About Me

Hello! I was a University of Nevada, Las Vegas student majoring in Graphic Design and Media. My artistic journey started off with traditional and digital illustrations.My love of creation led me to explore design and its meaning in my life. I explore many aesthetics within my work, such as maximalist and gothic. My portfolio includes character design, logo design, and web design.

About

My name is Hester/Ryuusei. Borned and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada, I graduated with a bachelor's in Graphic Design & Media at UNLV.I have always been interested in art and have loved being creative since I was young. At first, art was therapy to release any overwhelming emotions I had. Not only was I creating, but I was consuming a lot of media, like comics and animation, which fueled me to want to improve my creative skills. I find inspiration in the oddest niche things and have always loved finding ways to make everything interactive. Finding cool and fun elements in a design scratches the itch in my brain. I love learning new creative things, whether that's a new creative outlet or a unique element in designing.Other than art, I enjoy reading a good horror novel, playing video games with my friends, and collecting trinkets. I love learning new things, so I have a lot of hobbies to keep me busy.

• Resume

Design Career History

Nebula LLCFreelance - Graphic Design & Web Managment
January 2026- Present

Celius WellnessFreelance - Graphic Design & Web Managment
Jul 2025- Present

University of Nevada, Las Vegas — BachelorsBS Graphic Design and Media
August 2020 - May 2025

ServicesBranding
Branding Guidlines
Logo Design
CollateralDigital
Social media Graphics
Ad Campaigns
Web Design
UI/UX
IllustrationPrint
Packaging
collateral
Publication Design

Hard SkillsAdobe Illustrator
Adobe InDesign
Adobe Photoshop
Procreate
Figma

Soft SkillsCreativity
Collaborative
Adaptibility
Fast-learner
Empathy

Artist Statement

Hester Wu is a graduate from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas student majoring in Graphic Design and Media. Their artistic journey started off with traditional and digital illustrations in their works. Their love of creation led them to explore design and its meaning to their life. Within their work, Wu explores a multitude of aesthetics, such as maximalist and gothic. Their portfolio includes character design, logo design, and web design.

2023 Monstober

Week 1: Cyclopes 🎳📐😓
Week 2: Phoenix 🕯️📫👤

Miscellaneous

Crow's Apothecary

Project Type: Logo Design
Date: December 2022
Program: InDesign, Illustrator & Photoshop

DESCRIPTION
Crow's Apothecary is a company I created for my final project in my Design Methods & Research course. Students were instructed to use all the research methods we had learned and put into practice in this final project.The concept of the apothecary came from a character I had already made and wanted to make a branding for them. The character that would own this company is a scarecrow, so I started with sketches of a crow icon to tie in the scarecrow theme. Since an apothecary carries herbs and medicinal items, having a leaf motif would help bring that concept out. Combining the elements that I wanted, I came up with a variety of crows with a leaf motif.While working on this apothecary logo, I had fun brainstorming different shapes I could combine with the crow and leaf. I wanted to make sure that it could be inverted, so I made sure to sketch it inverted, too. When thinking about typography, a vintage theme would match the apothecary vibe.

Groundlings Children Acting Camp

Project Type: Branding
Date: July 2024
Program: Illustrator & Photoshop

DESCRIPTION
In my media and design class, I was assigned to make a branding guide for Groundlings Children Acting Camp. While the acting camp does not actually exist, the branding guide I made would be connected to the Shakespeare's Globe Groundling.It was required in the logo design to incorporate Arts & Crafts Movement designs. When creating the logo sketches I didn’t think about colors, I only thought in shapes. I didn’t know if I wanted to keep the circle logo like the Shakespeare’s Globe logo or branch out. With Arts & Crafts Movement designs in mind, I thought about how floral the design I found and used in my moodboard. I had another idea to use a dragon motif since my persona liked dragons. Shakespeare is also about fantasy and mythology so I chose to have a dragon motif for my logo. While finalizing the logo, I went ahead and search up celtic/Nordic dragon designs and I came across a circular design that I used as an inspiration.I did a few brainstorming ideas for this project: Body storming, Persona, Mind Map & thumbnailing. While I had done many mind maps and thumbnailing, I had never done a bodystorm or a persona before. With making the persona, I was able to focus on what type of audience I wanted the design to influence. With the bodystorm, I was to think about what a kid would bring to a summer camp.

PRESENTATION

BRANDING GUIDE

Checked Out Capstone

Project Type: Capstone
Date: January 2025
Program: InDesign, Illustrator & Photoshop

DESCRIPTION
“Checked Out” celebrates individual growth from adolescence to young adulthood. We acknowledge that the environments we immerse ourselves in have significantly influenced our thoughts, behaviors, and interactions, shaping how we eat, move, work, read, engage, vote, love, and communicate. Regardless of our paths, we recognize that we are embarking on the next chapter of our lives. We are officially Checked Out.The UNLV Graphic Design & Media Capstone Event is the culminating experience for our graduating students for the Bachelor of Science degree. Students will showcase self-directed semester-long thesis projects and portfolios of their strongest design work. The event’s first half will be reserved for professional designers from the Las Vegas area to review the students’ work and provide feedback. The second half of the event is open to the public.

COLLATERAL
Originally on the Look Development Team, My main contribution was being the Collateral Team Leader. The Collateral Team was responsible for creating the physical advertisement, and merchandize for the Capstone Show. I worked on banners, such as the Standing Banner that was displayed at the front entrance of the show and the Photo Op Banner for the Event Planning Team. The merchandize were a collaboration with my team members, such as the Thank You Cards, T-shirt and etc. I also design the mascot for the capstone.

Thank You Card

Critter Care

Project Type: Branding
Date: December 2024
Program: Illustrator & Photoshop

DESCRIPTION
Critter Care is a pet care guide that creates a bond between parents with their children while teaching them responsibility in caring for a pet with fun and engaging activities. This guide would not only help the children understand the responsibility of owning a pet, but it also encourages the parents to teach their kids about pet care. With the activity book, kids can go through a variety of activities that teach kids specific topics of pet care. Such as general items that are needed, ways to play with your pet, etc. A chore tracker is included in the hope of encouraging a routine to take care of your pet. With these helpful tools, Critter Care hopes to encourage parents to teach pet care to their kids in a fun way.