We, as the Designer Interviews ("DI") had the distinct pleasure and opportunity to interview award-winning, most creative and innovative Doyi Park ("DP").

Doyi Park graduated from Parsons the New school of design in 2016 with BFA Degree in Womenswear. She was awarded Dean scholarship while at the school and won the first place in the IDA(International Design Award) contest for student. She have completed 1-year machine knitting course in Seoul and served an internship at the Levy Group in New York. She is currently working as a fashion designer of her own brand. She strongly believes that garments hold symbolic, aesthetic and communicative roles in society, Therefore she tried to find the equilibrium between imagination and practicality throughout her design.

Doyi Park Designs

We are pleased to share with you original and innovative design work by Doyi Park.

Designer Interview of Doyi Park:

DI: Could you please tell us more about your art and design background? What made you become an artist/designer? Have you always wanted to be a designer?

DP : I was just a normal korean high school student who studied general subjects such as science, math, society ect,. One day I thought deeply what I am really want to do and realized I am interested in art and design. That is why I decided to go to the design school and studied fashion design.

DI: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?

DP : My design studio is like a design lab. Since I am a young designer who recently graduated, I still try to find my own style and research what I can produce for the future clients. So, now my company is more like an experimental space.

DI: What is "design" for you?

DP : Showing my thought to the public. I am a introspective person. So design is the best way showing my thought and communicating with the society. In private aspect, design lead me to think who I am and explore myself.

DI: What kinds of works do you like designing most?

DP : I really like designing the clothes among of several products. This is because, it seems like the encounter point meeting the one's personality and society. In general, people said fashion is the way to show one's individuality. So it can be changed in various ways depend on each persons. That is way I am interested in fashion and like to design the clothes.

DI: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?

DP : Alexander Mcqueen's collection. He has his own strong style and I respect that.

DI: What was the first thing you designed for a company?

DP : The first thing I design for my own brand is a Mannerism collection which is my graduation work.

DI: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?

DP : Natural fabric and yarn

DI: When do you feel the most creative?

DP : The moment when I mix all the processes I did. To create the collection, I did the research, sketching, draping, fabric manipulation, etc,. I collected all the processes and mixed each steps. That point, I felt the most creative and excited.

DI: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?

DP : Reality. I know creativity and imagination is important aspect for the designing somthing but still I believe that design is like the practical art. It means that it have to interactive with the public or society. So, I consider importantly it is feasible in real life.

DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?

DP : I feel various emotions. The most common feeling is excitement.

DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?

DP : Excitement and inconvenience

DI: What makes a design successful?

DP : Proper approach. Which means that it is important to finding the balance between the designer's creativity and client's desire.

DI: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?

DP : Practicality. As I mention before, to me design is like the finding the balance between the function and imagination. So if it is useless or no one want it, I don't think it is good design.

DI: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?

DP : Sustainability.

DI: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?

DP : I guess the environment and high technology aspect will be considered importantly.

DI: When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?

DP : I don't have exhibition experience yet but I want to hold my exhibiton in New York someday. Since New York is the place I studied the design and changed my perspective.

DI: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?

DP : Daily life.

DI: How would you describe your design style? What made you explore more this style and what are the main characteristics of your style? What's your approach to design?

DP : The main characteristic of my garments is sophisticated and details.

DI: Where do you live? Do you feel the cultural heritage of your country affects your designs? What are the pros and cons during designing as a result of living in your country?

DP : Currently I live in Korea. The most advantage living in korea is I can feel sense of stability and comfort. The cons is that it is too far to go to New York and Europe.

DI: How do you work with companies?

DP : First, I usually send my draping or prototype with sketches to the pattern maker. Then we talk about the detailed things.

DI: What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?

DP : I think that it is important the designers know the structure of their clothes. It feel like they study hard to make it better or improved. I guess these people can explain specific need or definite requirements in detail.

DI: Can you talk a little about your design process?

DP : After I decide the concept, I do research. Then I check which aspect will be main key point- construction or print. In accordance with the critical point, I explore the draping or print developing. After that, I do sketches. I keep repeatly rotating these steps.

DI: What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?

DP : Bed, flower vase, jewel box, earring box, vanity table.The common features of these objects are elegance and classic.

DI: Can you describe a day in your life?

DP : These days, I spends most of my time for studying how to make a brand or doing the design research for opening my own brand.

DI: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?

DP : It is a little bit awkward to me giving the advice to young designers since I am also a young designer. I hope they can find their own style and enjoy their work.

DI: From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?

DP : The positive thing is that it is possible to express their own world. Also it can be visualized and objectified one's idea or abstract feeling.

DI: What is your "golden rule" in design?

DP : A combination of reality and creativity.

DI: What skills are most important for a designer?

DP : The ability to make and edit well the imagination becomes possible.

DI: Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?

DP : Sketchbooks, muslin, Pins, Adobe program, Mac, Iphone, Art supplies.

DI: Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?

DP : I left the time as much as I can only for the designing during the weekday.

DI: How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?

DP : Normally it takes 3 to 6 months to prepare one collection.

DI: What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?

DP : Why do you want to be a designer?

DI: What was your most important job experience?

DP : I don't have a lot of job experience yet. To me the senior year was the most important work experience. At that time, I really focused on the collection and tried to do my best. Regardless of the result, I enjoyed most of the design process and could sure it will be happy to work as a designer.

DI: Who are some of your clients?

DP : I just started to open my brand so I don't have the client list yet.

DI: What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?

DP : Sketches because everything is possible if I only have a pen and paper.

DI: What are your future plans? What is next for you?

DP : As a start-up company, I want to participate some events that helping or promoting young fashion designers. Also I will prepare new collection and want to join fashion week or fashion competition.

DI: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?

DP : I developed it by myself.

DI: Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?

DP : I am preparing a new collection. It will be constructed silhouette with some details like I did in prior collection but it will have more joyful and bright atmospher.

DI: How can people contact you?

DP : Email will be the fastest way. Please contact me through info@doyipark.com

DI: Any other things you would like to cover that have not been covered in these questions?

DP : No, Thank you for all the questions.