COMPUTERARTS.CREATIVEBLOQ.COMWhat do you like most about working
with each other?
Victo Ngai: What I like the most is that
‘good enough’ is never ‘good enough’ for
SooJin. She knows my potential and doesn’t
hesitate to tell me when she thinks I can
do better. Because of my respect for her,
and knowing that she would take a good
piece over a safe piece any day, I always try
to push myself as far as I can when I work
with her, which includes experimenting
instead of just repeating things that have
already been successful.
SooJin Buzelli: I know Victo will give
me her very best, and go beyond what’s
acceptable or even expected. And I always
look forward to seeing the wonderful
fantasy world she creates from my simple
brief prompts like, ‘Year roundup’. I know
when Victo signs up for a collaboration
I’ll always get a beautiful piece that I’ll be
very proud to design and produce.I
llustrator Victo Ngai and art director
SooJin Buzelli have been collaborating
on editorial illustrations for a decade.
Their first project came about when Ngai
was a student at Rhode Island School
of Design. Her teacher, Chris Buzelli,
sometimes set real-life assignments from
the publications his wife worked on, and
the best piece – in this case Ngai’s – was
published. “After that, I remember Chris
saying she was ready for a full commission
job. He was right,” says Buzelli.
A year later, Buzelli and Ngai met at the
Society of Illustrators New York Annual
Student Scholarship show, and since
then their relationship has progressed
from being student and mentor’s wife,
to illustrator and art director, and finally,
to good friends. Buzelli was even invited
to be a bridesmaid at Ngai’s wedding.
We find out what makes their relationship
so special.SPECIAL REPORT AUGUST 2019
PUSH IT FURTHER
IllustratorVictoNgaiandartdirectorSooJinBuzellion
howtheyworktoeachother’sextremelyhighstandardsSooJin Buzelli and Victo
Ngai are now friends as well
as collaborators. In
response to the brief ‘rolling
assets from one place to
another’, Ngai created a
leopard sketch (right), and
an acrobat sketch. The
acrobats (centre) were
chosen for the project.