My Design Journey: Past, Present, and Future with AI.
Education
Introduction
As someone who is usually focused on the future, I’ve recently taken some time to reflect on my past. Many of you might not know much about my journey, so I thought it would be valuable to share my design history—highlighting the tools, challenges, and breakthroughs that have shaped my career and given us insights into where our field may be headed.
Born in Daegu, South Korea—known for its hot summers and strong accents—I grew up feeling isolated, with television being my only connection to the outside world. Fun fact: I didn’t meet a foreigner until I was 18. I’m also the first person in my family to live outside South Korea. As a child, I loved drawing; pencils were my primary tools, and the eraser felt like my safety net. Over time, I learned to view mistakes differently: now, I embrace the blank page and regard each line I draw as a vital part of the final picture.
My early educational experience was somewhat hazy, though I found math and science to be fascinating. My parents, who designed and produced fabric for traditional Korean dresses called hanbok, instilled a strong work ethic in me. They were supportive and hardworking, but what inspired me the most was my father's relentless drive to learn. A self-taught designer and engineer, my dad taught himself Photoshop at the age of 40, showing me that continuous learning is crucial for personal and professional growth.
Visiting my uncle’s graduation show in industrial design left a significant impact on me, making the decision to study design at university feel natural. I spent countless hours sketching cars and electronic devices, dreaming of creating the next big thing. Shortly after my two-year military service, the iPhone emerged, marking the start of an industry transformation that I didn’t yet fully understand.
In 2009, I committed to pursuing my design journey in England to enhance my English skills and expand my perspectives. Influenced by design thought leaders like Tim Brown and Jony Ive, I started to see design as a powerful tool for problem-solving. During this time, my journey began to evolve, leading to the creation of my design identity "inq," which emerged from a humorous misunderstanding around my name.
After moving to Germany in 2011 and joining a young, passionate team at Zeba as an industrial designer, my experience took a major turn. I embraced UI/UX design, recognizing this shift as my best career decision. However, the digital design workflow at the time was frustrating and inefficient. I sought better practices and discovered new tools to streamline our processes, which led to the adoption of Sketch in 2015.
Transitioning from industrial design to digital required overcoming various challenges. My initial hesitation about web development was alleviated after discovering Webflow—my first experience bridging the gap between design and coding. Building a wedding invitation site using Webflow pushed me to explore my curiosity and fostered a sense of personal initiative.
As the years unfolded, I witnessed pivotal shifts in our industry, such as the 2018 debate on Sketch versus Figma—a transformation highlighting the trends of real-time collaboration and cloud-based tools. This period solidified my belief in the importance of being open to new developments and learning continuously.
Attending a design conference in 2018 was a wake-up call, showing me how far behind I felt compared to other designers. The realization that design and coding are interconnected led me to believe designers should embrace coding as well. This belief propelled me to tools like Framer and Spline, allowing me to collaborate more closely with developers rather than being pigeonholed into just design roles.
The COVID-19 pandemic made us rethink our work strategies and solidified our shift to web-based tools that made remote work seamless. Inspired by companies like Tesla, I consistently sought ways to optimize my professional routine, emphasizing efficiency.
In 2022, I discovered Arc browser, which allowed me to strip down my digital workflow significantly by sticking only to web applications. Though scary, this bold step improved my efficiency over time, aligning with the changes in design and development dynamics.
Information management struggles also became apparent, leading me to embrace Notion as our single hub for data management. This newfound tool proved that the web, which I consider the greatest invention in history, opens endless possibilities for creatives.
Lastly, I believe we are just scratching the surface when it comes to artificial intelligence (AI). While many worry about AI replacing creative roles, I see it as an exciting new tool that can unleash our creativity. With the rapid changes in our field, understanding our roots as multi-talented creators can help us adapt to new opportunities. I hope to continue designing while extending my creativity beyond to encompass various artistic endeavors.
Thank you for taking this journey with me. I look forward to connecting with all of you soon and embarking on our next exciting chapter together.
Keywords
- Design Journey
- South Korea
- Inspiration
- Transition
- UI/UX
- Web Development
- Sketch
- Figma
- AI
- Efficiency
- Notion
FAQ
1. What inspired you to pursue a career in design?
My family, particularly my dad, was a great source of inspiration. His passion for learning and creativity shaped my initial interest in design.
2. What were some major turning points in your design journey?
My move to England to study design, the transition to UI/UX, and the introduction of new tools like Webflow and Figma were pivotal moments in my career.
3. How has your perspective on design changed over the years?
Initially, I saw design as a standalone discipline, but now I view it as a collaborative, problem-solving approach that must incorporate coding and technology.
4. What role do you think AI will play in the future of design?
AI will serve as a new tool for creators, enabling us to unleash our creativity and explore new opportunities without the constraints of previous roles.
5. What is your vision for the future as a designer?
I envision a future where I can explore various creative fields, becoming not just a designer but also an artist, musician, and writer, integrating the possibilities that AI offers.