SANG IL JEON

LEGENDARY INTERVIEW

Design Legends ("DL") had the distinct honour to interview legendary designer SANG IL JEON ("SIJ") 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?

SIJ : 2016 - 2021 Hongik University, Graduate school, SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA Industrial Design, School of design Master of Fine Arts [A Study of the Non-Contact Self-presentation Personal Identity Design Activities to Help the Adolescents Form Resilience- In the COVID-19 pandemic situation -] 2007 - 2016 Seoul National University of Science & Technology(SEOULTECH), SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA 서울과학기술대학교 Industrial Design, Dept. of Design Bachelor of Design [Easy hub(furniture design), YU.BI.MU.HWAN and E.E.J(disposable product design)] 2008 and 2009 were the times when there was a lot of practice works. I thought most freely in diverse ways and I looked deeply into the essence of my past, present, and future. It was the freest and leisurely time, so it was the most creative and I freely put many imaginations, ideas and practice works in the air. Now if I have the creativity and imagination of that time, I might be afraid of myself. Because I personally think that it was the best time I had the best condition and the freshest idea. These things were raw without being trimmed and efforts to approach closer to the essence one by one from the beginning. I did not miss all each one while giving great and earnest meaning to the thoughts that seemed to be less useful, the ideas that seemed impossible to realize, the useless afterimages. There was still nothing good, nothing excellent, but I poured my passion happily into what I liked. Since 2008, I have been recording such impressive thoughts, practice works, instant ideas, and inspiring experiences without missing. ​ From 2007 to 2011, I strongly had been focusing on my existence and design to find my own identity, values, and visions as a designer, and had started long-term immersion for a long time. Everything was begun in October 2004. I started art to enter university at that time. In 2007, I entered a university and my major was industrial design. The design was fun and I was serious about the design. The design was making rules and creating a reality for a better future. As I became more familiar with design thinking I started long-term immersion into the design for a long time. I asked myself questions and I had a lot of thinking about design. I admired and aspired to the world of design that looked exciting and wonderful. I wanted to become a designer who achieved worldwide achievement by going out into the open sea. And I dreamed that I would have a great life that peaked. I spread out much of awkward but serious thoughts, awkward practice works, and awkward imaginations. I dreamed to color the world with my design and change the world better with my own hands. I did not do much better than others, but I just did it because I love it. Regardless of the area, I opened my mind to what I want to do without the barrier of thought, without the height limit I want to go up. The barrier was always myself, and every time I tried to break myself. As a first-time university student, new experiences in a new place had been great nourishment and growth in my life and design. But it had been the time when almost everything was out of control by my hand. There was a lot of frustration. My 26 years old winter of 2012 was a meaningful season in which my own design became visual results. I could say that to anyone that the result was my own design with my own thoughts and personality. When I saw the results of my efforts over the past few years as visual prints, I felt I have proved myself. ​ In the spring of 2012, when I watched TV, I thought about an idea of 'HERITAGE OF SANG IL' by seeing the 'Heritage of Korean KBS(한국인의 유산 KBS)', which was an ad copy of channel 'KBS'(Korea Broadcasting system). In 2013 I freely started to increase the number of works more and more without stereotyping. And I felt my own design became more specific than before. I designed my official identity design 'HERITAGE OF SANG IL'. The year 2014 was the time of preparing for the graduation exhibition. Designing graduate works 'EASY HUB' and 'YU.BI.MU.HWAN', I recognized many parts that I was missing and rebalanced the lost balance. And I began to develop my own thing more and more by listening to the other people`s feedbacks which was different to my perspective. 2012~2015 It seemed difficult to endure and did not seem to end. With only one strong desire, design, I endured. When designing, I could imagine the future and feel happiness. Ironically, this period became my foundation. So I was able to smile and remember my twenties when I was struggling with myself. It was a time when there was nothing to fail and nothing to be successful. So I went on. KEEP GOING. This is the title of the book I read during my military service. ​ In 2015, I strongly felt that my endless ideas and inspirations were almost running out. I had to squeeze my brain like a mop and thought that principles I set for my own design locked myself into the fence rather. Ironically, I designed the largest quantity at this time. Whatever, I had to change. I entered graduate school in 2016. I pursued a new design that was different from the one I used to do. And there was some possibility. I have a longing for a new design to come to a new age. The rapid changes over the years of the innovation era by Steve Jobs, like the iPod in 2004 and the iPhone in 2007, have also innovated the concept of design. The new coming age demands me strong change too. ​ In October, I had a burnout and felt blocked on the wall completely. And there was still no change in my life. 'Is there tomorrow for me?' I was in loneliness and solitude. And then, in December I decided to keep my mind going again and hold on. ​ From 2007 to 2016, 2016 is the 10th year I have been being in the design. Now all I have to throw away was thrown away. I have abandoned everything that was useless around me. And there seems to be only one kernel left to me. Now it seems that there is not much to lose and nothing to gain greatly. If I get something, I must not lose my initiative and not break it out by my own hand. I still can not explain all the words until now I have told in just a few simple words. 2017. "SANG IL, Just keep going, Go through with it once." One page of life seems to have just passed.

