Today we’d like to introduce you to Jaehyung Jo.
Hi Jaehyung, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Hello, my name is Jaehyung Jo. My interest in automotive design began in childhood. I was born and grew up in Busan, South Korea. When I was five years old, my family bought our first car, a 1997 Hyundai Sonata. I can still remember the day we brought the car home. Everything in this car was amazing because there were many functions that I had not seen before, such as power windows, heated seats, a CD player, etc. I was very interested in those things because I realized that even though they were small and looked different, they still function the same way as the things in my house. I enjoyed exploring the car’s functionality and comparing its interior with the interior of our home. I liked the coziness of a small space, packed with all the good things, providing comforts – I perceived the car as a miniature version of the house. Not only did I explore the design of our vehicle, but I also peeked at other cars. This was because I wanted to know the different functions of each car and compare them to our family’s car. My interest in automotive design grew, and by middle school, I wanted more than just to read car magazines and look at cars’ interiors on the street. I wanted to create my own car designs and dreamt about becoming a car designer. I then searched for colleges with a car design major and discovered that the Art Center College of Design has a great education program for transportation design. So I decided to take a step forward and apply to the Art Center College of Design.
Los Angeles, where the Art Center College is located, is a place full of rich inspiration for automobile designers and has many geographical advantages, so I immediately fell in love with L.A. It is a place where the world’s leading automobile studios are concentrated, and there are many opportunities for students to participate in sponsored projects linked to automobile companies.
I continued to work on my portfolio in college, focusing on automotive interior design, and began applying for internships. Therefore, I was able to gain experience in the actual industry by interning at Honda, Genesis, Volkswagen, and GAC since 2019, and it was an opportunity to understand and experience the diverse cultures of companies in countries such as the United States, Japan, Germany, and China.
At the Volkswagen studio in Wolfsburg, Germany, I had the opportunity to directly participate in product development with European designers, during my internship. After graduation, my first job was as an automobile interior designer at Volvo USA design studio for two and a half years, where I was able to learn premium Scandinavian design while having fun in a company of creative and energetic designers.
Now, I’m embarking on a new journey at Honda. I love to work with people who have positive energy and who inspire others to learn from them. I’m excited to be part of the process that enriches people’s lives and adds more comfort and convenience to the fast-paced environment.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
As a young boy, I had a clear goal of becoming a car designer. Within my hometown of Busan, Korea, it was uncommon to major in automotive design. Given that I lacked guidance and did not know which steps to take, I continued to follow the Korean education system. I chose a university based upon my high school score and entered the Fashion Industry Design Department. When I told an industrial design professor that I wanted to design cars, he responded that car design could not be done at this current university. I was skeptical and shocked. I was concerned that if I continued at this college, my automotive design goal would become increasingly distant. While serving in the mandatory military service in South Korea for two years, I had time to think deeply about how to become an automobile designer. Finally, I decided to go to ArtCenter College of Design located in California, where many of the world’s automobile companies’ design studios are located. As expected, initially my parents objected to me going to the ArtCenter, given the distance and high cost. Thankfully, after continued persuasion and effort, they finally granted their consent.
Even though many of the students at ArtCenter liked cars, the dropout rate was high. This made me realize having an appreciation of cars and knowing how to design cars are two separate matters. Depth of design was an essential concept. Previously, I had been trying to draw and modify existing cars. With this turning point, I realized that innovation was the missing key. From that point forward, I put thought into what elements go into making a good design and created new designs through practice and experimentation.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
The work I do is automotive interior design. This includes a steering wheel, seats, doors, console, and the trunk, basically all interior what we can see in the vehicle. Car design is broadly divided into both concept design of developing future cars and production design for current cars. Most interior designers deal with the interior of all of those cars. The user experience is very important in design development and should provide additional conveniences to the driver. Delivering new user experiences is a critical job. Rather than simply making the interior pretty, I think more about how to make it convenient for users and create a design that is most efficient with has cool functions. I am passionate about designing, with the end goal of solving vehicle inconveniences, and knowing that my work has made people smile along the way.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
The most important factor for my success is the inspiration I feel from keeping up on all the latest trends–not only with automobiles but also in fashion and architecture–and which elements would enhance automobile interior design. I often enjoy listening to architects analyze the designs of famous buildings while explaining their backstory, and I often refer back to what those greats did as references when designing car interiors. I also enjoy going to the Pacific Design Center in West Hollywood to explore the furniture they have on display. I study their characteristics and try to find harmony and balance within them. While some furniture is unique and flashy at first glance, other non-flashy furniture stands out and looks cool due to small differences in detail. Examining the unique elements through this type of observational research is of great help in my own design work. For example, the various detailed stitching on high-end furniture, sofa leg finishings, and how cushion creases are sewn together are taken into consideration and deliver a premium feel to car interiors.
And, since I mainly work digitally when designing car interiors, I use various digital programs to help turn my ideas into reality. I start by sketching in Photoshop and then create a rough poly model with 3D programs to further develop the initial design. Later, I also often create an animation to demonstrate the interior’s functions.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://brotherjo92.myportfolio.com
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/jae-hyung-0827bb196
Image Credits
Jaehyung Jo
