growwithgao.com
Austin
Gao.
8+ years building visual stories — from documentary edits to UX prototypes to long-form essays that earn the scroll.
About
The story
behind the work.
Born on Long Island, currently making a mark in Connecticut. I'm a Communications Specialist with 8+ years of experience across video production, photography, UX research, and long-form writing — currently pursuing my Master's in Interactive Media & Communications at Quinnipiac University.
I started grabbing my dad's camcorder as a kid and never really stopped. The tools changed. The instinct — to find the story in whatever's in front of the camera — didn't.
Every project I take on starts with a purpose. The craft follows.
"The Power of Slow applies to everything — the edit, the essay, the design. If it's worth making, it's worth taking the time to make it right."
Portfolio
10 Case Studies.
Work across video, UX, writing, audio, and pre-production. Filter by discipline or browse all.
The Documentary
A short-form documentary produced and edited solo in two weeks — lighting, interview, b-roll, J/L cuts, sound design.
The Nature Conservancy
Full UX audit of nature.org — competitive analysis, personas, card sorting, heuristic evaluation, usability testing.
The Power of Slow
Research-backed editorial essay on craft, attention, and why quality editing takes as long as it takes.
Hamtaro & Brago
An observational cat montage — adaptive storytelling, music-led editing, motion graphics, uncooperative subjects.
Buying the Perfect Ring
Solo podcast produced end-to-end: coat closet studio, Blue Yeti, Audacity, Adobe Enhance Audio, SoundCloud.
Stop Winging It
Comparative guide to project management tools for video editors — Trello vs. Notion vs. Monday.com with a workflow framework.
Find Your Flow
Science-backed editorial on Csikszentmihalyi's flow state, applied directly to the video editing workflow.
SPARC App
Mobile app for AAPI business discovery — 10+ user interviews, affinity mapping, Figma hi-fi prototype. Currently in development.
New Hartford Connect
Civic companion app for the Town of New Hartford — task-first IA, user interviews, wireframes, high-fidelity Figma prototype.
Storyboarding & Composition
Pre-production planning doc, hand-drawn storyboard, and 12-prompt visual composition photography scavenger hunt.
Photography
Through the
Lens.
Original photography — composition-driven work spanning portraiture, street, and event coverage.
Writing
Selected
Editorial Work.
Long-form essays on craft, focus, and creative process — written for industry professionals.
The Power of Slow: Why Quality Video Editing Takes Time
The scroll will always be faster than the story. But the story is what people remember. A research-backed argument against speed culture in creative work.
Read on Grow With Gao
Stop Winging It: The Best PM Tools for Video Editors
Disorganization is a silent tax on your creative time. A clear-eyed comparison of Trello, Notion, and Monday.com — with a workflow framework that works regardless of which you choose.
Read on Grow With Gao
Find Your Flow: The Science Behind Peak Creative Focus
Csikszentmihalyi's flow state, decoded for video editors. Three conditions, five practical tools, and the question to ask yourself before every session.
Read on Grow With GaoLet's
work.
I'm open to freelance video projects, UX collaborations, and editorial commissions. Connecticut-based, remote-friendly.
austin.gao7@gmail.com