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

SIJ : MY STORY 1ST PAGE In the early `90s, since I have been born, my first pop song in my life that I didn't learn at all but, first singing by myself is 'I know' by 'Seo Taiji & Boys' in 1992. In 1994, in the first grade of an eight-year-old in elementary school, my painting won first place. It was, when I was young, the first big event in my life. 'Why am I?' I was confused. In the early 2000s, physical education class and basketball were the happiest. 'Social science' and 'ethics and thought(philosophy)' was the most interesting and easiest to understand in subjects. These classes have been the foundation of my life. In the class of philosophy, the words, The Middle Way(Buddhism) and Moderation, Golden mean(Western philosophy), and only a few short lines of explanation had a profound effect on my design and life in the future. At that time, I was influenced by the underground indie music culture that leads the trend and formed in the street near the HongIk University in Seoul, South Korea, In particular, I enjoyed Korean hip-hop groups 'Dynamic Duo' and 'Garion' and punk band 'Crying- Nut'(Joseon punk band, the nickname of Korean punk band. Joseon is Korean medieval dynasty). As a result, These made me not blindly trapped in the mainstream inertia, and I became a person who can think with faith. 2004, The first collection of Korean hip-hop classics, Garion, formed in 2004 and 1998, was released on December 16th. Through this album, I first understood the meaning of 'classic'. When 2004 was left 2 months, I started to learn the art to enter the university having a design major. all started here. ​ In 2007, I first studied design while attending university in Seoul. At that time, product design must have been, of course, mobile phone design was the best trend. I took my first design class on March 2. I was given the first lecture and the first homework. I remember that I could not sleep the whole night, working on my first theme in my design life, 'unification, emphasis' on the '2-D Fundamentals' subject. and on the morning of March 9, I nervously, tremblingly, and stutteringly presented my first work to the professor. When I was in the first grade, I read the books in the university library and understood what design was. I saw a book titled 'Designer tells about Designer' that tells stories of designers who travel to countries and cities around the world every year. As a result, I became proud that a designer is a wonderful person. I went on the first business trip to Europe exactly 10 years later, thanks to the foolish idea that 'Traveling is only for a business trip as a designer. After, enjoyed tourism!' We didn't know anything, but when we drink, we seriously discuss the design with friends. we were most serious than anyone else and it was passionate days. So I was overwhelmed with the desire to do anything well. But it was a time when almost everything did not go as intended. When I joined the study club in our major, I got my first desk on my computer. I first felt happy and alive in my first own space. Throughout the 1st and 2nd grades, I worked hard all night while eating and sleeping in the club room, but nothing has been made whatever I had intended. ​ At 21 age, and 1st-grade student, I thought the 23 age young designer would be able to mark their name on the world stage as a designer. To me, the age of 23 was the standard to prove the possibility. And many legendary designers' masterpieces are often in their 20s. Even now, there are many events for many young designers to announce and support their names in their 20s. At the time, I became more impatient and my aspirations grew. My goal was that there would be people who needed me and I was called from any country in the world. At that time, I didn't know how big this was. I just thought it was a goal anyone could think of. When I was in the first grade, I read a book with a yellow cover that was grabbed in one hand, 'This is not a chair.' No matter how much I read it, I couldn't understand it well. I imagined that if I present at TED, I would be the coolest person in the world. The MIT media lab through the Internet was someplace of the coolest people actually changing the world with their hands. ​ In my opinion, When I first had entered university in 2007, I think it had been a transition when not long after Korean design began to make a full-scale attempt to leap to the world level. I am very sorry for the basic design education I received this term. Compared to the time and effort of students who suffered, the efficiency and effectiveness of basic design education for basic and creativity were not good. So, rather than someone teaching properly and training correctly, most students rely on their own feelings and efforts to awaken their potentiality and almost always do it by themselves. I thought this was the reason why the design of Korean in the past made a piece of paper, comparing to the world-level. Because of this, as a designer who should speak with vision and skill rather than age and experience, I was always anxious about the challenging situation that I will face in the future decades later. ​ ​ Spring 2008 was the most decisive year of my life. Because I spent the most useless time, All questions got concluded, all plans got completed, and any worries got no longer meaningful. Also, My training for design has been completely framed and it has been a routine long time. August 15, 2008 'Seotaiji' Concert, Jamsil Olympic Stadium. I watched 'Seo Taiji' on the front of the stage. The star 'Seo Tai-ji' always inspires me. 