Lara Kim

LEGENDARY INTERVIEW

Design Legends ("DL") had the distinct honour to interview legendary designer Lara Kim ("LK") 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?

LK : I had no professional training in design or art.

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

LK : I am interested in humans and I like to imagine and express it in pictures. I just thought it was a favorite thing to do. I didn't think it would be a job, so I did a lot of other things. But no job gave me satisfaction and happiness. So finally, I decided to become a painter. Now I've found my true self and I'm happy.

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

LK : One day I decided to quit other things and become a painter. That is 100 percent my decision.

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

LK : I want to paint a picture that is instinctive, intuitive, unreasonable and multiple.

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

LK : I am not a legendary designer. I'm in a position to learn a lot.

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

LK : I think a good designer is a person who can design for practical purposes. I think a good designer is someone who can continue to design with originality, in addition to being able to do practical design.

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

LK : I think creativity is the factor that makes a good design a really good design.

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

LK : It increases the quality of people's lives. It can also give fresh impetus to people's brains, and it makes them feel good.

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

LK : I want to simultaneously express the meanings of different views and exist the relationship of various creatures that can be feel between instinct including reason, consciousness that have unconsciousness, ego and without ego I want to draw for people who like creative paintings.

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

LK : I want to paint everything in my imagination for the rest of my life. That is my dream project.

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

LK : It's imagination. When I think of the idea of painting, I concentrate strongly and try to eliminate all oppression. That makes the imagination richer.

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

LK : I am impressed when I see a lot of great designs. But there is no designer who inspired me particularly.

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

LK : Whenever I see a design with original or practical elements, I love it and admire the designer.

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

LK : I think most of my paintings are great. Because I can find something creative and unique in my paintings.

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

LK : In my case, every day I try. I try to think and express ideas every day.

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

LK : I think I'll have another creative, solitary job.

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

LK : I think a design is to make detailed drawings of something that has a practical purpose. But the design for me is a reflection of creative thinking.

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

LK : It's my family who gave me the greatest support for being an artist.

DL: What helped you to become a great designer?

LK : It's a belief in me.

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

LK : That is the economic part.

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

LK : This is a difficult part for me, too. These days, I expose my work through SNS.

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

LK : I will make artwork with various topics.

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

LK : I don't have a final goal. Just for the rest of the time, I'll repeat imagining, expressing. That's my instinct.

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

LK : I'm a normal painter, but I think people would expect such an artist or designer to inspire the world.

DL: How does design help create a better society?

LK : Good design makes the world more convenient and beautiful. It also inspires and changes people.

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

LK : I'm working on a work about ideal and reality.

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

LK : I can't choose just one. I like the majority of my work.

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

LK : I hope there will be many areas where the design will be used.

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

LK : I predict that the design needed in the virtual world will increase.

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

LK : It takes a month to a few months.

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

LK : The first step in a design project is to imagine and come up with ideas.

DL: What is your life motto as a designer?

LK : Life is short, art is long.

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

LK : I think design sets the trend.

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

LK : Technology makes the expression of design more precise.

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

LK : I'm more like an artist than a designer. So, I draw and take pictures with acrylic on canvas. That's how I apply my paintings to design products.

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

LK : It plays an important role in determining the atmosphere of design.

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

LK : No, I hope they understand in their own way.

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

LK : I admire the creativity and ability of the person who made the design.

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

LK : I think an open partner is ideal for each other's abilities to be exercised. But I prefer design alone to co-design.

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

LK : I wasn't influenced by my art while interacting with someone.

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

LK : I usually read a lot of reality books. It helps me imagine the design a lot.

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

LK : I imagine and paint every day.

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

LK : I want to meet artists and scientists with special creativity.

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

LK : I think awards have a lot of influence on recognition. It's really important especially to me.

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

LK : My favorite color is blue green, my favorite place is my studio, my favorite season is spring, what I like is my painting, and there are so many brands I like.

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

LK : I want to tell you about the tough experience of a’design award. I sign up for the contest, write down the items required by this award, and the verification system provided by award checked my submission. The verification system is really sharp and a warning sign came out if there is anything lacking. After many revisions, I was able to receive the result of 100% clearing from the verification system. The process was really hard for me who had only painted. Whenever I passed the submissions that were required by the Awards, I was truly pleased. The processes were difficult, but they were good memories and enjoyable experiences.

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

LK : I drink coffee every morning and paint all morning. Drawing is the most enjoyable thing for me. So there's no need to motivate me in particular. But I can't rest because I want to express everything I imagined.

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

LK : I never thought I'd be a painter when I was a kid.

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

LK : I predict. Humans will live in a virtual world and more than that. It will be also possible to live on other planets in the universe. It will naturally coexist with clones and AI robots. It will be predicted that wars with robots will also occur frequently.

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

LK : I really hate exposing my face or personal information. I just want my drawing to be known. I want to be understood by fans.