Chen Li (Art Direction, 2026)
Life can often feel like a chaotic blur of trivial moments and snap decisions, yet upon reflection, I can trace my arrival in Richmond to just a few critical junctures.
I grew up in a large suburb outside of Toronto. You know the kind—countless plazas filled with grocery-shopping adults by day and groups of youth conversing around cars at night.
Amidst the snakey crescents, boulevards, courts, and culs-de-sacs live hundreds of immigrant families from every imaginable corner of the world—and I was one of them.
Growing up, so many of my friends were second-generation immigrants. Paired with my parents and the sway of contemporary media, every core influence around me perpetually screamed to pursue a “respectable,” stable career, most likely STEM-related and most certainly not in the arts.
So how did I end up at the Brandcenter, a thousand kilometres (621.371 miles) away from home, working towards a Master’s degree in Art Direction?
I could lie and write about how it was solely my own individual determination and perseverance that broke through cultural stereotypes and my insecurities to finally find my place in the world—or I could tell you the truth.
I got lucky.
Lucky in many ways, but specifically lucky that despite growing up surrounded by those who did not believe in a career in the arts, I thankfully stumbled upon a handful of people who helped thrust me toward my inner passions and ambitions. Whether it was my 11th-grade media arts teacher who made me realize that I could and should do my undergrad in the arts; my father, who eventually understood that I would never be truly happy doing anything else; or my creative director at an internship, who convinced me that I had a place in this industry, I could not have done it without them. It’s scary to think about, but these pivotal people and transient moments in my life have shaped my entire journey.
It has only been about four months since I arrived in Richmond and first walked through the neon-green hallway of the Brandcenter, but it’s clear that this place, this school, this community is somewhere chock-full of pivotal people and moments.
All my life, I could count on one hand the number of creative motivators I felt I could freely bounce ideas off of, and, as selfish as it sounds, could be proud of me, supportive of the things I was creating and understand that shared creative struggle. Being at the Brandcenter, suddenly, I find myself somewhere where anybody in the building can be that person.
That specific scarcity in my life is a big reason why I was attracted to the program in the first place. Being here now, it’s clear that things have lived up to expectations. Whether it be my peers, the professors, alums or even the people working in administrative roles, everyone is open and willing to help wherever possible.
Don’t get me wrong, my short time here has been far from all sunshine and rainbows, but the long hours grinding slide decks and countless concept sketches are much more tolerable when you’re all in it together.
Chasing a creative career requires immense self-discipline, motivation and drive, but despite what anyone might say, it is so incredibly hard to do alone. I consider myself a pretty independent worker, but even I can’t operate in a vacuum for an extended period. I need support, validation and encouragement to keep going. I’m not saying you also don’t have to be highly self-motivated, but discrediting the importance of a support system and the people who helped push you to get where you are is criminal.
I know what it feels like to have next to no creative circle, and my path so far is a perfect example of how even a few like-minded people can help inspire and push you to places you never thought possible.
Luckily for me and all current and future Brandcenter students, we will never have to go at it alone again.
