https://ongzhenqi.com Zhenqi Ong Sun, 12 May 2019 01:43:18 +0000 https://ongzhenqi.com en https://ongzhenqi.com/Home-Page Sun, 12 May 2019 01:43:18 +0000 Zhenqi Ong https://ongzhenqi.com/Home-Page https://ongzhenqi.com/Info Sun, 12 May 2019 01:43:18 +0000 Zhenqi Ong https://ongzhenqi.com/Info Hi, I’m Zhenqi—you can call me Z. My approach to design is shaped by not just a background in Industrial Design and Visual Communications, but also my own identity and cross-cultural experience. This combination has resulted in a sensitivity towards cultural details and empathy for different experiences and needs.It means that when I design, I center the user or audience throughout the process—from research to understand perspectives and (re)define the problem, to the critical evaluation of concepts based on whether they would meet real, human needs. Beyond creating visually pleasing outcomes, design is about reimagining creative systems and strategies that make a meaningful difference. ‍Originally from Singapore, I am now based in Chicago, IL. I have worked in a design agency, as a freelancer, and currently in-house at a nonprofit organization. Some things I like to do in my free time include cooking, kickboxing, and handbuilding ceramics. Experience 2020–PRESENT Design &amp; Communications Manager, re:power 2018–2020 Graphic &amp; Web Designer, re:power 2015–2017 Designer, Studio 424 2015 Contract Designer, Uptake 2014 Design Intern, The Art Institute of Chicago 2012–2014 Teaching Assistant, School of the Art Institute of Chicago 2007–2010 Designer, OP3 International, Singapore Education 2011–2014 Master of Fine Arts in Studio, Visual Communication Design School of the Art Institute of Chicago 2003–2007 Bachelor of Arts, Hons. (Industrial Design) National University of Singapore Download full resume. Interested in working with me? Send me a message. ︎ ︎ ︎ https://ongzhenqi.com/Stateville-Calling Sat, 27 Apr 2019 02:18:31 +0000 Zhenqi Ong https://ongzhenqi.com/Stateville-Calling Stateville Calling Client: Scrappers Film Group <img width="2593" height="3936" width_o="2593" height_o="3936" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/727bfe197841f5a555c5d8918ef3b31cfc43ad3f54991e491f98056981c39f2d/Poster.png" data-mid="56413350" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/727bfe197841f5a555c5d8918ef3b31cfc43ad3f54991e491f98056981c39f2d/Poster.png" /> Logo and film poster for independent documentary Stateville Calling. https://ongzhenqi.com/A-Seat-At-the-Table Sun, 18 Mar 2018 17:50:33 +0000 Zhenqi Ong https://ongzhenqi.com/A-Seat-At-the-Table A Seat At the Table Client: Digital Third Coast/KDM Engineering <img width="2223" height="5765" width_o="2223" height_o="5765" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/977a56d5b729a471ccf994f4b61259ca3ae34de9bd4a492606e92d70a6a836eb/KDM-femaleCEOs-nologo.png" data-mid="42030536" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/977a56d5b729a471ccf994f4b61259ca3ae34de9bd4a492606e92d70a6a836eb/KDM-femaleCEOs-nologo.png" /> https://ongzhenqi.com/Will-to-Live Wed, 28 Feb 2018 15:04:17 +0000 Zhenqi Ong https://ongzhenqi.com/Will-to-Live Will to Live Client: Digital Third Coast/Aperion Care Infographic looking at 50 inventions through time that have made, or will make, a positive impact on human life expectancy. <img width="800" height="2000" width_o="800" height_o="2000" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/d9474bee31a1df1160cfa47ed42de40c877dc7e401430491e00293a3b8932080/AperionCare_0216.png" data-mid="42030537" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/800/i/d9474bee31a1df1160cfa47ed42de40c877dc7e401430491e00293a3b8932080/AperionCare_0216.png" /> The objective was to display the inventions against time of invention and the number of lives saved, for comparison and the potential to identify trends. The huge differences between the values (a few hundred thousand versus one billion on the two ends) and dimensional constraints proved to be the main challenges, as was the need to highlight newer inventions that only have per-year rates instead of accumulated numbers. After an initial trial of different layout ideas, the consensus was that a polar area chart would make the most efficient use of space and be visually intriguing at the same time. Categorizing and color-coding the inventions also add another layer to the information and allow trends to be identified. <img width="1667" height="4688" width_o="1667" height_o="4688" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/39bdad890ec17290bb10654a6a76819ccee64e0b350e708a9a2f005b816435a1/AperionCare_0216_Timeline.png" data-mid="56413007" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/39bdad890ec17290bb10654a6a76819ccee64e0b350e708a9a2f005b816435a1/AperionCare_0216_Timeline.png" /> A timeline version of the chart with items arranged according to when they were invented was also designed as a supplementary reference for the radial chart. https://ongzhenqi.com/Clean-Jobs-Midwest Mon, 25 