Meet Tiffany Chuang | Content Ingestion Specialist & Lifestyle Creative

Growing up, I always knew I was a creative at heart. I wasn’t successful in math, and I never developed as deep an interest in other traditional studies as I did in the arts. All of the classes I excelled in, and looked forward to, were creative. They always inspired me the most. I took classes in photography, ceramics, visual communications, illustration, yearbook graphic design, and a visual design course. The motivation and passion I experienced in these classes only solidified my drive to pursue a career path as a creative.

In my adult life, I have been lucky enough to wear multiple hats through various roles, starting with my first job as a social media intern for a graphic design agency in college. Since then I’ve won several fashion Instagram contests, co-directed producing a physical art book, and managed marketing for two local startups. While I’ve enjoyed my successes, it hasn’t always been easy. At times, like many others, I’ve struggled to find work and I’ve occasionally found myself in jobs I would not have preferred, just to get by. Importantly for me, I’ve always tried my best to look at these as stepping stones to my next exciting opportunity – never giving up on my overall goals.

Today, I am elated to be working for Amazon on one of their aspirational content teams and, all the while, grinding away at improving my own personal content in my free time. Despite the challenges and hardships I’ve had to face, I truly believe, wholeheartedly, that this is what I’m meant to do, and I know with every fiber of my being that it is core to who I am.

My handle, Sonder Wonder, speaks to recognizing the reality that each of us is experiencing our own journey; each life as complicated and robust as the next. As such, through my personal lifestyle brand’s content, I’ve always hoped to share moments from my life that had potential to resonate with anyone who came across my work. I enjoy posting genuine experiences that I hope are relatable and may help others feel less alone. Whether it be places I’ve visited, meals I’ve enjoyed, or outfits I’ve fallen in love with, I aim to share elements of my own journey that have brought me joy along the way. My story is one of many and I hope that these experiences are inspiring, nourishing to the soul, and spark curiosity. Creating content has been a source of personal fulfillment and a stress outlet for me throughout the years, but to be validated for my work inspires me to keep pushing my boundaries and expand my horizons on what I can do. One example, of which I am most proud of, is having won an Instagram fashion contest in which the grand prize was a complimentary shopping spree, pairs of shoes for myself and a friend, and a trip to New York. This was one of the first times I had received such positive recognition for my work and it propelled me to continue, at a time when I truly needed the reinforcement. Though it has been years, this moment still lives with me as a reminder to keep going.

Professionally, I’ve had the pleasure of working on a number of memorable, creative projects for clients. A favorite of mine was a visual communications art book for a local CEO and his family. The founder’s grandfather had worked in advertising and design in the 70s and 80s, like the show Mad Men! His family wanted to create a physical book to commemorate and preserve all of his projects, and I was lucky enough to be a part of the small team that made the book a reality. Helping to realize this family’s goal of honoring part of their story, in print, was truly fulfilling.

With all ups, there are downs, and I have had my fair share. Though I graduated university at an accelerated pace as part of an early start program, I’ve never felt that it gave me the edge I had hoped it would in building my career. I struggled out of college to find steady work and while I have enjoyed working on a wide variety of projects over the years, it has meant that I have bounced around a lot. At times, it has been a difficult road, and I have not always been where I wanted to be – but I’m taking it one step at a time. I could not have made it where I am now had I given up when times were hardest. I’m sure it sounds like a cliche, but each obstacle has ultimately led to an opportunity; even when the path between them was not immediately clear.

While it is not always easy, I’ve learned to try to own my failures along with my successes as a balance. I’ve learned that mental health matters and constantly comparing yourself to other creatives will only hold you back. Go at your own pace, and don’t forget to acknowledge small accomplishments, even if they seem minuscule.

If my best friend was visiting Seattle for a week, the first few days would be packed with the traditional tourist spots (there’s a reason they’re popular!), and the second half would be diving into local hipster activities.

We’ll visit Pike’s Place and the nearby “Gum Wall.” Stroll around the market, sample fresh pastries, check out the first Starbucks, and try to spot all of the golden pig statues. If the line is too long at Starbucks, there’s a cozy cafe hidden upstairs, called Storyville Coffee, with brick interiors overlooking the market. They have a relatively simple menu, but great snacks, treats, and coffee. If we’re there at the right time, we might even get a slice of free cake!

If not, we’re definitely going to need to get some ice cream at either Molly Moon’s or Frankie and Jo’s at some point. We’ll make a pit stop at the International District to visit the Kinokuniya Bookstore and Hood’s Famous Cafe. Before we leave the ID, we will be grabbing bubble tea at either TP Tea or YiFang Fruit Tea. Next, we will venture off to create our own custom candles at Elm Candle Bar in Cap Hill.

Cap Hill is the heart of Seattle’s nightlife. There are plenty of cute bars, nostalgic pubs, chill breweries, foodie approved eateries, and a diverse selection of nightclubs all squeezed into a few blocks. The streets are lined with colorful rainbow crosswalks and graphic murals. If we’re in the mood to go out for drinks and dance our hearts out, this is where we’ll do it.

And if there is time for shopping, we’ll visit some of the cool boutiques the city has to offer. I like to check out aesthetic shops that have made a name for themselves in the area like Camp Opal, Likelihood, Fruitsuper, or go thrift at the Fremont Vintage Mall.

The food options in Seattle are endless, and there are so many great choices. A few noteworthy bars are Gold Bar, The Nest, Inside Passage, Unicorn, Stampede, and Dreamland Diner. From time to time, I love to karaoke at Rock Box in Cap Hill.

Shout out to Queen Mary Tea Room for fancy afternoon tea, Dick’s Burgers as a local legendary establishment, The George for a romantic date night, Rocco’s for pizza, The Pink Door and Il Terrazzo Carmine for Italian, Momiji for sushi, Ramen Danbo for – well, ramen, Son of a Butcher for Korean BBQ, Fogon for Mexican food, Fat’s Fried Chicken & Waffles for Southern Comfort, Cafe Selam and Jebena Cafe for Ethiopian, Island Soul Rum Bar for Soul Food, Dumpling the Noodle, Homestyle Dim Sum, and Chiho Bistro for Cantonese cuisine and Chinese food. Sisi Kay Thai and Pestle Rock are amazing Thai staples. Tamarind Tree and Pho Bac Sup for Vietnamese, Taste of India and Annapurna for Indian food, Cafe Turko and Tanoor for Mediterranean. To satisfy sugary morning cravings, Dough Joy and The Flour Box are great donut destinations. With such a prominent bakery scene here, Hiroki, Crumble and Flake Patisserie, The Flora Bakehouse, and Temple Pastries are outstanding locales that hit the sweet spot.