Today we’d like to introduce you to Alex Louie and Sun Kim.
Alex and Sun, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Our journey with Story Spark began in 2015 and started pretty organically. We both began our careers as website designers in the digital agency world creating websites and apps for corporate clients. During that time, we were fortunate to get a glimpse into the workings of many different kinds of companies across multiple industries. It was always fascinating to learn about the successes and pain points each client had and how we as designers could play a role in shaping their digital solutions. As intriguing as it was to work at digital agencies, we began to explore concepts outside of client projects. The artists within us wanted to be able to create something a bit more personal.
Having graduated from the California Institute of the Arts, we always had a passion for art and technology. Both aspects were always points of inspiration. One of our first designs titled “I Heart Tech” and “Yin Yang Tech” were the result of experimenting with visual metaphors. Upon refining these graphic designs further, it soon became apparent that each had their means of starting a conversation beyond the screen. With that, our explorations evolved into Story Spark.
It definitely was not an easy decision to become an entrepreneur. But we knew it could be rewarding if we can effectively touch the hearts and minds of others in a more direct way. Leveraging our experience with digital design, we first launched our website, StorySpark.com. However, we soon became aware that the best way to reach people and to share our story was in the tried and true method of having actual face time. Much of our outreach now is spent by participating at local popup events, street fairs and even various comic cons – wherever we can reach those who appreciate art and tech.
Presenting yourself and your art to others is always nerve-racking for the reactions can easily become personal.
However, along the way, those feelings subside as we’ve had the pleasure of meeting so many creative, encouraging and fun people. From fellow artists and makers to techies and fans, we are so grateful for a community that has become an integral part of our ongoing story.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Like many entrepreneurial journeys, ours has been full of ups and downs. You just never know what twists and turns will pop up that will make or break a day. One moment there’s excitement with a custom design request and then moments later realize that we don’t have help at the next event.
There’s always something interesting to tackle, but there’s not enough hours in the day! Yet these are the joys of running your own business – the opportunity to be able to face challenges directly and have the ability to do something about it.
STORY SPARK – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Story Spark is a brand made for those who appreciate art and technology. We want to be able to help others by designing graphics that express their passions in real life and hopefully those designs will spark a conversation between people.
Each of our original graphic tees are unique in visual form and stem from concepts that blend technology themes with everyday activities. Some may consider our items as “geek wear” or “nerd shirts” and we actually take that as a compliment – it’s good to be geeky for it shows a sense of passion! Our goal is to create designs that not only are unique but also are informative and entertaining.
We strive to make Story Spark different through our unique designs and sharing the thoughts behind them. Though Story Spark is currently focused on art and tech-inspired apparel, we plan to expand the brand into other areas that can easily deliver our tech-moderate themes. It’s both exciting and scary to think about what lies ahead, yet it’s all about embracing the unknown and enjoying the ride along the way. Think unique. Think positive.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
Over the course of the past couple years, we’ve tried to attend as many events as possible – rain or shine. One of our proudest (or most memorable) moments would have to have been during an outdoor popup when the weather was definitely less than optimal and most challenging – wind with downpours of rain. This was the first time that we participated at an event in Southern California where the weather created a big challenge.
With the rain and wind, it didn’t make sense for us to be there with our shirts. But instead of giving in and packing up, we stuck through it along with other vendors and made the most of it. In fact, after the worst of it occurred, we were still able to connect with new customers and fellow rain-weary vendors. This showed us that through the apparent gloom and doom of some current situations, there’s still light within reach at the end.
Contact Info:
- Website: StorySpark.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: instagram.com/storysparked
- Facebook: facebook.com/storyspark
- Twitter: twitter.com/storysparked
- Other: etsy.com/shop/StorySpark
Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
