“I’ve always loved creating things that feel personal and purposeful. Whether it’s a comic, a story, or this project, the goal is always the same—to help people feel something, laugh, cry, or just connect with each other in a new way.”
I had the pleasure of chatting with Laura Gao, a full-time artist, author, and storyteller whose work spans comics, books, and her latest creation: Left On Read. The Imagination Fund-winning project uses daily prompts and interactive features to spark meaningful conversations within families. Laura’s innovative approach combines her background in storytelling and tech to transform communication into a shared experience.
Who is Laura Gao?
Laura describes herself as a creative artist and writer, but her journey has been anything but linear. “About five years ago, I decided to take the leap and focus on my art full-time,” she shares. “Since then, I’ve written and illustrated two graphic novels, worked with nonprofits on social initiative comics, and explored how my work could go beyond consumption to become something people interact with.”
Laura’s inspiration often stems from her own life, whether it’s the immigrant experience, queer identity, or generational connections. “Art has always been a way for me to tell stories and connect with people. I try to create work that resonates emotionally, whether it’s laughter, tears, or something in between.”
About Laura’s Project: Left On Read
For Laura, Left On Read is deeply personal. “It started from my own family experience,” she explains. “We immigrated from China 20 years ago, and while my parents are still where we grew up, my brother and I are scattered across the country. Most of our communication happens digitally, which makes it hard to have meaningful conversations—especially in immigrant families, where cultural, generational, and language barriers can get in the way.”
But like many immigrant families, Laura’s communication with her family was often transactional and surface-level. “It’s always about practical things - like “How's work?’’ - and I wanted more. I wanted to have conversations about the bread my parents eat or a meme they saw, you know? Something frequent and light-hearted.”
This inspired Left On Read, a project that uses daily prompts to spark conversations. “The idea is to send out a fun prompt every day that everyone in the group answers. But there’s a catch: if even one person hasn’t responded, no one’s answers are released. It creates this gentle nudge for everyone to participate.”
Laura tested the idea with her own family, along with 10–15 other participating families she connected with through her socials, and was blown away by the results. “I heard so many heartfelt stories from families who said they were talking about things they’d never shared before. That’s the connection I wanted to create.”
She combined those concepts with her own experiences to design something uniquely her own. “For immigrant families, it’s not always about having deep, emotional conversations. It’s about breaking the ice and building a habit of talking every day. The prompts are lighthearted and playful because I wanted to make it approachable for everyone.”
How do you approach the creative process, especially for a project as personal as this one?
Laura’s creative process is rooted in empathy and research. “I always start by imagining myself as the person interacting with my work. For something like Left On Read, I thought about what I wanted as someone in a long-distance family. What kinds of prompts would make me and my family open up and share more?”
From there, she dives into research. “I look at what’s already out there—apps, books, or tools—and figure out what I like and don’t like about them. I learn from what works and what doesn’t.”
Finally, she tests her ideas. “I onboarded my own family first, using a texting API to make sure the tech worked and the prompts felt fluid. Then I rolled it out to other families and collected feedback after a few days of prompts. The stories people shared were incredible.”
How has your background influenced Left On Read?
“Left On Read feels like a passion baby between the two lives I’ve lived,” Laura says. “On one hand, I’m an author and illustrator—I love creating stories and turning people’s experiences into something tangible, like a zine. On the other hand, I used to work in tech as a product manager, working closely with the design side. This project let me combine those two skill sets to create something that’s both creative and functional.”
How has Playbook supported your creative journey?
“I’d had this idea for a while but was so busy with other projects that I hadn’t focused on it. When I heard about the Imagination Fund, it gave me the resources, community, and accountability I needed to finally make it happen. It was a great push to turn this idea I’d had for a while into reality.”
Laura also highlights the Publish feature in helping her socialize her project idea with her audiences. “The Publish feature was super helpful. I used it to share my project proposal on social media, which helped me get participants onboarded for the trial run of Left on Read. It made it so much easier to explain the project and get people excited about it.”
What’s next for Left On Read?
In the short term, Laura is wrapping up the initial run of the project. “I’ve collected so many beautiful stories from the families who participated—stories of parents nagging their kids to respond before the deadline or heartfelt messages from our Thanksgiving prompt. I’m turning some of these into a zine so families can have something physical to look back on.”
In the long term, Laura hopes to scale Left On Read. “Right now, it’s built on a text bot, but I’d love to turn it into a full app if there’s enough interest. Something like BeReal but for family conversations. That would be amazing.”
“With Left On Read, I hope families feel even just a little bit closer, through a funny or heartfelt moment,” Laura says. “Emotion is what I aim to create with every project—whether it’s laughter, tears, or surprise, it’s about connecting people through shared experiences.”
What advice do you have for other creatives?
“It’s so easy to get stuck in the cycle of constant productivity,” Laura reflects. “But some of my best ideas have come from taking a pause. Going on a long bike ride or just sitting in nature. You’d be surprised how many ideas are waiting in the back of your head, drowned out by the noise of daily life and the load of work. Take time to pause. It’s worth it.”
Laura’s next book, Kirby’s Lessons for Falling (in Love), promises to continue that emotional journey, blending stories of immigrant families and queer love. Keep an eye out for it—you won’t want to miss what Laura creates next!
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Check out Laura’s project proposal here.
See more of Laura’s work here.