'MUJI', the book 'super normal', 'the designing design', and 'the elements of design'(author: Gail Greet Hannah) made me deep in their philosophy. I agreed that designing the simplest and most trivial ones is rather difficult for anyone and requires skill and a solid base. So I became interested in the value of what no one was interested in. (I didn't read it at all, but I mainly saw pictures) When I entered MUJI and Uniqlo's homepage and store, I was impressed with all the experiences I could feel and the identity that encompasses it. I was impressed with the large MUJI store accidentally entered in Hong Kong when I was 23) The impression they receive from the experiences they provide is the philosophy, values, and attitudes their identities are trying to say. I was greatly influenced by those things. Like children, I used to go around the store, press the camera shutter, and touch products. I thought that exploring the design world would realize nature. I saw the exhibition 'French Design Today' at Soma Museum of Art. It was the best exhibition of my life. There was '5.5 DESIGENRS', and I first saw and admired it. Later, FRONT DESIGN I know who they are. I envied these teams and wanted to be like them. When I encountered Dieter Rams' major works since the 1940s, I thought it was still a classic that was hard to imitate. It contained all the ideas I thought were basic in design. It was the crystal of GOOD DESIGN. Seoul was designated as the World Design Capital in 2010 and the 2008 Seoul Design Olympics was held in Jamsil. Two designers visited the school. I heard a lecture by world-renowned universal designer Patricia Moore, and then Professor Eun-sook Kwon, the director of Seoul Design Olympics. MY STORY SECOND PAGE In the 2010s, as a result of the efforts of the new generation's educators, it opened an opportunity to receive excellent education both at school and outside. New generations will be able to walk around the world with the insights gained in a new environment, solid basics, and high-quality software, even if they don't have to go abroad. When I first learned design, the experience I gained while watching the transition to maturity gave me a stronger sense of consciousness as a designer. Now, the blame(?) I spoke with friends and colleagues became a passion and a memory to do better. Now I admire the young undergraduate students who are already starting at a higher level than me, therefore I work hard to become a designer who doesn't get lost. In 2011, 'Steve Jobs' was alive. In 2012, 'HERITAGE OF SNAG IL' project began. I used the 'iPhone 4' for the first time. World-class Dutch upcycle designer 'Piet Hein Eek' visited the school and took a seminar. When I watched the design documentary film 'Objectified', I had great empathy. I found 'IDEO'. They developed a 'human-centered design toolkit' and spread what is called 'Design thinking'. In fact, they were using design to find and practice a valuable way to change the world in order to solve the problems facing humanity. It was a wonderful people. ​ ​ I had a graduation exhibition in October 2014. I had the first exhibition with family, the happiest time in my life. During that period, 'Seo Taiji' released a new song in seven years. The exhibition 'THE FUTURE IS NOW' at the National Museum of Contemporary Art, Gwacheon. Soon, many of the things we referred to as the future was already usual and were no longer the far future. In the media, it was a time when an article was reported that it was popular to learn 'Design thinking' at 'Stanford D School', founded by 'IDEO' founder 'David Kelley'. When 'Prof. Kim' guided my work, he looked at my EASY HUB and said that he reminds Nendo. Nendo projected a free idea onto an object without prejudice, and the visual impression of the design resembled mine. However, I have to break the frame of my stereotypes and make a new frame over and over again to design. I always have to fight the frame designed as myself. I envy that Nendo is always free from it. ​ As a member of society in 2015, I should take responsibility for what role and for how will play in society, having a positive impact, living with your family, co-workers, juniors, children, and setting a good impact and example. I felt that the day to do so was not far. ​ In February 2016, I graduated from an undergraduate school. Professor Hong, who was always respected, always said, 'Innovation always has a firm assertion, stubbornness, belief, and philosophy' and gave passionate teaching about 'value'. His teaching was a real design, and it became the basis for becoming a designer. He was in the shape of a 'real professor' and is a timeless professor to the numerous disciples who admire him. His ph. D thesis was read to me 10 years later. Prof. Kim, his student, showed 'vision that a progressive designer should have' as an activity, and as a lecture in a classroom, and became my role model. His activities became milestones. It threw a lot of inspiration and buzz into my design life in the future. His 1995 master's thesis was read to me after 21 years. Behind as my youthhood enthusiasm, I had felt a lot of dissatisfaction with the school but now I have realized that I was grown by the education from professors of various backgrounds and by the little experiences I had gained by making relations to potent students of various talents and Individualities. I couldn't think at that time. I express respect and gratitude to these people. ​ The Tesla craze and the Space X project was underway. I found IDEO founder Tom Kelley's book 'creative confidence'. Perhaps, I have been thinking that the key for a person to surpass his abilities is willpower, enthusiasm, patience, good attitude, and deep thinking for a long time rather than intelligence. droog inspires the