01

Reflection not mine

Conceptual series · 2024

A series of conceptual illustrations on identity, social constraints and inner conflict: how individuals navigate between traditional values and modern expectations.

In Who I Am, a girl hangs like a marionette above an applauding crowd; the half-mask hints at identity shaped by others’ expectations.

Role
Concept and illustration
Medium
Digital painting (Procreate)
Usage
Magazine full-page opener, web hero
Status
Self-initiated
Who I Am, illustration by Xuanyi Guo
Who I Am The girl as a marionette above the crowd.
Drifting in a Bottle, illustration by Xuanyi Guo
Drifting in a Bottle A fragile escape across stormy seas.
The Passing of Joyful Times, illustration by Xuanyi Guo
The Passing of Joyful Times Childhood innocence against decay.
Unicorn in Classroom, illustration by Xuanyi Guo
Unicorn in Classroom Fantasy intruding into a bleak setting.
02

The Abandoned World

Narrative illustration series · 2024

A girl and an origami crane journey through a world of discarded objects, confronting themes of loss, resilience and hope.

The series critiques modern society’s habit of discarding things too easily, from material goods to emotions. Through surreal landscapes of ruins, the story explores resilience and the search for meaning in a fragile world.

Role
Concept and illustration
Medium
Digital painting, pencil, texture collage
Format
Double-page spreads, sequential illustrations
Usage
Editorial feature, exhibition panels
The Rusted Ferris Wheel, illustration by Xuanyi Guo
The Rusted Ferris Wheel Memories of abandoned joy.
The Abandoned World, illustration by Xuanyi Guo
The Abandoned World, illustration by Xuanyi Guo
The Abandoned World Landscapes filled with discarded ruins.
Journey with the Origami Crane, illustration by Xuanyi Guo
Journey with the Origami Crane A fragile guide through desolation.
The Sea of Paper Cranes, illustration by Xuanyi Guo
The Sea of Paper Cranes Fragile hope against overwhelming waves.
03

The Shifting City Life

Magazine cover mock-up · 2025

Everyday narratives reinterpreted as editorial illustration. By visualising both private and public spaces, the pieces highlight emotional resonance in contemporary life, echoing modern magazine storytelling.

Role
Illustration and design
Medium
Digital painting (Procreate)
Format
Mock-up for The New Yorker cover
The Shifting City Life, illustration by Xuanyi Guo
The Shifting City Life A quiet balcony amid urban noise.
Cover mock-up, illustration by Xuanyi Guo
Cover mock-up