Welcome to jlyn’s Inner World...
Jonie Ngo—known creatively as “words by jlyn”—is a writer, designer, and storyteller whose work intertwines legacy, identity, and emotion. The name jlyn stems from her full name, Jonie Laap Yan Ngo, carrying a piece of her heritage forward.
Her middle name, Laap Yan, serves as a quiet reminder that every word and design she creates is more than expression—it’s continuity, reflection, and meaning. To honor her grandmother—the only one who calls her by that name—Jonie has learned to embrace what once carried discomfort, transforming it into a source of pride, connection, and creation.
Who is jlyn?
Growing up in a multilingual household, Jonie initially struggled with English and had little affection for the subject. That changed in high school when a patient and passionate English teacher revealed to her the beauty of language. What once felt like a weakness became her greatest strength, shaping not only how she communicates, but how she creates.
Today, that same passion fuels every project she undertakes. Through her platform words by jlyn, Jonie crafts with intention—to inspire, empower, and express. Whether through poetry, design, or storytelling, her work reflects a deep understanding of the human experience and a commitment to authentic creativity.
“In every project, a piece of me — shaped through design, writing, and imagery that reveals more than it hides."
- Jonie Ngo
Letter by jlyn.
I’ve been drawn to create for as long as I can remember. As a child, my nights often ended with paper, glue, and colored pencils scattered around me — little art projects left behind for my parents to discover in the morning. Whether it was simple drawings, scrapbooks, or anything I could craft with my hands, creating was never just a pastime — it was how I expressed joy, curiosity, and care.
In high school, my creative world expanded. I fell in love with visual arts, sketching, and photography. Each new medium became a mirror, helping me better understand myself and the world around me. These early years helped shape not only my skills, but also my mindset — one rooted in exploration, experimentation, and emotional storytelling.
But at 18, life pulled me in another direction. I chose to pursue a degree outside of the arts, and for a while, I stepped away from the creative path that had once felt so instinctual. It wasn’t easy — something always felt slightly out of place. But, it wasn’t long before I found my way back.
At 22, I discovered branding and web design — two disciplines I hadn’t expected to fall for. While they may seem technical on the surface, I saw them as modern canvases: places where visual identity, narrative, and user experience come together in thoughtful, expressive ways. I immersed myself fully, and over the years, have grown these skills into a true creative practice. Like all forms of art, it’s a journey that never really ends — and that’s exactly what I love about it.
Now, I find myself back where it all began — creating for the joy of it, the meaning in it, the story behind it. I’ve reconnected with the creative parts of me I once left behind: photography, storytelling, writing, and of course, my "latest" medium — web design and development. These aren't separate practices for me. They're different expressions of the same impulse — to see, to feel, to translate the intangible into something others can experience.
In many ways, art isn’t just something I do. It’s who I am.
Thank you for reading.
xoxo,
jlyn
