Doug Chiang is a Taiwanese American designer and film director best known for his work in Industrial Light and Magic, Lucasfilm, and Pixar. He was born in Taiwan in 1965 and moved to the United States at age 11.
Chiang began his career as a professional designer at age 17, when he was hired by the California Institute of the Arts. He then went on to study industrial design at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California. After graduation, he joined Lucasfilm in 1989 as a design consultant, working on projects such as Jurassic Park and the Star Wars prequels.
In 1994, Chiang joined Industrial Light and Magic and became the first ever production designer for the company. During his time at ILM, he designed the look of the franchise’s iconic characters, creatures, and environments. He also worked on the creation of the Star Wars prequels’ technology.
In 2006, Chiang became the VP of Creative at Lucasfilm, where he was responsible for overseeing the creative vision of the company's various franchises. In 2012, he joined Pixar as VP of Character Design and Story. During his time at Pixar, Chiang helped create the look of some of its most beloved films, including Inside Out, The Good Dinosaur, and Coco.
Chiang has also directed his own short films, including the award-winning short film Robota, which he co-wrote, designed, and directed. His other directorial projects include the documentary The Making of Jurassic Park 3, as well as the live-action feature film The Little Prince.
In addition to his work in film, Chiang is an accomplished artist and illustrator. His art has been featured in galleries and exhibitions across the world, and his work has been featured on the covers of magazines such as National Geographic and Time.
Chiang continues to work in the film and design industries, and in 2021, he was awarded an honorary doctorate from the Art Center College of Design in recognition of his achievements in the fields of design and filmmaking.
