Jade Choung, an advocate for the unseen and underestimated

Jade Choung is a digital artist based in Beijing who loves creating emotional, colorful stories filled with heart. Originally from Long Beach and Fargo, she mixes vibrant palettes, layered compositions and personal textures to bring characters to life with real authenticity and expression. Inspired by travel, anime and video games, she creates art that celebrates diversity, neurodiversity and access to education, always hoping to make the world feel a little more empathetic and creative. Her illustrations, often featuring tender everyday moments, are known for their warmth and lively energy, and clients appreciate her clear communication and instinct for storytelling.

With experience in children’s books and surface design, Jade’s work reflects her own journey and the joy she shares with her family, from good meals to outdoor adventures and cozy hot springs, all of which feed the imagination that shines through her art.

Let’s find out more about Jade, where she finds her inspiration, how her process works, and more:

Where do you like to go to be inspired, or how do you find your inspiration?

I find inspiration in both the everyday and the extraordinary. Pinterest is one of my favorite places to spark new ideas, but I also draw from the art books I’ve collected throughout my travels; they’re like little time capsules of creativity. My son’s illustrations often inspire me too, as there’s such honesty and imagination in the way children draw. I also love studying different cultures and learning from the patterns in their tapestries, textiles, and traditional clothing. Beyond that, I find beauty in simple observation, watching how light shifts across a surface, how colors interact, and how textures tell quiet stories all around us.

Is there anything you'd say you would be a good advocate for? Please elaborate if so.

I would say I’m a strong advocate for people who often feel unseen or underestimated. As a second-generation refugee and single mother, I understand how resilience and compassion are built through struggle. I’m deeply committed to supporting Asian Americans, neurodivergent individuals, and students with special needs, because I believe everyone deserves to be understood and celebrated for their unique way of seeing the world. I also care deeply about female empowerment, people with pigmentation differences, and those who have experienced bullying. My goal is to help others find strength in their stories and to create spaces where diversity is not just represented but truly valued.

What would you say sets you apart from other illustrators? Something you feel is unique to you.

What sets me apart from other illustrators is that I don’t just create art; I teach it, live it, and share it across generations. As an Apple Teacher, I focus on teaching digital art through the use of Apple technology at my workplace, which is recognized as an Apple Distinguished School. I teach students of all ages—from young children to middle and high school students preparing to graduate, as well as adults who are rediscovering their creativity. I genuinely enjoy connecting with others and sharing what I’ve learned, whether it’s teaching small groups, leading classes for adults, or presenting about creativity in education at conferences such as ACAMIS Tech. Following my ikigai, which means “a reason for being,” I’ve found ways to intertwine art, education, and purpose in my everyday life. I also integrate illustration into my professional work by creating elements and visual resources for platforms like Canva, helping make art more accessible, engaging, and inspiring for others.

Please give a scenario of a project that would mean the world to you, if you were offered it - something that connects to something meaningful to you. 

A dream project for me would be illustrating a story about a child who feels weighed down by expectations, quietly searching for a sense of belonging and purpose. It would follow a young person growing up in a family that works tirelessly, where love is shown through sacrifice but dreams are often shaped by pressure. The child would be gifted but restless, always translating the world for others, through language, emotion, or imagination, while trying to understand where they fit in.

Over time, this child would discover that creativity is not rebellion but a bridge; that art can be both a voice and a refuge. Through color and light, the story would show how joy and inspiration can return even after years of uncertainty.

This kind of project would mean the world to me because it reflects my own journey, one of navigating expectations, rediscovering purpose through art, and realizing that happiness can be both made and shared.

If you’d like more info, please contact [email protected]

At illo agency, we pride ourselves in representing a collation of global illustrators, distinctly diverse in creativity and uniquely celebrated by like-minded clients across a range of commercial markets.