Yeaji Kim
1. Please give us a brief bio of yourself and your design background.
I graduated from Pratt Institute located in Brooklyn, New York, and majored in Communication Design(Emphasis in Graphic Design) and minored in Photography. I am always thrilled about discovering new things in our daily lives in a creative way. The power of visualization is maximized when the audience accepts the purpose of the project which is generated from trivial and normal things that people experience in their daily memories.
2. What made you become/why did you choose to become a designer/artist?
My interest in design started with videography such as filming and editing video. I
3. Tell us more about your agency/company, job profile, and what you do.
Currently, I am a Brand Visual Designer at Kiss Product in New York, where I visualize corporate designs, motion graphics, marketing assets, exhibition booth design, and product display design.
4. What does “design” mean to you?
Design is my identity. Wherever I go, I can find something related to design which is the thrilling moment when I get concentrated the most.
5. What’s your favorite kind of design and why?
Minimalism is my favorite kind of design ever since college. I remember learning about International Typographic Style in college art history class. The simplicity and boldness of the graphic style caught my attention and I fell in love at the moment. I think the simple but bold graphic style conveys the message to the audience efficiently.
6. To you, what makes a “good” design?
It might vary how people define the word meaning
7. How did you come up with the idea for your award-winning design?
It started with the idea of finding things that are trivial but always exist in our lives which was
8. What was your main source of inspiration for this design?
The main source for this inspiration started from a book called
9. Do you think your country and its cultural heritage has an impact on your design process?
As I spent most of my time until high school in South Korea, my life was always under the pressure of time. I was always stressed with lack of time and being competitive which didn
10. Congratulations! As the winner of the London Design Awards, what does it mean to you and your company and team to receive this award distinction?
Winning the London Design Awards means a lot to me since I was not expecting it at all! Thank you to all of my colleagues who gave me huge support and love so that I can come to this point!
11. What were the main challenges you faced during the design process, and how did you overcome them?
The main challenge during the design process was visualizing the most simplistic but in a strong way. I took 6 months for the research and I had too much information and thinking about the concept. At some point, abundant information became an obstacle since the visual had to be simple. So to finalize the design simply but also containing all the concepts and messages was one of the most challenging moments.
12. How do you think winning this award will impact your future as a designer?
Winning this award proved that I could be an international designer in the future. In other words, it gave me confidence of myself that I could make more amazing things for people all around the world!
13. What are your top three (3) favorite things about the design industry?
Collaborate, Interest, and Analyze are the favorite verbs that I love in the design industry. For the
14. What sets your design apart from others in the same category?
My design requires people
15. Where do you see the evolution of design industry going over the next 5-10 years?
I think within 5-10 years, the design industry will expand to other areas even business management. Designers will evolve thinking of the reason for the decisions from a managing perspective instead of just providing visual solutions to the consumers.
16. What advice do you have for aspiring designers who want to create award-winning designs?
For amazing designers who also want to win! Focusing on the strong message you want to convey to the audience and constantly answering to the questions of
17. What resources would you recommend to someone who wants to improve their skills in the design industry?
I would recommend you buy some artistic books from offline bookstores. Sometimes when I feel too tired of getting references from the internet, I open my hardcovered book and see the histories of the posters and colors that have been used in the past.
18. Tell us something you have never told anyone else.
Keep showing your work to others. You never know who will fall in love with your work.
19. Who has inspired you in your life and why?
I get inspired by just people. I observe people and think what will they think in the situation? I think trivial things have the most power for people to sympathize with conveying a message.
20. Do you have anything else you would like to add to the interview?
Everyone! Don
