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Interview with Wontaek Hong |
Home > Designer Interviews > Wontaek Hong |
Editor Frank Scott (FS) from DesignPRWire has interviewed designer Wontaek Hong (WH) for A’ Design Award and Competition. You can access the full profile of Wontaek Hong 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?
WH: I majored in industrial design and have a bachelor's degree. I liked science fiction animations when I was young, and I wanted to become a person who made those kinds of things while watching robots and spaceships appearing. Because I thought it was important to save the earth and mankind.
FS: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
WH: I am an individual, and I am currently creating content for children.
FS: What is "design" for you?
WH: Design is the future, it is love.
FS: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
WH: I like Luigi Colani's works
FS: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
WH: He has designed everything from small props to airplanes for all industries, and is very forward-looking.
FS: What was the first thing you designed for a company?
WH: I designed characters for TV series animations.
FS: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
WH: Animals, children/Instagram/ Photoshop
FS: When do you feel the most creative?
WH: It is when I see new images and situations in my dreams.
FS: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
WH: Originality and Differentiation
FS: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
WH: Affection and feeling for an object
FS: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
WH: When I get results through the work process, sometimes I am less satisfied and sometimes I am satisfied, but in general, I feel that it is not enough.
FS: What makes a design successful?
WH: There are several factors. The quality of the work, the demands of the times, the timing, the luck
FS: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
WH: Reason and originality
FS: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
WH: Designers must have positive values and a future-oriented perspective that society demands. It is also a responsibility for the next generation.
FS: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
WH: Many fields require design. However, you must have an eye to see far. Only then can resources be used efficiently.
FS: When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
WH: In 2018, I had a group exhibition with picture book authors in Seoul. The next exhibition will be held at the National Hangeul Museum in Seoul this fall
FS: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
WH: I am inspired by news, books, and various cultural contents. From it, I create a story and make a sketch. Perhaps my interest and thoughts are the source of my inspiration.
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?
WH: My style is expressed in many different ways. This is because it has to be expressed differently depending on the direction I want to talk about. I collect a lot of data before designing, and create a direction from it.
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?
WH: I immigrated to the United States from Korea, and Korean cultural heritage reminds me of ideas and motifs of materials. So I think it will bring out the originality of Orientalism thinking and Western expression.
FS: How do you work with companies?
WH: Through meetings and sketches, opinions are reflected and consensus is reached.
FS: What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
WH: My suggestion is that it is important for a company to create an environment where designers can think creatively well. It should not be uniform and should be progressive. Companies should value the creative thinking and responsibility of designers. Because it is very important to produce results on a limited schedule.
FS: Can you talk a little about your design process?
WH: I collect data from images, animals, architecture, and nature that can become motifs, and create concepts while sketching ideas. And, when there is a direction, the quality is improved by making specific renderings.
FS: What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?
WH: Car, lighting equipment, Sword, clothes, glasses
FS: Can you describe a day in your life?
WH: The sun gives me energy, and I walk like the wind, feeling the smell of earth and nature. I imagine beautiful thoughts with the scent of warm coffee, and I laugh while talking with my dog and my lovely daughter. In my space, I draw pleasant pictures and rejoice. that moment is happy At night, I become a dreamer and fall asleep looking at the stars.
FS: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
WH: I think we need to listen to the environment we live in and the influence we have through our relationships with people.
FS: From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
WH: Designers are creators, artists, and people who are ahead of their time. The disadvantage of designers is that they are stressed by mental labor.
FS: What is your "golden rule" in design?
WH: harmony and simplification
FS: What skills are most important for a designer?
WH: Human aesthetic insight and ability to predict the future
FS: Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
WH: Sketchbook and pencil, digital program( photoshop..)
FS: Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
WH: Ultimately, it's about query control. You have to know where to stop and choose.
FS: How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
WH: It takes months, and it should create value for itself.
FS: What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?
WH: Why was this made for what purpose?
FS: What was your most important job experience?
WH: 3D computer graphic designer at an animation station
FS: Who are some of your clients?
WH: child
FS: What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
WH: Designing a character and creating an identity through settings.
FS: What are your future plans? What is next for you?
WH: I plan to make a graphic novel and show it as an animation.
FS: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
WH: I am currently working alone as a freelancer.
FS: Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
WH: I am creating a character to promote Korean traditional culture contents to the world market.
FS: How can people contact you?
WH: I can communicate through my email address and Instagram, YouTube, and Open Sea.
FS: Any other things you would like to cover that have not been covered in these questions?
WH: I tried to make a very positive impact on people and the global environment, and I hope to be remembered as a person who loved my family a lot.
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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