Can you provide an overview of your career path?
In my bachelor's degree, I majored in communication design and explored the design world extensively, including UX/UI, typography, brand identity, and marketing. I studied at Seoul National University of Science and Technology, which emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration within organizations.
Throughout my professional journey, I worked with diverse experts such as planners, programmers, editorial and web designers, space designers, and museum and archive researchers, building a multifaceted portfolio. My work ranges from museum, social media, and fashion show projects to corporate projects and Olympic performances.
My fascination with the intersection of design and new media technology led me to study for a master's degree in Digital Arts in New York, where I gained valuable work experience at an interdisciplinary artist, Mattia Casalegno's studio, and a contemporary art gallery in Chelsea. These experiences expanded my expertise and drew inspiration from a broader creative spectrum.
What is your working hypothesis as you design?
As someone who dreamt of being a cartoonist in childhood, started my career as a video producer and studied new media, my philosophy is that all designed content in any medium must have a message or narrative, and how it is expressed can vary depending on the characteristics of the media.
I believe storytelling could be a powerful tool to immerse users in the artwork, making them active participants in the narrative and enabling them to relate to the piece on a deeper level.
What methods do you employ to foster your creativity?
I have a method I call "pretending to be the creator of everything." Even though I can't create every design and art project, I imagine them as if I did. For example, let's pretend I built the Brooklyn Bridge. By thinking about how things were before and after it was made, I can understand why they needed it and how they built it. This way of thinking helps me explore why they had to connect the city and Brooklyn with a bridge, why they made separate lanes for cars and people, and why the bridge looks the way it does. It's like a game of imagination, giving me ideas and inspiration from everything around me.
Please explain your thoughts on design approaches and methodologies as a designer.
Design is a broad and interdisciplinary field, so different areas of design may have unique approaches and methodologies. UCD, HCD, Design Thinking, Sustainable Design, Universal Design, Responsive Design, etc. These are just a few examples, and there are many more specialized design approaches and methodologies, especially in niche areas of design. Design is a dynamic field that continues evolving, with new approaches and trends emerging. Designers should combine and adapt these approaches to suit the specific needs of their projects.