Hello! I am Alyssa Gu, an artist and graphic designer from California. My background is rooted in illustration, with animations and game art drawing me to online art communities in my early teens. I took my first Photoshop class in middle school and was always trying to find ways to personalize my corner of the internet—whether that meant creating artwork or redesigning layouts to make them my own.

By high school, I was finding opportunities to put my skills into practical use. My illustrations began making their way off-screen and onto merchandise, and I started creating designs for other people and their projects as well. Illustration and design developed side by side for me, and they still do.

Creating merchandise for artist alleys introduced me to the production side of design. I learned how to prepare artwork for manufacturers, create mockups, select materials, and work within the practical limitations of different products and processes. I've worked on everything from apparel and books to packaging, stationery, acrylic charms, enamel pins, and a few less conventional projects. I care about thoughtful construction and presentation: a finished piece doesn't need to feel mass-produced, but it should feel intentional, cohesive, and professionally made.

I'm naturally attentive to the details, both visual and practical. I enjoy puzzling through the logistics of how to get from an idea to a finished product, but I'm just as interested in making sure all of those individual decisions come together into something cohesive. That makes refinement one of my favorite parts of the design process. I like taking an existing idea, figuring out what's working and what isn't, and finding ways to make it clearer, stronger, or more practical. Sometimes the solution is a stronger information hierarchy or a more cohesive design system; other times, it's figuring out how to preserve the original idea while making it work within real-world constraints.

Clear communication and organization are equally important to how I approach a project. I've organized collaborative projects such as art zines, which require coordinating contributors, deadlines, and deliverables. I place particular value on written communication and thorough documentation, which helps keep expectations clear and provides a reliable point of reference throughout the process.

Typography and hand lettering are particular interests of mine, shaped in part by my background in traditional calligraphy. I practice Copperplate and Italic calligraphy as well as modern brush lettering, and I enjoy bringing that understanding of letterforms into my design work.

Games have remained a major creative influence throughout all of this. I studied game art and still have a particular love for fantasy, RPGs, and the artwork that brings those worlds and characters to life. Illustration remains both a personal passion and an important part of my design practice.