Sep 2017 18:51:50 +0000 Zhenqi Ong https://ongzhenqi.com/Clean-Jobs-Midwest Clean Jobs Midwest Client: Clean Energy Trust Collaborators: Jon Linton, DJ Catrow <img width="1564" height="1119" width_o="1564" height_o="1119" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/ce0ec2efddce027f9b13a9b236c32cec5363f7c8d45e7656854b9324f9c7c339/Screen-Shot-2017-09-25-at-1.05.47-PM.png" data-mid="42030538" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/ce0ec2efddce027f9b13a9b236c32cec5363f7c8d45e7656854b9324f9c7c339/Screen-Shot-2017-09-25-at-1.05.47-PM.png" /> Clean Jobs Midwest is an annual survey of clean energy employment in 12 Midwestern states, conducted by Clean Energy Trust and partners Environmental Entrepreneurs and BW Research. The results from the survey are presented on an interactive website and downloadable reports. Studio 424 was hired for the second time in 2017 to design the website. The website was designed to be intuitive and easy to navigate for the average user. By offering users different ways to look at data and presenting the data visually, information could be more easily understood, digestible, and engaging.&nbsp;The new brief was to update the site with new data as well as improve on the design without executing a total revamp. I worked to refine the visual details like typography and created icons to better organize the different pages and tools. <img width="1920" height="2984" width_o="1920" height_o="2984" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/61dcc41b3fe57bcfce100553041a5f53046d21398a0f93fdfeaf38cc88e896d5/portfolio_comp3_2.png" data-mid="42030539" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/61dcc41b3fe57bcfce100553041a5f53046d21398a0f93fdfeaf38cc88e896d5/portfolio_comp3_2.png" /> Learning from feedback on the previous year’s site, I redesigned the presentation and interaction of data, in particular the tree charts and Compare page. I worked closely with the developer to produce iterations for quick testing before finalizing the designs. <img width="1200" height="968" width_o="1200" height_o="968" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/cadaca73f4258c87de93f06199a59832a7eb668a97b136f9618a688e9ece8489/treemap-animation.gif" data-mid="42030540" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/cadaca73f4258c87de93f06199a59832a7eb668a97b136f9618a688e9ece8489/treemap-animation.gif" /> <img width="1200" height="977" width_o="1200" height_o="977" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/3336ceb123a64dfef0de6351871d0d41348f32faee6e2e255d7e5ec8669f1070/compare-animation.gif" data-mid="42030541" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/3336ceb123a64dfef0de6351871d0d41348f32faee6e2e255d7e5ec8669f1070/compare-animation.gif" /> https://ongzhenqi.com/The-Exoneration-Project Sat, 17 Jun 2017 02:15:30 +0000 Zhenqi Ong https://ongzhenqi.com/The-Exoneration-Project The Exoneration Project Client: The Exoneration Project Art Direction: DJ Catrow Collaborator: Jacob Blank <img width="418" height="453" width_o="418" height_o="453" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/437664ed4bd0779a5477153aa7801084a379b58df30058d7bab197cd85ff7df4/logo.png" data-mid="56779504" border="0" data-scale="16" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/418/i/437664ed4bd0779a5477153aa7801084a379b58df30058d7bab197cd85ff7df4/logo.png" /> The Exoneration Project is a free legal clinic at the University of Chicago Law School, made up of attorneys from civil rights firms who volunteer their time to represent the wrongly incarcerated and fight for their freedom. Working with a small team, I had the privilege to redesign the brand identity and create a cohesive identity system. Research Learning about the stories of the clients and the EP team’s dedication to truth and justice, we were determined to create a brand and digital presence that reflected the emotional range of exoneration—darkness, despair, resilience, determination, and sometimes victory. We wanted the brand to embrace hopefulness without ignoring the struggle. Ideation <img width="1667" height="938" width_o="1667" height_o="938" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/af720d032d4d46e016fad41d9ac16153718527d06141255363aae1fc5eed71aa/portfolio_sketch-01.png" data-mid="42030555" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/af720d032d4d46e016fad41d9ac16153718527d06141255363aae1fc5eed71aa/portfolio_sketch-01.png" /> We selected metaphors relevant to these experiences, and sketched out ideas based on them. Sifting through and selecting the potential concepts was a multi-person process involving much discussion and critique. One of my sketches which visually expressed the action of emergence from the past into the light, stood out strongly and eventually became the final selection by the client and studio. This concept of emergence and early sketches drove our decisions and informed how the rest of the elements would look. Development The next step in the process was designing