Hisu Jeong

LEGENDARY INTERVIEW

Design Legends ("DL") had the distinct honour to interview legendary designer Hisu Jeong ("HJ") 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?

HJ : I’m majored in visual design, and have been working in package design part for 10 years.

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

HJ : Since I was young, I liked fanciful colors, and had curiosity in grocery package design. I think my curiosity is the motivation for me to be a package designer

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

HJ : Unlike other school colleagues who didn’t have certain mind on the major, I had strong desire to be a designer. So after graduation, I entered a designing company to start building up my career.

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

HJ : I majorly do grocery package designs, and as a graphic designer I do all types of visual designs. I want to develop the ability of package design which is my main design career.

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

HJ : Though I am not a legend, but I hope all new-designers who freshly start their own career could develop their own unique work. After all, his/her own uniqueness could be his/her own brand.

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

HJ : A good designer focuses on aesthetic sphere of design, but a great designer focuses on the user and environment of a design to make better condition for them.

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

HJ : Design is a convenience and aesthetic technique for all living things (human being, nature, animals etc) so to explain the value of design could be reflected by the goal of a design.

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

HJ : Good design is a connection for people who need the design. Good design is aimed for sufficient message delivery, therefore, it’s necessary to utilize the best design with good amount of data analysis. Therefore I think it’s necessary to invest for a good designer.

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

HJ : The nature is a perfect design ever existing on the earth. Therefore, I’d love to get motivation from the nature to make a human-friendly design. I do not have a specific item, but if I had opportunity, I’d like to make a project based in the motivation.

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

HJ : I dreamed of doing recycle package design utilizing packages already played out.

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

HJ : After all, it’s a communication between people. Communication is the best source for a design.

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

HJ : Actually there are a lot of great designers, I think a senior designer who taught me the impact of design on people and the nature was my master.

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

HJ : A designer from Slovakia, Lenkaczereova. He is eco-friendly designer who thinks the technology, environment and human first. I usually obtain good motivation about items and emotion from him.

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

HJ : It’s eco-friendly poster which made me to start with the eco-friendly design. The poster delivered a message on the nature and at the same time it’s printed with soybean oil, so it was a precious project for me.

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

HJ : A person can be a designer with power to deliver his original message when his own philosophy, insight on things and many readings are based on his design.

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

HJ : Probably I could be a vet, I still have good interest in the sphere.

DL: How do you define design, what is design for you?

HJ : A design is a medium for a good consequence. People don’t design for bad.

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

HJ : I always think my team gave the most precious and good synergy because I am alone could be fell in numerous situation for creating peremptory design.

DL: What helped you to become a great designer?

HJ : I also think team is big including clients.

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

HJ : I always had an obstacle between the reality and my ideal.

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

HJ : The most effective presentation is five senses delivered to the audience. Would it be great when a good presentation and good sensual condition combined?

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

HJ : I’d love to proceed a project for customers in the brand story of Royal Orchard.

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

HJ : It’s my ultimate goal to find a solution.

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

HJ : I think actualization of people’s need and at the same time it could be a suggestion when they don’t find a road.

DL: How does design help create a better society?

HJ : For instance, at Korea’s closed mine area, there was loneliness with absent of people’s existence. However, ever since people made new trial of mural art, the area started to revive as the place where there’s history along with tourists’ visit which lighten up the previously gloomy village.

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

HJ : I am currently working on a design that works for both people and environment which makes me excited.

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

HJ : The answer for this one is similar to the answer for number 26.

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

HJ : The main media are changing rapidly. For instance, we read e-book rather than printed materials. I hope everything could go through a positive change in a range that no excessive usage of resources.

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

HJ : I expect more minimalism trend when people love simple arranged things than complicated things.

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

HJ : It takes from 2 weeks to a month, it’s different in regard of project.

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

HJ : I capture what’s the need from communication with my client and it’s my first step.

DL: What is your life motto as a designer?

HJ : My design’s moto is making a design to carry its original goal and good for the nature and people.

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

HJ : Design makes trend and vice versa. I think there’s no definite answer.

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

HJ : Comfortable working condition to make the best consequence.

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

HJ : Mac and illustrator and Photoshop mainly.

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

HJ : Color which has great impact on the concept needs to harmonize with the environment and good matching with the product.

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

HJ : I want to answer ‘how this idea can come out?

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

HJ : I’m motivated that it could make people comfortable.

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

HJ : I like people who have curiosity to produce good idea that I didn’t think about as well as who’s active.

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

HJ : I answered above, it’s my senior.

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

HJ : It’s not a book but a site named Pinterest gave good help to my idea.

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

HJ : I've working hard for 10 years and communicating with many people. That’s my driving force.

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

HJ : I’d love talk with Michelangelo who’s good at science, art and design.

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

HJ : I’m a bit shy but it’s like the biggest award that I’ve ever received so I’m so happy as I’m a child. It’s so meaningful for me to have another driving force. And that big interview made me to think about my philosophy on design again.

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

HJ : Orange color, place with the nature, food that my mom made for me, the summer, things with me since long time, and the brand Royal Orchard that brought me here. I love the most.

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

HJ : I want to fix visually uncomfortable layouts.

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

HJ : The great driving force for me to do better design is listening to good music with breathing fresh air.

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

HJ : When I was young, My mom said to others that I’m good at hand skills. I actually expected to be a designer.

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

HJ : Maybe in the future, my daughter in law could be doing the same job with me?

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

HJ : I’d like you to feel certain emotions from my design amongst many other designs.