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Interview with Olivia Eunnara Ko |
Home > Designer Interviews > Olivia Eunnara Ko |
Editor Frank Scott (FS) from DesignPRWire has interviewed designer Olivia Eunnara Ko (OEK) for A’ Design Award and Competition. You can access the full profile of Olivia Eunnara Ko by clicking here.
FS: Could you please tell us more about your art and design background? What made you become an artist/designer? Have you always wanted to be a designer?
OEK: Since I was a little girl, I’ve been always a very inquisitive and curious so that I could love to explore all cross-disciplinary studies such as astronomy, medical science, art, literature and etc. As I’ve grown up, I thought art and design part could be one of the tops so I got interested in because I felt that it is like a sort of God’s realm, Creation. I decided to be a designer when I was 19.
FS: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
OEK: Even though I majored Industrial Design in my college, I don’t want to be limited to any specific design field, I work for myself very freely as a freelancer in many areas from illustration work to furniture design.
FS: What is "design" for you?
OEK: Design is a visual language for communication between people. There is always someone who needs me to visualize something he/she wants and I could do that for him/her. Sometimes I have my own idea and I could make it visually and physically to share what’s in my mind with other people.
FS: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
OEK: I’ve loved furniture design most for quite a long time since wood-working was my favorite area.
FS: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
OEK: Most Apple products. You may be sick of hearing this but I really love it most up to this time. I think it is a representative of simple, universal and good design.
FS: What was the first thing you designed for a company?
OEK: Through my career, I’ve designed some furniture pieces, decorating on a cabinet and a nightstand for a company.
FS: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
OEK: I love wood and metal because it gives me a harmonic feeling like Nature and Industry/ Soft and Strong. With those materials, I also like to do handcraft as well as computer aid design.
FS: When do you feel the most creative?
OEK: I feel the most creative when I am in a very strange place with a cup of coffee, a notebook and a pen (No Laptop).
FS: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
OEK: During designing, I focus on its sustainability most because design should make a more refined practical product rather than just an artistic works.
FS: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
OEK: I feel fully blessed. Creative ability is the most grateful gift from God I think.
FS: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
OEK: I’m sure that every single designer would feel exactly same way when his or her designs come out to the world. We are so much happy to see our own creation like our own baby.
FS: What makes a design successful?
OEK: Designer’s power of attention and affection. Like a prenatal education, only those make a design successful.
FS: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
OEK: Universal aspect and its ease. If someone feels uncomfortable when he/she uses something, it is a fail design.
FS: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
OEK: Designers have responsibilities to make more people live comfortable equally in this planet and try to coexist with nature.
FS: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
OEK: As computer technology advances, design field could do more expanded. Especially Virtual Reality, Robots and Artificial intelligence could combine with design field close then we might be able to design something very surrealistic or invisible for the virtual reality.
FS: When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
OEK: In 2016, my first solo exhibition was held in Seoul, S.Korea. Now I have a plan to hold the second one in this year.
FS: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
OEK: I got the design inspirations from nature. When I walk in the rain, when I look up to the mountain covered with snow, when I smell a scent of early morning air, I’m filled up with a new creativity.
FS: How would you describe your design style? What made you explore more this style and what are the main characteristics of your style? What's your approach to design?
OEK: My design style is not standardized. Sometimes my works are very exquisite and sometimes are carelessly. I feel that I’m too young to have only one style yet. I need more time to explore.
FS: Where do you live? Do you feel the cultural heritage of your country affects your designs? What are the pros and cons during designing as a result of living in your country?
OEK: I’ve lived in Seoul, S.Korea for 20 years and I had lived in New York City, U.S for about 10 years. This is a fact that these two countries gave me a lot of inspirations even thus far. Both are quite big cities like concrete jungles where citizens can hardly enjoy nature. That was a negative aspect to me but even the token part of nature like the Central Park of NYC and the Han River Park of Seoul was the oasis.
FS: How do you work with companies?
OEK: For design works, usually I received requests from acquaintances of friends of friends… Sometimes big corporations contact me via my website, email, IG, FB and etc. I mostly accepted their requests and discuss how it will go right away. That’s how it works.
FS: What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
OEK: First of all, if companies want to get a good designer, they should really think that designers are really valuable. Sometimes people regard design work as a very easy job and a pool of cheap labor. If someone has that kind of awareness, he/she will never have a good designer.
FS: Can you talk a little about your design process?
OEK: It’s general. Get inspiration passing like a lightning, Brainstorming, Drawing or Writing, Using computer programs and Making something in real.
FS: What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?
OEK: Bluetooth speaker (Marshall), Macbook Pro, iPhone, Risom Chair, the Side table I designed.
FS: Can you describe a day in your life?
OEK: Wake up in the morning around 8am, Work and work, Back home around 6pm, Do artistic works for upcoming solo exhibition, Sleep at 1am.
FS: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
OEK: Do not try to be a perfectionist. Sometimes you can find unexpected precious ideas from your mistakes. If you failed then have a good look what’s in there.
FS: From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
OEK: Positives: I can be always a creative leader in the society. I can be a person who can make something looking good. Negatives: To satisfy clients’ tastes, there could be always conflicts. Designers have to know how to resolve it wisely.
FS: What is your "golden rule" in design?
OEK: Do think people who see, touch and use the final works. Imagining and considering users are very strong rule.
FS: What skills are most important for a designer?
OEK: I think drawing skill is the most important skill for a designer.
FS: Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
OEK: I have a lot but mainly use Rhino CAD, Photoshop and Illustrator.
FS: Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
OEK: I usually use nighttime to work. It’s dark and quiet. I can use higher concentration so that I could speed up the work.
FS: How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
OEK: It’s different by case basis. From 1-day work to over 6-month work.
FS: What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?
OEK: “In designer’s view, what do you think of (objects)?” People are curious how different something will look through designers’ experienced eye.
FS: What was your most important job experience?
OEK: My first designer job of a furniture company in NYC. Even though I was a beginner, my boss allowed me to do many things. The experiences from there made who I am.
FS: Who are some of your clients?
OEK: LG Hosehold & Health Care Ltd. Cosmetic Brand ‘Belif’, Glowfoods of NYC and many individual clients I have.
FS: What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
OEK: I enjoy Furniture and living products design most because I’m interested in products we use everyday in our daily life especially at home.
FS: What are your future plans? What is next for you?
OEK: I’m planning my second exhibition in this year. My exhibition is filled up with many illustrations and works done by various mediums.
FS: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
OEK: I prefer developing my designs myself.
FS: Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
OEK: I’m designing a tablet PC stands now. It would be fully illustrating my styles. I’d use wood and metal with some good meanings.
FS: How can people contact you?
OEK: Via cell number, email, website and all through SNS things (IG, FB, Archinect and Linkedin)
FS: Any other things you would like to cover that have not been covered in these questions?
OEK: Nope. It's pretty much:)
FS: Thank you for providing us with this opportunity to interview you.
A’ Design Award and Competitions grants rights to press members and bloggers to use parts of this interview. This interview is provided as it is; DesignPRWire and A' Design Award and Competitions cannot be held responsible for the answers given by participating designers.
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