the parts of the identity, and laying down rules on how they were to be used across applications and collateral. <img width="1024" height="600" width_o="1024" height_o="600" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/a7c7820358693a32a43808ae4ddf3e31f3d9c132e4f6e5baf29fea43b7956e6f/BrandSummary-01.png" data-mid="42030548" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/a7c7820358693a32a43808ae4ddf3e31f3d9c132e4f6e5baf29fea43b7956e6f/BrandSummary-01.png" /> Icons, patterns, and illustrations are the three main graphical components, with horizontal lines—developed from the theme of emergence—as the basic element tying them together. After much experimentation and trial, a varied color palette was established with guidelines on how to create color combinations. The expansive palette also allows for thematic assignment of color, creating distinctions between content topics. Similarly, typographic rules were also established, with much attention to detail paid to quotes and key statements. Application Once visual guidelines were set, the new identity was applied to stationery and various collateral, with a focus on the new EP website and social media graphics that would be the main face of the EP brand. <img width="2000" height="1448" width_o="2000" height_o="1448" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/31d603adc803b54ad60b46c1e54d2b6b4224c44708b48f1470f81215bcbb43b6/web1.jpeg" data-mid="42030552" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/31d603adc803b54ad60b46c1e54d2b6b4224c44708b48f1470f81215bcbb43b6/web1.jpeg" /> <img width="3000" height="2000" width_o="3000" height_o="2000" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/f7ee7b20d61442799be1d3d6cc4182f182c0db65a628b805ea1920cf15d497d0/Postcard.jpg" data-mid="42030554" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/f7ee7b20d61442799be1d3d6cc4182f182c0db65a628b805ea1920cf15d497d0/Postcard.jpg" /> <img width="2600" height="3460" width_o="2600" height_o="3460" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/8f48b669fbdab27582959f27dcf098514f93dd2f51f31ca14074c42fd277084c/Canvas-totebag_front.jpg" data-mid="42030550" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/8f48b669fbdab27582959f27dcf098514f93dd2f51f31ca14074c42fd277084c/Canvas-totebag_front.jpg" /> <img width="1500" height="2000" width_o="1500" height_o="2000" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/a558408a43457cf410eca7d0e63e201866fe0a9039600619fda816f448425b8c/Poster.jpg" data-mid="42030549" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/a558408a43457cf410eca7d0e63e201866fe0a9039600619fda816f448425b8c/Poster.jpg" /> <img width="852" height="315" width_o="852" height_o="315" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/bc8b6de807d514bfc7bfc1c4887889b620c6c715928baed7a66a14355005db39/EP-fbprofile-rgb_cover.png" data-mid="42030553" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/852/i/bc8b6de807d514bfc7bfc1c4887889b620c6c715928baed7a66a14355005db39/EP-fbprofile-rgb_cover.png" /> https://ongzhenqi.com/Clean-Energy-Trust-Challenge Sun, 24 Sep 2017 17:27:24 +0000 Zhenqi Ong https://ongzhenqi.com/Clean-Energy-Trust-Challenge Clean Energy Trust Challenge Client: Clean Energy Trust Collaborator: Hanan Shoubaki The Clean Energy Trust Challenge was an annual event held in Chicago by Clean Energy Trust (CET). The event brought together venture capitalists, industry leaders, the media, and the public to watch Midwest cleantech startups pitch their businesses and listen to keynote addresses by prominent thought leaders. Winners received substantial funding from the Trust and sponsors to grow their businesses. The Challenge led to the development and growth of more than 80 businesses throughout the Midwest.Every year, a different theme would drive the design of the event identity, which would be applied across environmental graphics, wayfinding, program and other collateral seen and used during the event. The 2017 theme was climate and data. We decided to use infographics as a way to connect climate issues back to the work of CET. These would be combined with the CET brand energy forms to create cohesion with the parent identity. Points and lines became the main graphic elements utilized both literally (in visualizing data) as well as abstractly (as supporting aesthetics). <img width="1200" height="800" width_o="1200" height_o="800" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/92f1950ea724b831b834d1c914dc1be92072444ed9310705bf24cb4e285840a7/IMG_0977_e.png" data-mid="42030542" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/92f1950ea724b831b834d1c914dc1be92072444ed9310705bf24cb4e285840a7/IMG_0977_e.png" /> <img width="1200" height="800" width_o="1200" height_o="800" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/24f64a06cd7e6402916fbe53d442340df8e47c8264aa12d128e62143f9cad819/IMG_0993_e.png" data-mid="42030543" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/24f64a06cd7e6402916fbe53d442340df8e47c8264aa12d128e62143f9cad819/IMG_0993_e.png" /> Environmental