Laura Lian Williams, Founder & Creative Director of Laura Lian Creative Partners, holds a degree in graphic design from DePaul University and has been an active leader in the Arlington Heights and Chicago design communities. She is a member of the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council and recipient of the 2021 Better Business Bureau’s Firestarter Award. She has been acknowledged by Design Rush as one of the Top Branding Agencies in Illinois. Lian Williams’ holistic approach to design has helped local, national and international brands find new audiences and grow to new heights.
Book
FilmThe Joy Luck Club
By Amy Tan
As a Chinese adoptee, The Joy Luck Club has deeply influenced me. This book and film have provided a connection to the heritage I was born into, helping me navigate the challenges of understanding my identity and the important life lessons that come with it.
Rear Window
Film, 1954
Alfred Hitchcock’s film taught me the importance of observation, the balance between curiosity and caution, and the value of human connection. It reminds me that what we see is often just the surface, and understanding the deeper truths requires both empathy and moral responsibility.
Schindler's List
Film, 1993
Individual actions can profoundly impact the course of history, and this movie highlights the importance of compassion and humanity even in the darkest times. While visiting his factory in Kraków, Poland last year, my appreciation of these lessons was deepened by allowing me to connect directly with the place where such significant events unfolded.
Night
by Elie Wiesel
Wiesel‘s book teaches the harrowing lessons of resilience in the face of unimaginable suffering and the importance of bearing witness to history. Visiting Auschwitz camp, I felt a strong connection to these lessons, which allowed me to recognize the deep responsibility to remember and honor those who endured such atrocities.
Crazy Rich Asians
by Kevin Kwan
This book teaches the importance of staying true to oneself despite societal pressures and valuing love and integrity over wealth and status. As a Chinese adoptee, it resonates deeply with my own experiences of navigating cultural identity and the feeling of not fully belonging, reminding me that true belonging comes from embracing who I am, regardless of external expectations.