After 15 years building a successful career in product and graphic design, Seattle-based illustrator Stacy Hsu made a dramatic shift that led her from computer screens to sketchbooks and hiking trails. Her transformation wasn't driven by trends or burnout, but by a deep desire to reconnect with both her work and the natural world around her. Today, she runs her own illustration studio that specializes in environmental storytelling, creating detailed artwork that celebrates biodiversity across the Pacific Northwest and beyond.

The pandemic served as a catalyst for Hsu's career change. "The shift came from a deep desire to feel more connected, both to my work and to the world around me," she explains. "During the pandemic, I started drawing as a way to reconnect with nature and process the overwhelm. That simple act of putting pen to paper, observing the plants in my backyard or sketching wildlife from a hike, reminded me of the joy and clarity I'd been missing." This newfound clarity became her compass, guiding her toward a practice that bridges science and storytelling through richly detailed prints, patterns, and educational visuals.

Before founding her studio, Hsu worked across various sectors including tech companies, nonprofits, and government agencies, where she designed digital products and visual systems. While she appreciated the problem-solving aspects of her previous roles, something was missing. "I loved solving problems and shaping experiences," she says, "but I often felt a disconnect between my values and the fast-paced, digital-first environments I was in." Illustration offered a path back to balance, opening doors to "storytelling, to slowness, and to the natural world that grounds her."

Hsu's creative process begins outdoors, with sketchbook in hand as she explores forests, tide pools, and mountain trails. Back in her studio, she combines this firsthand observation with extensive research, studying field guides, conservation reports, and geological maps. "I usually start with a location or ecosystem that I feel personally connected to," she explains. "I want the piece to feel joyful and rich in detail, while also being educational. It's illustration as a form of love letter and invitation: come look closer."

Her work has found an audience among scientists, educators, and families – people who might not typically read design magazines but know their way around field guides. "While I love the design world, I didn't want my work to exist only within industry circles," she says. "Nature belongs to all of us, and I wanted my illustrations to reach the people who feel that connection most deeply." This philosophy has led to collaborations with environmental organizations, including a notable commission from the Billion Oyster Project.

For the Billion Oyster Project, Hsu created an immersive mural depicting New York Harbor's underwater ecosystem. The project perfectly embodied her multidisciplinary background and values. "It felt like the perfect intersection of all the paths I've taken: product design, UX design, and illustration," she says. "I drew everything from fish and crabs to eelgrass and anemones, weaving them together into a layered, underwater landscape that kids could interact with." The mural, which tells the story of oysters as ecosystem engineers, reflects her belief that "art can be both beautiful and educational."

Beyond commissioned work, Hsu is developing her own line of fine art prints and field guide-inspired products. Her collection includes prints, cards, and illustrated homeware designed to bring wonder into people's homes. "Not everyone can commission a mural or buy an original illustration," she notes, "but a print or a set of greeting cards can still invite people to pause, look closer, and connect with the natural world." This self-directed work also provides creative freedom, allowing her to explore whatever captures her attention, from migratory birds to native wildflowers or the complex ecosystems of national parks.

What distinguishes Hsu's work is not just its scientific precision, but its deliberate pace. Each illustration unfolds slowly, like a walk through the woods. "Drawing is my way of slowing down and truly paying attention," she explains. "When I'm sketching a plant or an animal, I'm not just looking at its outline. I'm noticing textures, rhythms, and relationships I would have otherwise passed by. The slower pace of nature deeply influences how I work." Her illustrations are built up layer by layer, mirroring the complexity of the ecosystems they depict.

This methodical approach feels particularly relevant in today's fast-paced world. "In a world that moves so quickly, this slower process feels radical in its own way," she says. "It grounds me, and I hope it encourages others to pause and rediscover the richness that's already all around them." Her design principle centers on the idea that art can be an act of care, helping people understand their environment through delight rather than data.

Looking toward the future, Hsu has several ambitious projects in development. She's collaborating with a publisher on a series of nature-related titles and working on new field guide-inspired collections that explore the volcano ecosystems of the Pacific Northwest. Her long-term goals include creating an illustrated book about national parks and developing a hide-and-seek-style nature guide "that invites kids (and grown-ups) to spot wildlife tucked into the landscapes."

Staying true to her design background, Hsu also hopes to take on more large-scale murals and exhibition work. "There's something so powerful about creating immersive environments that let people step into the story of a place," she says. Whether creating a mural for a conservation organization or designing a print for a child's bedroom, her work consistently aims to help people look closer, stay curious, and feel connected to something larger than themselves. "All of these threads feel connected by the same drive," she concludes, "to celebrate biodiversity, spark curiosity, and help people see the natural world with fresh eyes."