Welcome to My Life Story

Welcome to My Life Story page! Thank you for stopping by and taking the time to get to know me and my work. If you're curious to learn more about me in a more personal way, you're in the right place! Unlike typical professional bios, this page won't delve into where I've worked, how many designers I've managed, or the sales figures I've achieved. Instead, I want to connect with you on a more relatable level – like chatting with a friend, neighbor, or even a sister. Here, I'll share how I've reached this point in my life. I hope you enjoy reading about my journey, and perhaps one day, you'll feel inspired to share your own life story with me. Thank you for being here!

I'm originally from South Korea and spent my childhood in the city of Busan, located at the southern end of the country. Busan is known for its stunning ocean views and incredible seafood, making it a must-visit destination in Korea. Growing up surrounded by the ocean, beaches were an integral part of my childhood memories. The beach always sparked my imagination, dreams, and curiosity. Whenever I gazed at the horizon, I couldn't help but wonder what lay beyond. I promised myself that one day, I would venture out there, beyond the familiar shores. Perhaps that's why I find myself here in Canada – on the opposite side of the earth, chasing new horizons and embracing new adventures.

When I was 10 years old, I went on a school field trip to the movie theater to watch "The Little Mermaid." That experience had a profound impact on me and played a significant role in shaping who I am today. It's funny to think that it might have been my very first movie! I can still vividly recall the opening scene of "The Little Mermaid" – it was a foggy day, and dolphins were gracefully swimming and leaping in the ocean. Suddenly, a majestic ship emerged from the mist. Then, the camera dove beneath the sea, revealing a mesmerizing world of beautiful sea creatures and enchanting mermaids. I was captivated by how smoothly and beautifully everything moved in the animation. But there was one scene in particular that stole my heart.

One of my favorite scenes from "The Little Mermaid" was when Ariel sang "Part of Your World" in her secret cave filled with treasures from the human world. The sunlight streaming in created a magical atmosphere as she swam gracefully and sang beautifully. I was so enchanted by the scene that all I wanted to do was draw and paint the Little Mermaid. When I got home, I gathered all my art supplies and started sketching and painting Ariel in her cave. However, I was disappointed when my painting didn't capture the magic of the movie scene. That's when I made a promise to myself – one day, I would attend art school and become the person who could bring Ariel to life on paper.

When I turned 16, I mustered up the courage to tell my parents that I wanted to pursue a career as an artist. At the time, many people believed that art education was expensive and that being an artist or designer wouldn't lead to a stable livelihood. Bringing up this dream to my parents took a lot of bravery. To my surprise, they not only supported my decision but also said yes without hesitation.

Curious about why they were so supportive, I asked my mother, and her response was unexpectedly amusing. She mentioned that since I wasn't excelling academically and it seemed challenging for me to get into a good university, they figured they might as well let me pursue my passion. I couldn't help but laugh and confess that I had purposely underperformed in my studies to pave the way for my artistic pursuits!

So, after school hours, I began taking art lessons, immersing myself in every moment of the art class. I discovered a knack for design, color usage, and styling objects, especially in my colored art pieces, which quickly gained recognition through awards in art competitions. This newfound popularity even led to graduating with honors and securing a spot in the visual design program at a university in Busan.

However, despite finding success in my studies, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was missing. I realized that I wasn't being challenged enough. So, I made the bold decision to express my desire to study abroad to my parents. Armed with a detailed presentation outlining my reasons for wanting to study abroad, the specific schools I had in mind, and a solid plan for financial support, I engaged in numerous discussions and negotiations with my parents. Eventually, after much debate and persuasion, I found myself boarding a plane to Canada in December 2000.

And that's how my adventure began. English wasn't my first language, so I embarked on the journey of learning a new language to settle into my new life. Eventually, I enrolled in Seneca College's digital media art program and later transferred to OCAD to study illustration. As an international student, the pressure was on to secure a full-time job upon graduation to remain in the country. Canada had become my home, and I was determined to build my career here.

I had heard that for every 100 resumes submitted, you'll receive one return call. Taking this advice to heart, I diligently sent out resumes to agencies and companies seeking illustrators or designers. After sending out around 30 resumes, luck was on my side as I landed my first interview and received an offer as an illustrator. And so, my career journey in Canada began.

Here are some of my illustration works. I've always been drawn to solid, blocked colors, drawing inspiration from animation since I began my journey as an artist. I would sketch by hand and then bring those sketches into Adobe Illustrator to add color. Creating art brought me immense joy, and I cherished every moment of being a creator.

However, after working as an illustrator for 2-3 years, I realized that this career wasn't as financially rewarding as I had hoped. It was a bit disheartening, but I've always loved learning new things, facing new challenges, and solving problems. So, while I continued working as an illustrator, I began teaching myself motion graphics on the side.

This is the Pro Bono motion graphic work I created for the Korea Childhood Leukemia Foundation. It was part of their Hope Ladder campaign aimed at providing accurate information about childhood leukemia to the public. Unfortunately, many people hold misconceptions about leukemia, such as it being contagious or incurable, which often leads to avoidance of children who have leukemia. Through this motion graphic, we aimed to dispel these myths and educate the public about the realities of childhood leukemia, fostering greater understanding and support for affected children and their families.

This is a commercial motion graphic work I created for Durex. During my time in Korea in 2010, I noticed that many young adults either avoided using birth control or lacked a clear understanding of its importance. I wanted to convey the message that using birth control is a natural and essential part of maintaining a healthy sexual life through this motion graphic. It was one of my first experiences as a designer, where I identified business challenges and provided design solutions.

Eventually, my skills caught the attention of a consulting company, CGI. I was contacted by Dan Saul, the recruiter, who exclaimed, "You are the one that we are looking for!". After few rounds of interviews, I was able to joined CGI interactive team as an interaction designer. Anestis Vassiliades was my creative director once told me that he had interviewed 12 people but could not find right fit. However, when he saw my portfolio, he couldn't have been happier. He said "You were so good!". 😊

Illustrator

Motion Designer

Interaction designer

Sr. Art Director

Associate Creative Director

Experience Design Manager

Sr. Experience Design Manager

2018

2010

2013

2015

2021

2022

And that's where my journey as a product designer began! I had the pleasure of learning from amazing colleagues and leaders, soaking up everything about product design principles, and let me tell you, it was a blast!

While you can check out all the juicy details of my work in my resume, let me give you a quick rundown of my career journey. Fast forward to today, and I'm proudly serving as a product design leader, helping businesses thrive through innovative design solutions.

Every now and then, I receive messages from folks who, like me, didn't start out with a design background but dream of becoming product designers. As someone who started as an illustrator and motion designer, I totally get it! I believe in the power of hard work and know that recognition will come your way. Until then, consider me your personal cheerleader! Let's do this!

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