Every great character begins with a feeling. For illustrator Charis Ng, that feeling was the quiet strength she saw in the women around her — mothers, grandmothers, friends — who carried grace in their everyday movements.
Ms Dong Yi (董怡) was born from this observation. Her name means “one who finds joy through understanding” — a philosophy that permeates every illustration.
[PLACEHOLDER: Full article to be written with Charis Ng input. Cover origin story, inspiration from Chinese aesthetics, the significance of qipao in the character design, and the botanical elements that define her world.]