who likes to have a rough vision in my head for the next couple of years so I know what direction I am heading to but there have been a lot of uncontrollable factors like the country’s politics, or things like a pandemic.
But I find myself adapting to these situations and recentering myself whenever unexpected situations arise.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
While the term “multidisciplinary” is often overused today, it is becoming increasingly common to see designers embracing multiple roles and acting as creative powerhouses. Likewise, I am interested in a lot of different practices.
These include art direction, graphic design, motion graphics, data visualization, and creative technology, but I think a common theme that underlies my work right now is pushing 2D graphics to see how they can be more spatial and experiential. I am proud of my ability to incorporate diverse mediums and perspectives while being approached by traditional projects like editorial design or branding.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you.
I am a firm believer in how good luck and timing play important parts in our personal and professional lives.
Whether it’s meeting someone right, landing a dream job, or seizing unexpected opportunities, sometimes having good skills or a good match is just not enough.
When I think of how luck has played in my early career, I think about how I would always dm influential figures in fashion and ask about how they got to where they are as a curious student wanting to break into the industry.
It was during this time that I stumbled upon an Instagram story from a Press Director at the perfect moment, which led to an internship opportunity at New York Fashion Week. From that point on, the connections and opportunities just started snowballing.
Contact Info:
- Website: theingithann.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theingitt/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/theingithann/
Image Credits
Jaison Lin
