Illustration for JI DUAN
Set against contemporary urban life, The Wind Knows We Meet focuses on encounters and companionship among people, using wind as a metaphor for beautiful encounters. It uses dramatic perspective, reddish brown warm tones, and warm light and shadow to create a friendly and inclusive atmosphere. It aims to reignite an appreciation for genuine emotional connection and to inspire viewers to actively step into encounters in real life, conveying the philosophy that through encounters people grow.
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The illustration series interprets encounters through expansive city landscapes and animated ensembles of characters. Using dramatic perspective, reddish brown warm tones, and warm light and shadow, the series creates an open and immersive atmosphere that vividly conveys the core idea that through encounters we grow, encouraging viewers to build emotional connections in the real world.
Urban Life, Interpersonal Distance, Emotional Connection, Encounters and Companionship, Wind, Dramatic Perspective, Warm Light and Shadow, Visual Storytelling
During creation, Procreate was used for concept development and preliminary drawing, ensuring expressive and accurate forms. SAI, with its smooth brushstrokes, was used for large area coloring, producing clean and vibrant tones. Photoshop was used to shape light and shadow, refine details, and enhance the overall atmosphere, unifying and elevating the visual impact of the series.
The design challenge was to transform the philosophical idea of human connections with the world and with one another and the emotional experience of warm encounters into a concrete visual language. The designer maps out relationships through composition, conveys emotion through color, and embeds meaning in symbolic elements to illustrate people’s complex emotions in cities, achieving a harmony between artistic expression and emotional resonance.
Designed and developed in Beijing in December 2024, the project was launched in China in December 2025.
The series employs dramatic perspective to emphasize spatial depth and the grandeur of urban architecture, creating an open, inclusive atmosphere that enhances immersion. Reddish brown tones, set against the glow of warm sunlight, enhance the human touch and familiarity of the scenes. Wind runs as a guiding thread, weaving the series together. A wellbalanced, layered layout guides users to reflect on urban life and interpersonal relationships.
The illustration series is grounded in a fundamental insight. As social beings, humans have an intrinsic need for genuine encounters and warm companionship. Yet, the fast pace of modern urban life and overreliance on digital interactions exacerbate social isolation and emotional disconnection, which runs counter to human nature. The series seeks to bridge gaps among people through artistic illustration, fostering a deep sense of human connection in society.
The Wind Knows We Meet draws inspiration from the interpersonal challenges arising in the digital era where people are becoming more connected online yet more distant in real life. The designer, having experienced the loneliness and longing for companionship in fastpaced cities, chose to tell stories through illustration. By capturing fleeting yet precious moments often lost in digital life, the illustration guides viewers back to emotional connections in the real world.
The Wind Knows We Meet Illustration has been a Bronze winner in the Graphics, Illustration and Visual Communication Design award category in the year 2025 organized by the prestigious A' Design Award & Competition. The Bronze A' Design Award is given to outstanding designs that showcase a high degree of creativity and practicality. It recognizes the dedication and skill of designers who produce work that stands out for its thoughtful development and innovative use of materials and technology. These designs are acknowledged for their professional execution and potential to influence industry standards positively. Winning this award highlights the designer's ability to blend form and function effectively, offering solutions that enhance people's lives and wellbeing.
For design images and photos please credit Duan Ji.
Duan Ji was recognized with the coveted Bronze A' Design Award in 2026, a testament to excellence of their work The Wind Knows We Meet Illustration.
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