MOONBERRY™ WHO?

[est. 1996] Inspiring you, you and you.

I strive to live an inspired life by living to my potential, living the life of my calling and purpose, and living a life of passion and joy. Hello and welcome to my world.

On creativity: I was vocationally trained as a graphic designer and I began my professional journey in 1996 in interactive agencies in New York, where I progressed from graphic designer to art director to creative director and presently, a design director. As a digital native and early adopter of internet, my focus has always been in designing creative campaigns on digital platforms, including social media content. I am interested in pretty much most things that involves creativity, eg. arts and crafts, floral design, photography, videography. I enjoy museums and art installations. Sadly, I am not gifted in drawing although I highly enjoy Pictionary.

On food: As a budget-conscious art school student in my late teens, I started learning how to how to cook and was very inspired by Martha Stewart, particularly how food was styled and photographed in her magazines. I’d read the recipes word for word on every pretty page. I have a curiosity and affinity towards fusion plates as they are great expressions of cultural harmony. As an Asian-American, I identify as a third culture kid and to me, the alchemy of two or more different cultures coming together is such a beautiful thing. Cooking is a form of active meditation for me, it helps me decompress and declutter my mind.

On geekery: Growing up alone and away from family, I am an introvert and a homebody. The term for that is 宅女 and I thrive whenever I get to geek out solo in my own bubble. Thank goodness for the internet; the early interwebz provided a space where I flourished socially instead of withering into a wallflower. By the way, that’s how the nickname “Moonberry™” came about – it’s my online username that has stuck with me since the mid-90’s and it evolved to become my personal brand. Yes, the trademark is legit. I am interested in trends and pop culture. I enjoy books and movies about the future (a bit of dystopian and sci-fi) and technology. I think Æon Flux is really cool. My favourite TV series are Black Mirror and Silicon Valley. My favourite movies are Gattaca, all the Alien flicks, and – this one’s out of genre – Wong Kar Wai’s In The Mood For Love (because it’s a visual and aural treat).

On miscellaneous interests/activities:

♦ I am an adjunct lecturer and consultant in digital marketing to adult learners. Doing so helps me stay relevant and updated with trends, tools, and techniques. It’s really awesome when I get to geek out about digital marketing to an interested audience and get to be helpful at the same time. It makes me genuinely happy.

♦ I am a polyglot and presently I’m learning Korean as my sixth foreign language. Studying new grammar and remembering vocabulary help to stretch my mind. I attained Level 2 out of 6 (score: 196/200) in the 87th TOPIK exam.

♦ I am a dreamer and I’m fascinated by the mystical. Astrology, numerology, feng shui, oracle decks, smudging, meditation, dream interpretations, spirit animals, essential oils, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Law of Attraction, and the likes.

♦ 光GENJIのあっくんは私の青春だった! 佐藤アツヒロ♡

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Moonberry™ is a lifestyle brand where style meets food, travel, fashion, and all things creative spanning across online editorial and social media. Curated with a hint of discovery, a dollop of inspiration and a scoop of personal musings from an Asian-American lens, this blog celebrates artful individual style, creating and sharing beauty with a dash of sass.

Established in 1996, Moonberry is a “socialmedialite” – a content creator and lifestyle influencer who helps clients connect with their target customers through strategic digital marketing and crafting social media stories. Irene Moon Santoso 易小玲 has over 25 years’ professional advertising design experience as an award-winning creative director in New York agencies. Bearing a prominent design background, she excels in styling and producing digital content with a curated eye to help brand-owners reach their digital marketing goals.

Hailed as a tastemaker of chic living, Moon has collaborated with leading brands to create social media lifestyle content and branded campaigns in varying capacities. As a distinctive influencer, she is frequently invited to participate in various tv programs as a key opinion leader and special guest.

The candid New Yorker is an enthusiast of boutique travel and has a voracity for street food. The weirdest thing she’s ever eaten are duck white kidneys (and that’s just a polite term).