graphics positioned strategically around the venue, as well as smaller collateral like the program, were the main carrier of this event identity. <img width="1200" height="675" width_o="1200" height_o="675" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/55d65d280c21836b48a1b132e895ed7c51e7c9ef0c0fb98c62cb108a0384b26a/hybridprogram.png" data-mid="42030544" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/55d65d280c21836b48a1b132e895ed7c51e7c9ef0c0fb98c62cb108a0384b26a/hybridprogram.png" /> <img width="1200" height="800" width_o="1200" height_o="800" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/0b8a0f3f6b0ec2babf0e0caaeef00aa29cce51be8f7fefeb5e26c1d690532356/IMG_0988_e.png" data-mid="42030545" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/0b8a0f3f6b0ec2babf0e0caaeef00aa29cce51be8f7fefeb5e26c1d690532356/IMG_0988_e.png" /> As this was my second time designing for the event, I was able to gather experience and feedback to rethink some of the collateral. For example, I designed a new program booklet that combined the program and name badge, which reduced the number of items participants had to carry around and ultimately, reducing waste. The participant and client feedback we got was positive. This was one way in which understanding how the program and name badges were being used led to a smarter user-centered design concept. https://ongzhenqi.com/Joshua-Arends-Branding Sun, 24 Sep 2017 16:48:40 +0000 Zhenqi Ong https://ongzhenqi.com/Joshua-Arends-Branding Joshua Arends Branding Client: Joshua Arends Identity for a photographer who specializes in still life and architecture photography. The predominantly typographical concept incorporates the ubiquitous in-camera red focus rectangle as the main graphic element, creating a flexible system that allows for multiple type lockups and applications. The result is an appropriately simple, bold, yet elegant identity. <img width="1651" height="1276" width_o="1651" height_o="1276" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/afa0dd3ef3792592585c79f6188186b38abaad2d8f944b30cb9a91e4eddd25d9/JA-forportfolio_Final.png" data-mid="42030546" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/afa0dd3ef3792592585c79f6188186b38abaad2d8f944b30cb9a91e4eddd25d9/JA-forportfolio_Final.png" /> <img width="1000" height="765" width_o="1000" height_o="765" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/a3229294412b706715aacfa60dfc5a551b62bd704cefdf050899e3df6ec8eaca/JA-mockup_forportfolio.png" data-mid="42030547" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/a3229294412b706715aacfa60dfc5a551b62bd704cefdf050899e3df6ec8eaca/JA-mockup_forportfolio.png" /> https://ongzhenqi.com/Make-Work Wed, 14 Jun 2017 04:23:42 +0000 Zhenqi Ong https://ongzhenqi.com/Make-Work Make Work Client: The School of the Art Institute of Chicago Art Direction: DJ Catrow Collaborators: DJ Catrow, Yoonshin Kim The SAIC MakeWork Council was started in 2015 with a mission to help enterprising students kickstart and succeed in their business endeavors situated at the intersection of art and technology. It offers mentorship to SAIC's student entrepreneurs and awards seed money from the MakeWork Venture Fund to select students and alumni who present their cases for funding. The council comprises alumni from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and friends from Chicago, San Francisco, and other cities across the United States. During my time at Studio 424, we were tasked with coming up with the name of the council and creating a new identity system for the brand. After much research and brainstorming, the name MakeWork was selected. It has a double meaning—it embodies the idea of making and creating work in art, and also of success, of making an idea, product, or business work. From this idea of “making&nbsp; work”, I saw the potential for a dynamic identity system that could showcase or highlight the central idea or work. Many sketches later, the frame idea was born, a concept that works perfectly as it adapts to what is showcased and allows for endless iterations and configurations. The flexibility of this system makes it easy to highlight the diversity of SAIC students’ work and ideas. <img width="1251" height="1220" width_o="1251" height_o="1220" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/b998f106407f6d1f51a88ec30be4e164dba5f7a736dd9cc05578543fe05560aa/MakeWork-brandsystem_Web.png" data-mid="56451157" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/b998f106407f6d1f51a88ec30be4e164dba5f7a736dd9cc05578543fe05560aa/MakeWork-brandsystem_Web.png" /><img width="1251" height="869" width_o="1251" height_o="869" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/d4c071aef1f97250a725617b043c4eba9bd1e115535c0fcc8ea861d9c0557dfa/MakeWork-brandsystem_App.png" data-mid="56451890" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/d4c071aef1f97250a725617b043c4eba9bd1e115535c0fcc8ea861d9c0557dfa/MakeWork-brandsystem_App.png" />