Olivia Eunnara Ko

LEGENDARY INTERVIEW

Design Legends ("DL") had the distinct honour to interview legendary designer Olivia Eunnara Ko ("OEK") for their original perspective and innovative approach to design as well as their creative lifestyle, we are very pleased to share our interview with our distinguished readers.

DL: Could you please tell us a bit about your design background and education?

OEK : BFA Product design 2013, Parsons School of Design (NY).

DL: What motivates you to design in general, why did you become a designer?

OEK : I always want to be a person who can be supportive so that I could help out other people’s needs. Therefore, my dreams have changed from scientist, doctor to designer. I love art and literature so I decided to become a designer having a job related to more aesthetical aspects and beautiful works.

DL: Did you choose to become a designer, or you were forced to become one?

OEK : Yes. I choose to become a designer by myself in spite of parents’ teeth first.

DL: What do you design, what type of designs do you wish to design more of?

OEK : My design has a big range. I can't tell one.

DL: What should young designers do to become a design legend like you?

OEK : 05. What should young designers do to become a design legend like you? I think I’m still a young designer and not a design legend yet though I’d like to say that young designers should do their own design a lot in all ways. You can learn valuable experiences from all failures.

DL: What distinguishes between a good designer and a great designer?

OEK : Love is the distinguishable thing between a good designer and a great designer. I think a great designer is not making something only looking good. If he/she considers the potential users with a great affection, that love makes him/her a great designer.

DL: What makes a good design a really good design, how do you evaluate good design?

OEK : First of all, when we see something and feel that it looks cool, then it could be simply a good design. However, if we are so much moved when we use it, wear it and grab it, then we could say it is a really good design. I evaluate good design in the details and convenient parts.

DL: What is the value of good design? Why should everyone invest in good design?

OEK : Since good design makes our lives better in many ways if the society got more good design, the citizens could get better quality of living equally. For example, there could be streets with a trail for the Blind, safe bikes for seniors and etc.

DL: What would you design and who would you design for if you had the time?

OEK : I’d design everything. I don’t want to make any limitation on my design field. I love to design furniture, lighting, kitchenware, jewelry, fashion and stationery if I had the time.

DL: What is the dream project you haven’t yet had time to realize?

OEK : I’d like to publish a book with my products and illustrations. The book needs to be beyond a 2D printed things. It should be more idealized and I need enough time to realize it.

DL: What is your secret recipe of success in design, what is your secret ingredient?

OEK : Taking a enough rest is my secret recipe of success in design. If I feel exhausted and tired, I can’ t do anything good.

DL: Who are some other design masters and legends you get inspired from?

OEK : Karim Rashid, Marcel Breuer and Philippe Stark.

DL: What are your favorite designs by other designers, why do you like them?

OEK : I love all design chair. Chair is one of the standardized pieces but design chairs are showing the designers’ agony and result of pains. Those are very touching.

DL: What is your greatest design, which aspects of that design makes you think it is great?

OEK : Saladay, one of my thesis works for my college is my greatest design I think. That was a kind of dishware to assist obese children to have healthy foods with more fun. The motivation to help someone makes the design great.

DL: How could people improve themselves to be better designers, what did you do?

OEK : Have an affection to other people in their mind first. I’m always trying so.

DL: If you hadn’t become a designer, what would you have done?

OEK : I would have been a doctor if I hadn’t become a designer because that was always my plan B. If I don’t help people with beautiful things, I would like to save their lives in physically.

DL: How do you define design, 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.

DL: Who helped you to reach these heights, who was your biggest supporter?

OEK : Of course my parents. They bequeathed their artistic talents to me and supported me to study abroad in NYC for about 10 years.

DL: What were the obstacles you faced before becoming a design master?

OEK : I have a broad spectrum of interests in many design fields and have very different styles on work by work so getting narrow it down was the big abomination to be a designer.

DL: How do you think designers should present their work?

OEK : Design is different from fine art. We need to explain and inculcate our intentions to people. Presenting work is necessary.

DL: What’s your next design project, what should we expect from you in future?

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. You will be able to see that in a different category of A'Design Award winners list;)

DL: What’s your ultimate goal as a designer?

OEK : My ultimate goal as a designer is not one thing. I’d like to keep designing and making something good for my entire life and communicate with people about my design. That is my dream.

DL: What people expect from an esteemed designer such as yourself?

OEK : They expect from me a good thing to see, to use and to have.

DL: How does design help create a better society?

