Designer Interview

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Interview with Sun Hyang Ha at Monday 14th of April 2014

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?
SHH: Majoring in literature at university, I had never imagined I would become a designer. However, I could not suppress the passion I had for jewelry design, and decided to study jewelry design and fabrication.

FS: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
SHH: I am freelancing for a high-end fine jewelry company in New York City.

FS: What is "design" for you?
SHH: It is to visualize what people want to see.

FS: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
SHH: I like designing classic jewelry with a contemporary twist.

FS: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
SHH: I have designed a pin with a star ruby and diamonds. I emphasized the star ruby in a hexagon shaped frame and it pleased both my boss and the client.

FS: What was the first thing you designed for a company?
SHH: My first design was a pair of earrings using beautiful Colombian emeralds.

FS: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
SHH: Although I use CAD/CAM programs, I still prefer to have jewelry made by metalsmiths because the finish is clean.

FS: When do you feel the most creative?
SHH: There is no specific time. It is unpredictable.

FS: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
SHH: While designing, I attach a lot of importance to proportions and maintaining the right balance.

FS: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
SHH: I feel the same emotions I do when I try to solve math problems.

FS: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
SHH: It is a feeling that combines the regret and joy of accomplishment at the same time.

FS: What makes a design successful?
SHH: It should be fun, wearable, and simple to manufacture.

FS: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
SHH: According to me, a design should tell a story.

FS: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
SHH: Designers should make a conscious effort to use recycled metal and ethically sourced gems.

FS: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
SHH: 3D printing is already dominating jewelry fabrication and will continue to gain in importance.

FS: When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
SHH: I participated in two exhibitions of rings and pins held by my school in Japan but do not have any immediate plans for another one. This is because I am a designer, more than a jeweler.

FS: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
SHH: It comes from everywhere: nature, architecture, textile, paintings, jewelry by other artists. The list can perhaps go on.

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?
SHH: I would say it is minimalistic.

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?
SHH: Currently, I live in New York. However, there is no denying that I sometimes find inspiration in the architecture and paintings of my country.

FS: How do you work with companies?
SHH: I work for a company that manufactures jewelry against orders. I try to produce the best design with the given materials and budget.

FS: What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
SHH: First, they must be ethical. In order to get good designs, a company should respect the designers they choose to work with.

FS: Can you talk a little about your design process?
SHH: I always have my sketchbook with me and sketch anything I find interesting, as a reference for future projects.

FS: What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?
SHH: Pencil, tracing paper, templates, light pad, and the computer.

FS: Can you describe a day in your life?
SHH: I cannot think of anything beyond sketching and modeling jewelry.

FS: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
SHH: It is essential for them to enhance their CAD/CAM skills.

FS: From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
SHH: On the positive side, you can create what you want, or help people to create what they aspire for. On the negative side, you may suffer from a lack of imagination and creativity at times, especially, when things are not going so well.

FS: What is your "golden rule" in design?
SHH: I try to ensure proportional balance.

FS: What skills are most important for a designer?
SHH: As a jewelry designer, who is neither a jeweler nor art jewelry designer, I believe sketching and computer skills are most important.

FS: Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
SHH: My toolbox has mechanical pencils, sketchbooks, and CAD/CAM software.

FS: Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
SHH: I try out different tools in order to save time. For example, the computer allows me to work faster when I need to simulate designs or work on repetitive elements.

FS: How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
SHH: It depends on the design. It can take anything between a couple of hours and several days.

FS: What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?
SHH: "What is the source of your inspiration?"

FS: What was your most important job experience?
SHH: It is the current freelance work I do for a company; it has helped me to enhance my knowledge on high-end fine jewelry.

FS: Who are some of your clients?
SHH: The company I work for supplies designs and finished jewelry to individual clients, retailers, and high-end jewelry houses.

FS: What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
SHH: I love designing with limited materials supplied by clients, as it pushes me to find the best way of making use of them.

FS: What are your future plans? What is next for you?
SHH: I would like to take up a full-time assignment with a fine jewelry company.

FS: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
SHH: I work based on the directions from my boss or by myself.

FS: Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
SHH: Currently, I am working on a Tahitian pearl ring.

FS: How can people contact you?
SHH: Through e-mail.

FS: Any other things you would like to cover that have not been covered in these questions?
SHH: Designers do not necessarily have the most original ideas. I believe someone who knows how to develop contemporary ideas can be a good designer.

FS: Thank you for providing us with this opportunity to interview you.

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