look of the designer I want to be. If I think about it, I continuously have been meeting without consciousness as if I've passed by. It was droog's design that the designs always remained in my mind since I first studied design was always fresh. September 3, 2016, Designers and colleagues who have been watching for 10 years have started to become someone great. As time passed, 'my past' and 'me now' gradually began to converse in my records that I have been doing since 10 years ago. I was stimulated and worked hard to see the young 'I' who was hottest and roughest 10 years ago and the wonderful ones. Ten years, not easy, passed quickly. I started designing on March 2, 2007 10 years ago and got my first homework in my first lecture. The past and present breathe together. The past and the future are mutually connected promises. I of the past have always been teaching me of the present, and he proposes to me of the future. Also, in the future, I will find myself in the past again. As 'the present me' records, 'the past me' teaches the 'me of the future. 'The future me' is pondering what the 'past me' was trying to tell her. September 2017. I met Seo Tae-ji, who dances 'I know' at Seo Tai-ji's 25th-anniversary concert. I participated in London Design Festival 2017 in September and Seoul Design Festival 2017 in December. I met Christina Schmidt, the former co-founder of skandium in London, and with her recommendation, I was able to confidently introduce my designs to the world's leading companies. And I now call her My London boss. In the Netherlands, I met Piet Hein Eek again in five years. I have been running with no patience, enduring my heart that will burst for 6 years. In the meantime, am I half crazy? Now it seems that only one page of life has just passed. Now it's the third page. MY STORY THIRD PAGE I was invited to Milan Design Week 2018, Fuorisalone TORTONA. I got my Milano boss there. I met good people and had a good experience. And I have completely been de-sealed. Maybe I got a bit older years? Anyway, it's already the third page. It was a decade in the blink of an eye. Luckily, as I traveled to a few countries, I efforted to eat and live. Of course, I made a lot of mistakes. As you know, there were no results. I had to learn how to live in my 20`s first. At the same time, I have been immersed in design only. In 2007, I was motivated by a variety of what I wanted, but I had not known how to do it. I regret that I could not have done anything. The youth had to be fun. 2017, 31 years old. My first time in my 30s, when I traveled alone, I enjoyed the adventure by traveling alone. Definitely, the youth has to be happy. After London, a lot of people ahead of me give help, courage, and warm advice for me who is trying. They have the idea they have to support young designers. ​ In 2005, I had lacked talent and endured contempt. In 2007, the mindset and attitude of life were completely renovated to become a real designer by my hand. When I was designing in the corner of my small room, I felt and acted like a person like Steve Jobs. 'Bluff is essential.' It took a lot more time and trial and error than others. Even if someone advised me, I didn't break my core, and I realized only when I have gone through it. I have been going late so. However, whenever I came across the know-how of people who felt that I was going well and that it was great, 'Yes! That's right! keep going.' Others told me that. It is strange. So I have gone on my own way. My compensation sentiment of this inferiority sense had generated a foolish sense of superiority. I had Isolated myself with self-defense to do my own thing. If somebody were better than me, I had disparaged them. I had been so bluffed. I was shaking like that. It lacked the capability, but the desire was like the universe. Time not feeling happy passed. Now, I have made my sloppy portfolio which people, who know what deserves, would never look at. Still, I think I have done something as an amateur at least. Because of this, I always wanted to be a strength to those who are starting to study design. I want to return to these people what I received later. Whenever there is a chance to talk with them, I try to revive and encourage even the slightest possibility. Because they already are better than me and start. I am doing too. No one knows their next step. Look at the Avengers. After making some important designs and making a 'pink bird head', the first conversation was established in the style of the design by Sang IL, myself. 2019, I watched the rise and fall of many characters. Social success has nothing to do with personality. Personality for being a good human is intelligence. I have low intelligence. A long time ago I broke Goodman complex. When I look back on my life, I have accepted that I am a person who gave and took mistakes and hurts. Until this time, I was mistaken that I am suffered from others. What's really the luckiest in my life is, first I am a coward. Second, In life, I have an experience that my conscience had ever trembled with anxiety. I even slept with nightmares in harsh reflection, regret, and suffering. Some trauma. It is real life. A boy who was only cheerful and pure is becoming human. I am always lacking something. So I couldn't think of anything else, and I had to live a life that always exceeded my limits. About 10 years after I realized that everything that is very common is a precious result of the effort. I still think of myself as the half-designer. There is nothing easy to get in almost every way. I am getting more and more afraid. At the limit that is now invisible because it is covered in fog, 'Would it hurt if I crash it?' 'Can I win again if I crash?'

