Today we’d like to introduce you to Hannah Kwon.
Hannah, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
My desire to design for people can be traced back to my early childhood, being familiarized with so many different cultures. I grew up living in different parts of the world—I was born in Michigan, lived in Korea and China, then moved back to the States when I was ten. During my undergraduate career, I had the opportunity to study abroad in Berlin and intern in Seattle. Traveling around the world shakes up my idea of “normal”, as every setting encourages a unique understanding of the respective culture and social needs of the community. This continual development of cultural literacy has informed my decision to pursue spatial design, as it provides endless possibilities for context-specific storytelling and problem-solving.
Culture, I discovered, has many faces and differs not solely by ethnicity, but also by generation and lifestyle. My time spent in Seattle interning in Concepts Design for Starbucks brought an intersection of these aspects. I proposed a concept for reaching Millennials and Generation Z individuals that considers their unique lifestyles: their desire for convenience, personalization, flexibility, and shared values. I wanted to integrate these with Starbucks’ mission to create The Third Place—an integrated tissue between home and the workplace that fosters social connection in an approachable and complementary way. A pop-up store would enable a mobile Third Place that brings coffee to people where they are. Its design is inviting, environmentally friendly, and considerate of the ‘culture’ of who it serves.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It definitely hasn’t been. After moving to the States, I started to realize how different I was from my peers, and this brought on a lot of insecurity as I just wanted to fit in. I always carried this desire for belonging even until moving to Berlin a few years ago for a study abroad program. Being in Berlin, I felt intimidated by the outspoken, strongly opinionated, and sometimes offensive environment. I decided to confront my insecurity and have conversations with other women who felt similarly. From these reflections, I felt empowered to take pride in my individuality and trust my own instincts instead of always leaning to others for their approval.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about How Hannah – what should we know?
Design solves everyday problems and shapes lifestyles. As a designer, my role is to observe and to provide needs catered towards a specific community. I utilize all disciplines of design to communicate a unique narrative with every project while discovering the possibilities presented by new available technologies. As a spatial experience designer specifically, I have to be aware of all the aspects of a design within a specific context, including the program, navigation, and the mood of the space. This is achieved through envisioning the space holistically; individual elements must be curated to enhance the experience I’m trying to deliver. The ability to design across multiple disciplines allows me to carry out my desire to execute alternative solutions by exploring the unfound and uncharted. With an end goal in mind, I believe one does themselves a disservice if they do not explore all available options and opportunities presented. It is only in this way that one can truly find the honest breadth and scope of possibilities available to influence the future.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
I am fortunate to have the resources necessary to make the most out of the career I chose. My family was in poverty while I was growing up; however, my parents sacrificed to establish and maintain a successful business so that when it came the time for me to think about college, I was able to pursue a career in design. My parents were able to send me to an after school program to create my portfolio. I was accepted into my dream school, and am lucky to have the transportation to carry my models around without hassle and a home-away-from-home located close to campus. The connections I’ve made through mentors and internships which have opened doors for me in the industry. I realize the privilege I carry is built upon the collective of people supporting me.
Contact Info:
- Website: howhannah.com
- Phone: 7147882833
- Email: hello@howhannah.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/howidesign/
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