Jordon Cheung
London by Jordon Cheung
Jordon Cheung is a product illustrator and Art Director at Cash App. Prior to joining the Cash App team, Jordon was a brand designer and illustrator at Uber. His visual style flexes to the needs of each project, from geometric shapes and enclosed icons to organic florals with beautiful gradients.
We spoke with Jordon to learn more about his career path, where he finds creative inspiration, and his advice for designers just starting out.
Hi Jordon! Tell us about yourself, how did you get to where you are today?
I’m a product illustrator and art director at Cash App, based in San Francisco. Prior to this, I freelanced as graphic designer in London before moving to California to join the brand team at Uber. I’ve always felt that there are similarities between graphic design and product illustration: building and defining visual systems, solving communication challenges, engaging creativity, etc. and so it came as a natural career transition.
How would you describe your aesthetic and how has your design style changed over time?
Early in my career I was obsessed with trying to define my aesthetic – it was very geometric, bold, and vector based. However, over the years I have become detached from the concept of having a single aesthetic. Instead, I focus on the needs of each project and execute in an aesthetic that suits the ask. Vectors don’t work for every client, but neither do digital collages. Not having a single aesthetic allows me to be flexible in my creative approach and opens me up to more opportunities and learnings.
Where do you find creative inspiration?
I get a lot of inspiration from the podcasts I listen to – two being The Daily and Today Explained. As the world seemingly becomes smaller and society becomes more diverse, I find it important to educate myself as much as possible with the ideas and ideologies of others. It’s healthy to step away from the design blogs and sites now and again.
What’s been one of your favorite projects to work on so far?
As an avid cyclist, one of my favorite projects in recent memory was helping define the visual identity for Bikes at Uber – a program that encourages employees to cycle to work and fosters a sense of community amongst cyclists at Uber. Though Uber is predominantly in the rides business, it’s great to see them encourage employees to use a greener alternative mode of transport.
Cycling by Jordon Cheung
What are some of your favorite design resources?
Twitter – it’s an amazing platform to listen to your peers, engage with the design community, debate and ultimately learn. As polarizing as the discord can often be, it has inspired me just as much. Though I don't personally tweet too often, I’m constantly scrolling through my feed and learning from others in the industry.
What advice would you give to designers who are just starting out?
Don’t give up! Imposter syndrome is synonymous with the creative industry but don’t let it hold you back. Not everything will work (I know from experience) but it’s all part of the process. Be persistent, seek feedback and advice from your peers, challenge yourself often and you’ll recognize the gains!
Thank you for sharing with us Jordon! To view more of Jordon’s work, check out his shots on Dribbble.
All images courtesy of Jordon Cheung.