Xinyu Zhang
coco619zxy@gmail.com
Toronto
Tel. +1 6478366934
coco619zxy@gmail.com
Toronto
Tel. +1 6478366934
Hi Admissions Committee,
This is Xinyu Zhang. I currently live and study in Toronto and attend the University of Toronto. I’m a senior student double majoring in Cinema Studies and Communication, Culture, Information, and Technology (CCIT). With a background in Film and New Media, I am a multidisciplinary creator working across hand-drawn, 2D, and 3D animation, graphic design, motion graphics, and video production. I specialize in 2D and 3D animation, with a strong passion for modeling and digital creation. In my free time, I enjoy experimenting with different modeling techniques and exploring new ways to bring my ideas to life. For my application, I created Nowhere Land, a 3D animation project that serves as both a technical showcase and a personal expression. This piece reflects the challenges faced by Chinese women, exploring themes of isolation, resilience, and the search for self-identity through a surreal visual narrative.
I find inspiration in reimagining traditional tools to create something new. For instance, in A Trip to Mystica, a project featured in my portfolio, I used Adobe After Effects to extract elements from both classical and contemporary art pieces, weaving them into a collage-like visual narrative. The project follows the adventure of two spheres and is accompanied by a game demo, offering an interactive and immersive experience. This process was both experimental and deeply engaging—I repurposed existing artistic elements to construct an entirely new storyline. To me, art is not solely about novelty but about reinvention. Innovation doesn’t always require entirely new materials or new technologies; sometimes, the most compelling creations can emerge from pushing the boundaries of existing techniques.
Academic and work background:
One of my majors, Communication, Culture, Information, and Technology, is essentially digital media studies, where we explore a broad range of media theories and hands-on creative practices. The program not only teaches us the language of media but also provides practical training in tools like Adobe Suite and Figma through courses such as Design Thinking, and Design and Implementation of Multimedia Documents.
On the cinema side, my studies have given me a rich understanding of film genres, from avant-garde cinema to the works of auteurs like Alfred Hitchcock. Beyond theory, the program also offers hands-on filmmaking courses, where I have had the opportunity to write, direct, and produce video works. Film exploration courses like these have deepened my understanding of my creative preferences and made me more aware of how inspiration often transcends a single medium. Beyond my love for cinematic expression, I’ve always been drawn to graphic art, and Len Lye’s bold use of form, color, and rhythm has had a big influence on me. His work has inspired me to experiment more freely, incorporating playful graphic elements and vibrant colors into my layouts and my motion graphic works. I love finding ways to blend different media, creating visuals that feel dynamic, expressive, and full of energy.
Unlike true creative studios, my previous internships were in more commercially driven environments, where branding often took precedence over artistic exploration. However, these experiences allowed me to work as a visual creator, developing promotional content that not only aligned with but also enhanced brand identity through strategic storytelling and design. I worked on social media campaigns, video production, and digital content, refining my ability to create visually compelling narratives that resonate with audiences.
Moving forward, I aspire to join a truly creative company—one that values artistic innovation and boundary-pushing storytelling, much like NOWNESS or other visionary platforms. I seek an environment where I can experiment with multimedia narratives, digital aesthetics, and conceptual branding, contributing to work that is not only visually striking but also culturally and artistically meaningful.
My undergraduate and professional journey has been incredibly fulfilling, shaping both my creative and technical abilities. Naturally, this has led me to pursue further studies at UCL’s Digital Media: Production program, where I aim to refine my technical skills and deepen my understanding of digital media production.
@ Xinyu Zhang