Joyce Chen ’19: The UofL Alumna Redefining 3D Design for Apple, Estée Lauder and More

This story originally appeared in UofL Magazine.

Joyce Chen’s journey from College of Arts and Sciences student to global design success is a testament to her relentless creativity and ambition. Chen moved to Louisville from her native Canada as a child and transferred to UofL in her second year of college to attend the Hite Institute of Art and Design.  

Upon graduation, Chen began her career in New York City, where she worked on branding and packaging for major beauty brands like Summer Fridays and Ouai. Her creative drive led her beyond graphic design into art direction, where she collaborated with celebrities, created striking visual sets and honed her skills in 3D design and CGI. This passion led to a career-defining moment when Six N. Five, one of Chen’s favorite design studios, invited her to collaborate in creating Microsoft’s iconic Windows 11 wallpapers.   

Chen fully committed to 3D design in 2023 and launched her own eponymously named design studio. Within months, she was working with top CGI studios like Tendril and Future Deluxe. Now an independent director, she partners with brands like Apple, Estée Lauder and Microsoft, pushing creative boundaries at every turn.   

“UofL was really important to starting my career,” Chen said. “Putting myself out there gave me the courage to reach out to my dream companies.”