Conversations with Saerom Yoo

Today we’d like to introduce you to Saerom Yoo.

Hi Saerom, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
After graduating from university, I started my career at the fashion brand ADER Error. I later worked at an advertising agency, where I gained experience in art direction while working with clients such as Samsung, Starbucks and HYBE. I then joined New Balance, further building my foundation in graphic design and art direction.

In 2025, I left the corporate world and began working independently as a freelancer. Once I started working on my own, I found myself comparing my progress to others more often, especially through social media, and there were many moments when I felt anxious about where I was in my own journey. I wanted to encourage myself through those feelings, while also sharing a sense of “we’re all figuring this out together” with others who might be experiencing similar anxieties. That became the starting point for my personal project, [The Positive Side Effects].

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I learned and grew a lot while working at companies, but at the same time, I realized that certain aspects of working within an organization didn’t quite suit me. That was one of the reasons I decided to become independent, but freelancing came with a completely different set of challenges.

Even now, I often find myself comparing my progress to people who seem to be doing more exciting things or achieving their goals much faster than I am. I’m still learning how to navigate those feelings, and creating work has become one of the ways I process that anxiety and turn it into something meaningful.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m a graphic designer and art director based in Seoul. My background is primarily in art direction for commercial films and fashion editorials, and today I work independently on client projects while continuing to develop my personal graphic project, [The Positive Side Effects].

One of the moments I’m most proud of was presenting [The Positive Side Effects], which originally began as an online project, in my first solo exhibition in Seoul in April 2026. Until then, the work had mostly existed on a screen, so seeing it take up physical space—and meeting people who had been following my work online and came to the exhibition in person—was both surreal and incredibly meaningful to me.

Much of my work revolves around messages of self-encouragement and believing in yourself. These kinds of messages are often communicated in a serious or motivational way, but I believe positive messages can also be something people encounter casually and naturally, much like memes or street culture on social media. With [The Positive Side Effects], I use raw, bold graphics, direct typography, and a street-inspired visual language to communicate positive and healthy messages in a way that feels approachable. I think that contrast is one of the most distinctive aspects of my work.

Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
The biggest thing I’ve learned is that when I put myself and my work out into the world, it can lead to REAL connections with people.

Even when it feels like no one is paying attention, a friend I haven’t spoken to in 8-9 years might suddenly reach out and say, “I’ve been following your work. I’m always rooting for you.” Or someone I’ve only interacted with through comments on social media might actually come to my exhibition to congratulate me in person. Experiences like these made me realize that something I create can GENUINLY bring comfort or encouragement to someone else.

That realization has made me want to keep creating, putting my work out into the world, and connecting with even more people through what I make.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saeromyooo/
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@saeromyooo

Image Credits
Photo by : Mike Yang (https://www.instagram.com/photomikeyang/)