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

SIJ : Which design I mainly do It is important to think about some than to design something. If when you ask, "What designs are you designing?", I just say, "I really do not care about 'what design. I 'just design' when it comes up." If I say this with a long sentence, industrial design is my major in university, so I have worked hard, I like just 'design' regardless of what to do. I work mainly by connecting the idea, the flow of consciousness, the notion (ex - hungry), and the concept (ex - laziness) to the result. However, the format and results of the expression are close to the product design. I design the thing that does not exist, and I also design existing ones. Though there are things that I prefer, I have often used living products and furniture. Above all, I am trying to eat and live while using my identity as a designer.

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

SIJ : Identity as a designer 1. I am a designer who is not better than everyone else. 2. So I do my own design with my unique identity. 3. What I think about design is always 'progressivity'. Evolution is a fundamental attribute of design. Progressivity is a positive attitude to new changes and possibilities, and resistance to the inertia that is blind and natural. A designer is a person with a habit of moving forward. It is the people who have to recognize the present age constantly, have the obligation to be ahead of the times, and have to propose a new future. Some people were confused about me. Sometimes an exclusive people reveal their disgruntle and says, "Why do you do such design?" Then I say, "Why are you so uncomfortable?" Decidedly, I have the identity as 'conceptor'. I define myself as a concept designer who considers thought and philosophy when designing. I am with an identity that I project my ideas and concepts to the object and deal with them. With the message in my design, I aim to inspire society and people and create a better future. A progressive design that we have never been seen before. I aim at a new design that goes beyond the concept of what other people says. In my own words, 'being looks like it is not things of this world' I feel like bliss having the all-world when I come up with a whole new idea. such a moment is fun. 'HERITAGE OF SANG IL' project, which has been undergoing since 2012. www.HERITAGEOFSANGIL.com I do not have many things in many ways as a designer, but the one thing which I am confident is the strong identity that leads to self-esteem as I am a designer. Why design is fun. It suits my aptitude. 'Designing what to think'. An act of visualizing and realizing the idea. I like to think about design. Reason 1. 'I make rules', 'I do create'. I enjoy observing thoughts and events I intended through the design become visible phenomena. It is also interesting to watch unexpected interesting things happen.

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

SIJ : I aim for 'the classic design' I want to design the classic design that aims for the timeless value of 'classic design', the highest value. Many designs will disappear and become garbage, but they will be for a long time with a value that will shine forever. The past, present, and future are always connected and constantly communicating with us. The heritage, the result of it, is breathing forever. So I design it with the idea that it will leave timeless value to HERITAGE OF SANG IL. So it is important to design for long life and inspiring design. As the 'present me' records, 'past me' teaches 'future me'. 'Future I' is worried about what 'past me' was trying to tell himself. ​ ​ For new design Beyond the design, we know until now, a new era of design, I effort the role as a new designer.

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

SIJ : design sets the trends

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

SIJ : Strangely, every time I see the results of designers who are called 'the best in the world' since I first learned design, I always thought that I would be able to do like them if I try to do so. I do not know why this is so (because I did not know anything at that time). I live with a positive illusion that the idea of being too far and unreal to some can be a reality for me. The happiest and most fortunate in my life is that I can live with this positive attitude.

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

SIJ : There is no talent. There is only an attitude. Because I am stubborn like a firm land, I constantly have to repeat breaking and breaking walls toward the farther places, the higher places, and the unimaginable places, from the limitation of my brain to over the above. After finishing breaking, when I am filled with a feeling of accomplishment like flying the sky I have to go back again. I feel that I have come from breaking walls to the outside but actually, behind my back, I am standing to the walls I made without knowing. To return, I have to break the wall again and destroy it. I have to dig into it again and again. After all, I see what the last kernel is left, and think what to do next.