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

Sangmin Shim currently is an active Creative director, professional graphic designer and illustrator based in New York. Prior to his graduation at Konkuk University, Shim began his career in Visual Communication Design and started as a professional freelance graphic designer in Korea. As he progressed, professional experiences in Korea has lead him to pursue more advanced graphics at the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) in the United States. He successfully completed the 5 year program Bachelor of Graphic Design (BGD) and Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA). After graduating from RISD, he immediately started as a graphic designer at famous design studios and worked as a full time freelance graphic designer working on various projects. Based on his personal experience, Sangmin Shim has established his own design studio named 5m5 in NY as of 2012, and the studio has been changed to fivemfive. fivemfive studio work is based on art, architecture, and culture through a variety of media, such as branding, print, display, motion, and web site. The company has been thriving in different design fields by being awarded with numerous leading international awards. Amongst these, they may include awards such as German Design Award, IF design awards, reddot design awards, Golden Bee: Moscow International Biennale of Graphic Design, TDC Typographic Excellence, Graphis, AIGA DC, American Illustration. Major achievements over the course of his career have not leaded him to neglect his personal work. As a reflection upon his previous work such as "High Myopia" project and individual exhibition held in Rhode Island, he still continues to be interested in a "meaningful area for minority" and a "shared area for the majority". As a result, he continues to pursue the best solution by resolving the various issues thoroughly. As one of his design philosophy, he strongly believes that his role is to overcome the circumstances and bring out the best design solution with the given material. His design is always ready for those who are always curious and passionate.

Sangmin Shim Designs

We are pleased to share with you original and innovative design work by Sangmin Shim.

Designer Interview of Sangmin Shim:

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?

SS : FivemFive is a graphic design studio without bolder based in New York focusing strongly on design for art, architecture and cultural clients across various media: printed matter, branding, motion graphics, and illustration. FivemFive approaches the work critically by taking things apart to their fundamentals. Our design agenda is “simplicity” to craft effective, creative solutions that address commercial needs through innovative processes.

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

SS : FivemFive has been established as an individual design studio named 5m5 in NY as of 2010. 5m5 studio work is based on art, architecture, and culture through a variety of media, such as branding, print, display, motion, and web site. The company has been thriving in different design fields by being awarded with numerous leading international awards. Amongst these, they may include awards such as IF design awards, reddot design awards, Golden Bee: Moscow International Biennale of Graphic Design, TDC Typographic Excellence, Graphis, AIGA DC, American Illustration. In particular, in 2013, 5m5 was awarded with the German Design Award, which was established under the auspices of German Design Council.

DI: What is "design" for you?

SS : A great method to communicate with people

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

SS : Branding design

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

SS : I love a branding design because branding design for new brand includes almost all of design works like logo design to signage design.

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

SS : Logo design for furniture company

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

SS : Adobe suite program after hand drawing sketch

DI: When do you feel the most creative?

SS : Late time when I work alone.

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

SS : Dissatisfaction and Satisfaction

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

SS : Satisfaction, Joy, Delight, Anxious, Relief

DI: What makes a design successful?

SS : Research as much as I can. Make several attempts

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

SS : Novelty, Uniqueness, Details

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

SS : The last exhibition was exhibition for German Design Award on 2013 at Frankfurt.

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

SS : I got the design inspiration from everywhere and everyone around me. Design inspiration is not just from well-designed products and designers.

DI: How do you work with companies?

SS : First, the companies contact me to offer design projects, and we discuss that the projects are good for each other. If I decide the project is good to go for both, I start to communicate with companies to get enough information.

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

SS : Pillow cases, NYC subway diagram by Massino Vignelli, iPhone, Dyson Vacuum, Remo controller

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

SS : Do not cheating

DI: What skills are most important for a designer?

SS : Brain Storming to find out a better solution.

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

SS : It depends on project size. For example, a branding design for a small sized firm has been taken 1 month.

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

SS : Depends on project. Usually, I develop my designs by myself.

DI: How can people contact you?

SS : Please feel free to contact me by email if you have any questions.