Seokwon Han

LEGENDARY INTERVIEW

Design Legends ("DL") had the distinct honour to interview legendary designer Seokwon Han ("SH") 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?

SH : I have a degree in Visual Communication Design from DANKOOK University in Korea. I have an MF in Communication Design from Pratt Institute in USA and a PhD in Design from Seoul International University in Korea.

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

SH : I think I always like creating and finding solutions, and I naturally get interested in various design fields.

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

SH : I chose to become a designer.

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

SH : I like to design something that is clean with white emptiness.

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

SH : I am not a legend. I would like to say to young designers that you need to do your best to finish your work without any regret. After finishing your work, you will be able to find your own progress from the best work.

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

SH : I do not get the meaning of 'good designer' and 'great designer' actually. I just focus on designing to hear WOW with the love an passion for design.

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

SH : Design with logical reasons and unique concepts.

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

SH : Good design is to contribute something for a better life, because design is for people.

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

SH : I would like to make data visualization with Virtual Reality, for science education tools about evolution of the earth.

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

SH : I would like to learn about code editors, so I can make generative typography with them.

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

SH : My secret recipe in design is to research many references for ideas.

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

SH : Kenya Hara

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

SH : I like the work of Stefan Sagmeister. His work with conceptual graphic reflects his great design process.

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

SH : My favorite work is Water for Life poster series because I spent so much time to create creatures with splash water images, as well as they can be expended to create various living things in design.

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

SH : I like to travel any places and interested in visiting bookstores.

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

SH : I think I would be a surgeon.

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

SH : I think that design is to solve a complex problem with an aesthetic and simple solution.

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

SH : My best supports were my professors and my friends. I learned a lot of things from everyone I've worked with.

DL: What helped you to become a great designer?

SH : I do something that I like very much with positive thinking.

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

SH : Never give up on a thinking. Without problems, there are no solutions for design works.

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

SH : As creative as possible, the concept in a clear way, in a professional manor.

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

SH : I have lots of ideas and want to continue to produce various design works with materials and digital media in every different design areas.

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

SH : My goal is to be a good designer who helps improve people’s life better.

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

SH : I will continue to make or design something interest and something unique.

DL: How does design help create a better society?

SH : By being one step ahead to solve problems.

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

SH : I am currently working on an information graphic that tells about global warming issues as an educational tool for kids.

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

SH : So far I like the idea which I won A’design award: Water For Life Posters.

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

SH : Every environment is changing in the world. Technology and mobility will influence the future of design.

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

SH : I think, there are a few emerging areas in the design field. The one that has caused the greatest has been interaction design with VR and 3D Expression.

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

SH : I would say that many ideas continue to be researched and developed to improve a design project days or years over and over again.

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

SH : In my case, a design project always start researching data to find unique concepts.

DL: What is your life motto as a designer?

SH : There is nothing special. Just try to do my best on my work.

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

SH : I think that they are correlated each other. Some designs are follow the trend but others are not, so I can not say which sets which.

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

SH : Technology is important, but it is kind of ideas in design. So I think technology is a part of design elements as working tools.

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

SH : My favorite tools are pen and paper. And the softwares are Adobe AI, PS, ID, AE, DW and 3D Maya.

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

SH : I think they are essential as they are what people connect with. They are all about details and things that people touch, see and feel. And they are important elements based on a smart idea in design.

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

SH : I love when people ask “wow, impressed, how did you do that?”.

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

SH : I ask myself to the design what the meaning of design and concept is.

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

SH : I like sharing ideas and questions with other designers, because communication with them develops better creative things and design works.

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

SH : I have some friends who gave me a very important influence on my training as a designer.

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

SH : I like White by Kenya Hara which is about color. I'm influenced by white, because the color is part of the compound character for emptiness and a strong one for the oriental character in design.

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

SH : I am still developing and learning skills. Because new technology and methods with trends have changed.

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

SH : For typography design, I would love to meet Sejong the Great who created Hangul which is logical, concise, peerless and is widely regarded as one of the best writing systems in the world.

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

SH : Winning an award is hard but I think I am not famous.

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

SH : I like Blue, Seoul, Topokki(popular food in Korea), Summer, Nike.

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

SH : Design is very serious process for me anytime.

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

SH : Anything can make my day great. A coffee in the morning, working during serval hours in front of the computer, and seeing a work done at night.

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

SH : Not at all. I just wanted to be an ordinary man who works in a design office and lives with my wife and children in a beautiful house.

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

SH : I think we will move to another planet and try to design new things for the new environment.