Illustrator Poan Pan on embracing change, community, and the unexpected

At the start of 2022, Taiwan-based illustrator Poan Pan was at the start of his freelance career – a recent graduate of Central Saint Martins, navigating the uncertainties of working independently. When we last spoke with him, his work was already marked by fluidity and movement, a distinctive visual language that captured the energy of the everyday.

Now, as we reconnect, we find Pan has not only solidified his career as an illustrator but has expanded into design, evolving his creative practice in ways he never anticipated.

"Good news – I'm still freelancing as an illustrator! Even better, I've expanded my practice into design, working on visual identity and editorial design projects," Pan shares. "It's been an adventure full of ups and downs, but that makes it exciting."

His mindset has shifted towards embracing uncertainty, likening freelancing to "wandering through a dense forest – part hunter, part forager – searching for hidden treasures in the fog." This openness to spontaneity has become a defining trait of his approach, allowing his work to evolve organically rather than adhering to rigid expectations.

Growth and the power of community

When Pan first ventured into freelancing, he approached it with little certainty about where it would lead. "Honestly, when we first spoke, I had no idea if freelancing would even work out. I was just driven by passion and figuring things out as I went," he admits.

Over time, his perspective has matured, shaped by the connections he has built within the creative community. Pan explains: "Freelancing isn't just about working as an individual – it's about being part of a community, and the support of fellow illustrators has played a huge role in my journey. "We're all progressing together, exchanging experiences, and navigating the industry side by side. This sense of connection has made freelancing feel less isolating and more like a shared adventure."

A pivotal moment in Pan's career came last year when he participated in an art residency in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Burnt out and creatively frustrated, he sought an opportunity to step away from commercial pressures and rediscover his artistic passion.

"The residency became a turning point, reigniting my love for analogue techniques and reminding me why I started drawing in the first place," he says.

Evolution in style and themes

Pan's artistic journey has been one of constant exploration and evolution, shaped by experimentation and curiosity. While his process remains rooted in daily sketching, capturing postures and movements that later inform his illustrations, his work has taken on new dimensions.

He describes his early work as "very flat and two-dimensional" but adds that, over time, he started experimenting with light, shadow, and perspective, eventually moving towards three-dimensional storytelling.

Lately, Pan has been particularly drawn to illustrating characters within environments, exploring their interactions with objects and spaces. "This shift aligns with my growing interest in interior design and certain types of design furniture, allowing me to weave spatial storytelling into my illustrations."

His work has undoubtedly become more immersive, creating narratives that extend beyond movement to capture the relationship between people and their surroundings.

Challenging industry norms

While the industry has long favoured bright, optimistic visuals, Pan has been questioning whether illustration can embrace a broader emotional range. "The demand for positive, energetic, and joyful illustrations has always influenced my perspective, and while I love creating work that radiates warmth and optimism, I've begun questioning whether it's a necessity," says Pan.

He asks, "Can illustration also embrace nuance, ambiguity, and a broader spectrum of emotions? I'm still exploring this, finding space for more complexity in my work while maintaining its essence."

His client base has also evolved significantly, as he was mainly working in editorial illustration when he started out. While he still takes on editorial commissions, his portfolio is now much more diverse and includes advertising campaigns, festival visual identities, and, most excitingly, collaborations with friends.

These collaborations, he explains, bring an entirely different energy to his process. "There's a sense of trust and spontaneity that often leads to unexpected ideas and outcomes," says Pan. "The synergy of working with like-minded people pushes my work in directions I wouldn't have explored alone, making the process both surprising and deeply rewarding."

New explorations and future aspirations

Pan's curiosity has also led him to explore creative disciplines outside of illustration. "Since my art residency, I've restarted painting on physical canvases. It's still in the early stages, but I'm excited to see how this hands-on practice might influence my commercial work."

His latest personal project, inspired by the London Marathon, demonstrates his ongoing interest in movement and energy. Pan explains: "I've been exploring running posture through animation, using movement to capture the energy of the marathon.

"Alongside commercial work, I always carve out time for personal exploration. These side projects help me push boundaries and dive into new interests outside of client work."

Looking to the future, Pan has his sights set on dream collaborations that align with his passions. "As a huge jazz fan, I'd love to create the visual identity for a jazz music festival," he says, adding, "Jazz has this beautiful mix of elegance and energy, which I think aligns well with the motion and movement in my illustrations."

Yet, when it comes to long-term plans, Pan prefers to keep an open mind and can't guess at the kinds of commissions that might come his way. "That's what I love about freelancing," he says. "It's like surfing – you ride the waves, adapt to the shifts, and see where the tide takes you."

For Pan, the past three years have been a lesson in patience and creative trust. "Be patient. Creativity isn't a linear path," he advises anyone in a similar position. "When I feel stuck, I've learned not to force it – sometimes, the best thing to do is step away, take a walk in the park, wander through the forest, or simply lie in a field - inspiration has a way of finding me when I least expect it."

With his ever-evolving approach and openness to the unknown, it's clear that Pan's journey is far from predictable – and that's precisely what makes him and his work so interesting.