Image Alumni '18, MFA Degree Master of Fine Arts Website xiaojieliu.com Current Career Illustrator, Dotdash Location Rockaway, NJ Describe what you do for work and how your experience with it has been. As an Illustrator for Dotdash’s Design Group, I create relevant illustrations and infographics for high-quality content, in a fast-paced environment, across the nine Dotdash brands—Verywell, The Balance, Lifewire, The Spruce, Investopedia, Byrdie, MyDomaine, TripSavvy and ThoughtCo. Working from home, there is not much pressure, and it allows me to have time to do my own creations at the same time. How did you get your job? My friend who is also an illustrator introduced me to this job. What inspires you/your work? Fauvism, Chinese traditional painting, and ethnic handicrafts. What inspires your art? My identity feeds into my art-making. I am a Tujia girl, so many of my creations are about Tujia stories or traditional Chinese stories. What was your experience living in the Twin Cities? Living in Minneapolis gave me the experience of a Southern girl living in the North. The golden leaves in autumn and the thick snow in winter have become my most deepest memories of this city. What advice do you have for current MCAD students and/or artists at the beginning of their creative careers? Do something that really interests you and stick to it. What would you tell students considering pursuing an MFA degree? If you want to continue learning and furthering your studies in your field, if you want to engage in teaching-related work, then study hard.