OEK : Some good design products or public realm can create well-being environment so that it could improve public welfare. Better welfare means a better society.

DL: What are you currently working on that you are especially excited about?

OEK : I’m working on some buildings illustrations in 1:10 size for my next exhibition. I record a short video clips while I’m drawing at the same time in order to show people how I work

DL: Which design projects gave you the most satisfaction, why?

OEK : My illustration of London to LG “Belif “ cosmetic brand for cosmetic package design gave me the most satisfaction because it was my first design for mass production so I’ve never felt that feelings when I saw my products on the streets. Literally it was spread all over the streets, road shops, department store and Duty Free Shop.

DL: What would you like to see changed in design industry in the coming years?

OEK : I’d like to see the way AI and VR affect industrial design part. That will be really interesting.

DL: Where do you think the design field is headed next?

OEK : Virtual Reality department will be the next destination the design field is headed to.

DL: How long does it take you to finalize a design project?

OEK : It’s different by case basis. From 1-day work to over 6-month work.

DL: When you have a new design project, where do you start?

OEK : I usually start brainstorming and researching in a quiet places such as library or secluded café.

DL: What is your life motto as a designer?

OEK : Think, Consider and Love who is supposed to use my design result.

DL: Do you think design sets the trends or trends set the designs?

OEK : Both are correct. Design and trend are associated strongly and bound up each other. Sometimes design sets the trends and sometimes opposite.

DL: What is the role of technology when you design?

OEK : To visualize my abstract idea in 3D virtually. More accurate design drawing can minimize time wasted on imprecise drawings and data.

DL: What kind of design software and equipment do you use in your work?

OEK : Rihino CAD, Photoshop, Illustrator, Graphite and etc. with Intuos tablet.

DL: What is the role of the color, materials and ambient in design?

OEK : Colors and materials decide the whole design mood. If you want to go soft and warm, you should choose that types of colors and materials first because final designs look really different by those factors.

DL: What do you wish people to ask about your design?

OEK : I wish people to ask me about what kind of meanings are in my design and why I designed it. I don’t design without any reason.

DL: When you see a new great design or product what comes into your mind?

OEK : I feel so glad to see a new great design or product and it provides me a lot of inspirations.

DL: Who is your ideal design partner? Do you believe in co-design?

OEK : Any experts of other design parts are my idea potential partners. I believe in co-design a lot because there is few people who can do all by themselves without any help from A to Z.

DL: Which people you interacted had the most influence on your design?

OEK : Somehow one who has similar background with me interacted had the most influence on my design even though I targeted people in other areas.

DL: Which books you read had the most effect on your design?

OEK : “The evolution of useful things” , Henry Petroski

DL: How did you develop your skills as a master designer?

OEK : Based on all skills I’ve learn from my school, I’ve tried to do something again and again.

DL: Irrelative of time and space, who you would want to meet, talk and discuss with?

OEK : I’d want to meet Eames couple and talk about the birth of the Eames chair. I just want to hear that from them in person

DL: How do you feel about all the awards and recognition you had, is it hard to be famous?

OEK : Even though it is hard to be famous, I don’t care about that much because the awards make me feel proud as itself.

DL: What is your favorite color, place, food, season, thing and brand?

OEK : Rosequartz, Home, Seafood, Autumn, Sharpie pens and Kartell.

DL: Please tell us a little memoir, a funny thing you had experienced as a designer?

OEK : When I got requests from clients, I gave them 2-3 concepts for the first step. They always picked the one I don’t like most. It is very funny thing and interesting to understand public’s eyes.

DL: What makes your day great as a designer, how do you motivate yourself?

OEK : I make something and somebody smile and feels happy for that when he/she saw that. That is my motivation.

DL: When you were a little child, was it obvious that you would become a great designer?

OEK : I’ve won the prizes in many art contests and teachers have always praised my art works and my creativity. Through that experiences, I vaguely thought I could be an artist or designer.

DL: What do you think about future; what do you see will happen in thousand years from now?

OEK : It will be just as well if the earth is still there not destroyed and gone. Designers all have to consider protection of the environment.

DL: Please tell us anything you wish your fans to know about you, your design and anything else?

OEK : I’m an industrial designer who is interested in furniture design, jewel design and illustration not a professional jewelry designer. I think all design parts are my tools to demonstrate what I think and I feel. Based on my major, I keep doing design various things in all industrial ways. Next time, I hope you see my another works in all different categories again!!