We, as the Designer Interviews ("DI") had the distinct pleasure and opportunity to interview award-winning, most creative and innovative Yuri Lee ("YL").
Yuri Lee is an award-winning illustrator and graphic designer. She graduated from BFA Illustration and Animation from Kingston university in 2014. After graduating, Yuri Lee as Seoul-based freelance illustrator has worked with various companies and agencies for graphic design and picture books. She thinks that artists need to reflect the universal and social issues as well as to show individual messages for artworks. It is important that artists should have a continuously critical point of view when he or she sees the world.
Yuri Lee Designs
We are pleased to share with you original and innovative design work by Yuri Lee.
Yuri Lee Design - Moulin Rouge UI Design
Designer Interview of Yuri Lee:
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?
YL : I studied Illustration and Animation as a major at Kingston University and graduated in 2014. Since childhood, I always have wanted to be a designer or an artist. Thinking in a different way among others makes me feel excited.
DI: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
YL : I work by myself as a freelance illustrator and graphic designer. Mainly, I make children’s picture book and design things such as a newspaper, a brochure and a poster for clients.
DI: What is "design" for you?
YL : Design is an efficient tool for the public to use products in a better way.
DI: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
YL : Children’s picture book and graphic novel
DI: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
YL : Moulin Rouge UI design. Because it is the first project to be awarded abroad. And even my family uses my design on their mobile phone.
DI: What was the first thing you designed for a company?
YL : A poster for Greece wine center.
DI: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
YL : Adobe Photoshop
DI: When do you feel the most creative?
YL : Mostly, I feel the most creative at the break of day.
DI: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
YL : First, every design should be made for its users. And it needs to be attractive enough for the public to try it.
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
YL : I am proud of products I designed and feel a sense of accomplishment.
DI: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
YL : It should be considered that it is designed for users and it is attractive enough for consumers to try it.
DI: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
YL : More and more people use mobile devices on their daily lives such as an iphone, ipad, galaxy tab and so on. So, I think that in the future all the design related to mobile experience would have an important role around the world.
DI: When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
YL : My last exhibition was opened at the COEX convention center in July, 2017. And I don’t have a plan for the next exhibition yet because of social circumstances.
DI: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
YL : A lot of children’s picture books, graphic novels and sometimes comic books.
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?
YL : I like to design things in a simple way. Simplification has its strength for the public to show main concept of the design in a clear vision.
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?
YL : I live in Seoul, South Korea. Some of my work was affected by cultural circumstances of my country. But mostly, my design is about universal issues.
DI: How do you work with companies?
YL : I mainly work on my own.
DI: Can you talk a little about your design process?
YL : To research main subjects, to keep drawing characters and backgrounds, and to have feedback from others.
DI: What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?
YL : Pencil, imac, tablet, adobe photoshop, and my cats.
DI: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
YL : I think practice is vital. Attitude to keep trying and not to be afraid of failure is also an important part.
DI: What is your "golden rule" in design?
YL : I think every artwork needs to be designed for users and clients.
DI: What skills are most important for a designer?
YL : To be open-minded and the attitude to learn from the mistakes of the past.
DI: Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
YL : Adobe photoshop, Adobe illustrator
DI: Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
YL : To make daily schedule every day and to try to keep it punctually.
DI: How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
YL : It depends on the project. Some project takes around a week and another takes over 6 months.
DI: What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?
YL : Why do you decide to design this product? Who are your clients?
DI: Who are some of your clients?
YL : Acreative, Notefolio, Greece Wine Center, Samsung Electronics, Pharmacy Newspaper, Artsoombi etc
DI: What are your future plans? What is next for you?
YL : I started to research for the next project which is the children’s picture book about a kid wearing tuxedo. I’m trying to draw and sketch a lot of kid characters.
DI: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
YL : I usually develop my projects on my own.
DI: How can people contact you?
YL : Please send me an email: decemberystudio@gmail.com
DI: Any other things you would like to cover that have not been covered in these questions?
YL : No, Thank you.