We, as the Designer Interviews ("DI") had the distinct pleasure and opportunity to interview award-winning, most creative and innovative Hyunjae Noh ("HN").
Hyunjae Noh is an industrial designer who has a strong passion for product, furniture, and UX design. With a focus on ideation, 3D modeling, and rendering, he has developed a deep understanding of how design can be used to solve complex problems and make people's lives more enjoyable and convenient. Hyunjae believes that design has the power to transform the way people interact with the world around them, and he is committed to creating solutions that enhance the user experience. Hyunjae's problem-solving approach is a key part of his design philosophy. He believes that by understanding the challenges people face, he can identify opportunities for innovation and use design to create practical solutions. Whether he is working on a product, a piece of furniture, or a UX design, Hyunjae's goal is always the same: to make people's lives better.
Hyunjae Noh Designs
We are pleased to share with you original and innovative design work by Hyunjae Noh.
Hyunjae Noh Design - Mushroom Side Table
Designer Interview of Hyunjae Noh:
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?
HN : I originally studied electronics in South Korea and served in the Navy. After completing my service, I decided to leave the electronics program and went on to study heavy equipment engineering. My goal at the time was to specialize in that field, so I moved to Canada for further training. While I was learning CAD as part of my studies, my girlfriend—who has an art background—saw my work and said, “You’d be a great fit for industrial design.” Her words really stuck with me, and after learning more about the field, I realized that industrial design was where my interests and skills truly aligned. That moment sparked my decision to become a designer.
DI: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
HN : After graduating from university, I’ve been working independently as a designer, creating products across a variety of fields including consumer electronics, furniture, and everyday objects. My work explores both function and form, with a focus on user-centered design that enhances daily experiences.
DI: What is "design" for you?
HN : For me, design is about solving everyday problems and making life more convenient. It’s a tool that improves how we live, think, and interact with the world around us.
DI: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
HN : I enjoy designing products that incorporate new technologies or solve real-world problems. When I come across emerging technologies in news articles, I often start by imagining how they could be applied in everyday life, and then develop design concepts around those possibilities. I also observe inconveniences that people experience and explore how design can offer meaningful solutions.
DI: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
HN : One of my favorite designs is the black iPhone 3gs. When I was in high school, I wasn’t particularly interested in design. But one day, a friend brought their black iPhone 3gs to school, and I was completely captivated by it. It didn’t feel like a phone—it felt like a piece of art. That moment made me curious about what “design” really means, and I think it was the first time I truly began to appreciate it.
DI: What was the first thing you designed for a company?
HN : The first thing I designed for a company was a set of ceramic bowls and plates with unique patterns.
DI: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
HN : I enjoy exploring a variety of materials, but recently I have been focusing on designs that utilize metal.
DI: When do you feel the most creative?
HN : I feel the most creative when I’m coming up with ideas to start a new design project.
DI: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
HN : I used to focus mainly on functionality, but these days I try to balance both function and form throughout the design process.
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
HN : Designing gives me a sense of wonder and excitement—like I’m bringing something entirely new into the world.
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
HN : When I see my design realized, I feel very excited for the first few minutes—but then I quickly shift into a calm, focused mindset to identify any flaws or areas for improvement.
DI: What makes a design successful?
HN : I believe a successful design is one that solves people’s discomfort and makes them feel that the product is truly necessary in their lives.
DI: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
HN : When judging whether a design is good or bad, I first consider whether it is feasible or not. For me, a good design must be realistic and achievable, not just visually appealing.
DI: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
HN : As a designer, I believe it is our responsibility to address various social and environmental issues through design.
DI: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
HN : With the advancement of AI, the design field has undergone significant changes. In particular, tasks like rendering have become much easier and faster thanks to AI, allowing us to create photo-realistic images more efficiently.
DI: When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
HN : My last exhibition was held in 2023 in Toronto. I don’t have any plans for my next exhibition yet.
DI: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
HN : I find inspiration by reading news and books to understand the problems people face and the challenges society is dealing with. I aim to use design as a way to solve these issues.
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?
HN : My design style is minimalistic while ensuring that users can easily understand and use the product. To achieve this, I incorporate affordances in my designs to guide user behavior intuitively.
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?
HN : I was born in Korea but currently live in Toronto, Canada. Canada is a multicultural country, and I draw inspiration from many different cultures here.
DI: How do you work with companies?
HN : I mainly communicate with companies via email, and hold meetings at the end of each phase or when there are important deadlines.
DI: What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
HN : To select a good designer, look for creativity, problem-solving skills, and good communication.
DI: Can you talk a little about your design process?
HN : My design process starts with identifying the problem, researching solutions, sketching ideas, modeling, and finally rendering.
DI: What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?
HN : i Phone, Airpod Max, lund tumbler, Braun table clock, ikea stand lamp
DI: Can you describe a day in your life?
HN : wake up at 7 a.m., take a shower, and arrive at the studio by 9 a.m. I work at the studio until 5 p.m., then go home, do some light exercise, tidy up my room, and do laundry. After having a simple dinner, I start my personal design work and go to bed around midnight.
DI: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
HN : Invest plenty of time in research before starting the design. Consider whether the design is feasible and what manufacturing processes will be used.
DI: From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
HN : Being a designer allows me to be creative and solve problems, which I really enjoy. However, tight deadlines and demanding clients can be challenging.
DI: What is your "golden rule" in design?
HN : My "golden rule" in design is to always prioritize the user’s needs while keeping the solution simple and functional.
DI: What skills are most important for a designer?
HN : The most important skill for a designer is the ability to bring imagination into reality—turning creative ideas into practical, tangible solutions.
DI: Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
HN : For tools, I use a notebook, pen, and post-its for idea sketching. I model in Rhino 3D and render using KeyShot. To enhance rendered images, I use Adobe Photoshop, and for documentation, I use Illustrator and InDesign.
DI: Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
HN : I try to finish all my work during the day, but if time is tight, I set up the rendering before bed and let it run overnight. Once the initial settings are done well, I don’t need to monitor it constantly, so rendering while I sleep helps save time.
DI: How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
HN : It takes about 1 to 3 months to go from ideation to modeling, rendering, and creating manufacturing drawings. However, the actual production of the product usually takes between 6 months to a year.
DI: What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?
HN : How can I solve this problem?
DI: What was your most important job experience?
HN : My experience in the navy has greatly helped me develop teamwork skills.
DI: Who are some of your clients?
HN : Anyone can be my client. For example, if I design to solve problems that dogs face, then dogs can also be my clients.
DI: What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
HN : I enjoy designing tech products that combine technology because I get to see the development of new technologies and use them to solve various problems.
DI: What are your future plans? What is next for you?
HN : As a designer, my next goal is to work at Apple or a design studio in Silicon Valley.
DI: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
HN : At the studio, I work as part of a team with various designers. However, during my personal projects after work, I work alone.
DI: Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
HN : I am currently designing AR glasses. Most AR glasses on the market have thick frames, so I am researching how to design them thinner and how to hide the parting lines.
DI: How can people contact you?
HN : hyunjaenoh.design@gmail.com
DI: Any other things you would like to cover that have not been covered in these questions?
HN : One thing I’d like to add is that design is not just about creating beautiful objects, but about improving people’s lives in meaningful ways. I always try to keep that focus in my work.