Jong Won Park

LEGENDARY INTERVIEW

Design Legends ("DL") had the distinct honour to interview legendary designer Jong Won Park ("JWP") 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?

JWP : my major was digital cartoon , 16 years ago when I graduated college, afterward I was join to game industry with concept designer for making game until now. something different situation between 16 years ago and now, at this moment I covered several various kind of industry designing like a feature film , animation , publication even advertising industry as well.

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

JWP : when I was young, I enjoyed drawing, designing with LEGO, also make a comic book something like this experience became a designer. also I spent a time with imagination something, whatever, and then that deliver to paper with pencil, brush.

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

JWP : I just became a designer with choose to naturally I think.

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

JWP : I would like to design that much more contain fresh and creative, also unique things inside of it.

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

JWP : should have several and various experience from several channel ,that like a book, movie, music , even small element from somewhere ,experience is really important for creating something. and don't afraid of experiment to do. just do it.

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

JWP : good designer make design well that follow trend also and great designer make trend that another designer would be follow this trend

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

JWP : good design should be have just two kind of ,one is should be have function definitely second is should be have beautiful that touched mind, heart of viewer

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

JWP : good design have kind of function of expanding in the world which means most of people loved good design and would that deliver to other person quickly and easily

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

JWP : if I have more extra time then I would design to like a acrylic painting that included in great storytelling and fresh color scheme but that have different emotion, sensibility with 'Rainy Day' that already put into this competition.

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

JWP : I'd like to painting on the great wall that means painted on huge wall instead of just canvas. that wall being in outside so everyone feeling emotion, sensibility from this work.

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

JWP : creative thinking, different thinking than other person, other designer

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

JWP : Jony Ive who is chief designer in Apple company , I like his design philosophy that make much simple to product design even user interface design as well.

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

JWP : most of Apply product like a Macbook, imac, iphone something like this. everything have just simple design also mush more useful in my case. just have gorgeous outline even though that they also have useful function that also much easier learning to use.

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

JWP : 'Rainy Day' I think it is my greatest design because that contain great storytelling inside on it with beautiful color scheme

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

JWP : look and see much more even hearing from nature whatever and then try to make new design constantly then you improved your negative things and would become to be much better designer as well.

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

JWP : probably became the artist, especially painting artist definitely .

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

JWP : design make good life much better

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

JWP : obviously my wife from 10 years ago. cause being her I've been grow up much better than before

DL: What helped you to become a great designer?

JWP : creative energy from several people. from my wife, children ,another artist, friend as well .

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

JWP : just me. I have just only one rival that is just me , that was obstacle until now.

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

JWP : with honesty ,strong confidence, don't be shy , never afraid of

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

JWP : much better designed traditional painting of course

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

JWP : always make new trend that would included in my design project. so eventually other designer would pursued my design trend

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

JWP : maybe expect something that would getting more great sensibility, emotion , beautiful feeling as well.

DL: How does design help create a better society?

JWP : design connected between each person with aesthetics languages . that would be bring to better world, society

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

JWP : I'm doing now something that some of experiment that kind of painting and drawing with several different tool that doesn't matter traditional or digital whatever. just pursued that more creativity, unique , even fresh feeling to viewer

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

JWP : that is 'Rainy Day' acrylic painting that I already put this competition because I got a great result output from initial idea of this also this painting output definitely match with initial thought that was what should I draw in this canvas. so first rough initial purposes great matched with output design.

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

JWP : I'd like to see fresh design language especially housing design, interior and even exterior also . because we can improvement much more than now ,but wouldn't change completely , I mean even if slightly changed something, some small parts of that then our life style would be much higher and better

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

JWP : toward to more simply and more included useful

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

JWP : usually from 2 weeks to 1 month

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

JWP : usually doesn't matter there is somewhere if I have some of paper and pencil for sketch

DL: What is your life motto as a designer?

JWP : thinks different, just do it.

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

JWP : both are possible I think but I usually pursued design sets the trend. that is much more valuable

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

JWP : technology just support to ultimate design I think .

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

JWP : usually I used Macbook with intuos tablet and photoshop software.

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

JWP : that is parts of overall design language also every thing is really important for make overall design result so doesn't necessary things is nothing.

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

JWP : what is the storytelling that inside of this design product

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

JWP : blow my mind with inspiration , happy, shaking the heart,

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

JWP : me and my wife, we are good team for make a new fresh design also sure I believe in co-design because this would bring much easier to think expanding

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

JWP : most of other designer and artist influenced to my design even if we didn't meet or connect with something but we can interacted with each design work, design language.

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

JWP : usually comic book, fairy book, kind of design magazine is give most of effect on my work.

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

JWP : every time thinking about creativity , also every day draw or painting something even spend tiny minute

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

JWP : Jony Ive, I want to meet to him and wanna hear about his design philosophy

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

JWP : that is really thankful in my life with honor ,if I have, getting some of award. and I don't know ,sometimes easy or hard to be famous I think that is depend on what kind of award or ,timing with current trend

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

JWP : blue, grey and orange is favorite color and Jeju island in South Korea is best place for me , like a food that included rice , like a spring and early summer, LEGO brand is my favorite as well

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

JWP : around 15 years ago when I started rookie designer some of palmist person said to me ' you would be work with physical labor ' but I worked with designer, and artist so far

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

JWP : just make my mind always to be good, and tried to determine with strong passion mind.

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

JWP : yes I was definitely believe and trust my ability with my skill, and imaginative power

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

JWP : I thinks human immigration to another planet where similar with earth

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

JWP : just keep going with your passion , already trust things was, don't afraid of anythings , just do it , remember fail is good experience