Today we’d like to introduce you to Nayoung Kwon.
Nayoung, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Drawing has been one of my passions ever since I was young, and it naturally led me to Art school, where I studied Ceramic and Glass Art. Luckily, in my third year of college, I had a chance to study at Utah State University as an exchange student. For an optional class, I took Computer Art, and it changed my future completely. I was fascinated by so many great graphic designers, such as Milton Glaser, Paula Scher, and Neville Brody, as I was learning the history of graphic design. My first project was creating a pictogram that represents Buddhist culture, and I gained a lot of compliments from my peers and teacher. The experience taught me the real joy of working with computers. After coming back from my exchange program, I decided to change my career to graphic design. My very first job was as a design intern in the Digital Art team at an advertising agency. Interestingly enough, my first task was also creating icons for a cosmetic company that was in the process of launching its new website. Working in a real design field, I realized that this is the path I want to take. After gaining several years of experience working in the field in Korea, I decided to come to the US for another adventure and also for an opportunity to grow. Last year, I graduated from ArtCenter in Pasadena, and I must say that my time at ArtCenter was one of the most exciting experiences in my life. I’m currently working in an Entertainment/animation company where I create illustrations mainly. I find being a graphic designer is both rewarding and exciting, and I’m very excited about my career journey here in the US.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I struggled at my very first full-time job when I was in Korea, which was a design agency. It was a company where I had to create a lot of printed media, and I wasn’t knowledgeable enough about that at all when I first joined. I didn’t have any senior designer who could guide me, so I had to learn and adapt everything on my own. As a junior designer, not having a mentor or someone I could learn from and ask for help was very challenging. I believe good design can come from good feedback, too, which is why teamwork can be crucial. Fortunately, I was able to work with some of the nicest clients who would always give productive feedback and support me. From that experience, I realized the importance of good teamwork and mentorship for a designer to grow. Luckily, most of my experiences afterward involved working with some of the most talented people who would always help me. This experience made me want to be a better mentor for other junior designers that I get to work with in the future as well. Although designing can be a very individual activity, with the right mentorship and guidance from senior designers, you would have so much room to grow, which is something I learned along the way.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
As a designer, my main focus has been social impact design. Social impact design is the practice of using design methodologies to address social, environmental, and humanitarian issues through collaborative, empathy-driven solutions aimed at improving the well-being of individuals and communities facing challenges such as poverty, inequality, environmental degradation, or lack of access to essential services. As someone who has roots in Fine art, I’ve always wanted to find some connection with my work to society and wanted to find a way to contribute to a better world. This is part of the reason why I switched majors because I thought graphic design has a broader impact to make people’s lives better in a more practical way. My first full-time job aligned with my passion because I used to make brochures, posters, and reports for NGOs. I especially feel proud of the ‘Tied at Sea’ book design I did for Advocates for Public Interest Law (APIL) in Korea. It was a report on Human Rights Violations of Migrant Workers on Korean Fishing Vessels. It played an important role in letting the world know how serious the problem is. It was such a rewarding experience because it was an attempt to improve related laws and systems so that structural human rights violations against migrant fishing crews suffering from forced labor and human trafficking on Korean fishing boats could be stopped.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
Los Angeles is a city of contrasts, and there’s so much to appreciate about it. One of the best things is its diversity, both in terms of culture and landscapes. From the bustling streets of Downtown to the serene beaches of Malibu, there’s always something new to explore. Additionally, the city’s vibrant arts and entertainment scene offers endless opportunities for creativity and inspiration.
On the flip side, one of the challenges of LA is definitely its traffic congestion. Navigating the city during rush hour can be a headache, and it’s not always easy to get from one place to another efficiently. However, with the right mindset and maybe a good podcast or playlist, even the traffic jams can become a part of the LA experience.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.nayoung.me
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nkwon04/
Image Credits
Nayoung Kwon
