DI: What is the main principle, idea and inspiration behind your design?
: As its title, the concept of "Coexistence" is mainly behind my design. I got inspired by the unique urban nature environment of NYC so I wanted to depict it through jewelry design. To make the abstract idea put in a actual product, I considered its practical, easy to understand and aesthetic aspects at the same time as its main factors.
DI: What has been your main focus in designing this work? Especially what did you want to achieve?
: Sharing the feelings exactly same as what I felt was the main focus in designing this work. I want to touch people who can understand what I want to say.
DI: What are your future plans for this award winning design?
: I’m going to make it in all different versions with different color arrangement to show how this design could be expanded and more various. Also I'm going to keep designing this on the same subject in different mediums such as wood, paper or ceramic. For the further steps, maybe I could get insirations from the other urban natures the other cities have.
DI: How long did it take you to design this particular concept?
: It took about over a year to get inspired by the environment and it took 2-3 months to design this particular concept.
DI: Why did you design this particular concept? Was this design commissioned or did you decide to pursuit an inspiration?
: I missed the city so much every day and night. I've been really impressed by its unique environment so I thumbed the pictures I took at there again and again. Finally, I decided to do work with that in 3D product having my ideas.
DI: Is your design being produced or used by another company, or do you plan to sell or lease the production rights or do you intent to produce your work yourself?
: I don't have any plan for commercial yet but I could think positively if there is any good suggestions. Everything good can be acceptable. I'll think about it.
DI: What made you design this particular type of work?
: The sudden interests in Jewelry design made me design this particular type of work for my exhibition.
DI: Where there any other designs and/or designers that helped the influence the design of your work?
: Jewelry designers, Metal smiths and CAD designers helped to make out the design of my work in real.
DI: Who is the target customer for his design?
: Anyone who likes the concept of Coexistence or who misses NYC so badly like me:)
DI: What sets this design apart from other similar or resembling concepts?
: There are a lot of pendant design inspired by Central Park but my design depicts an aerial image of Manhattan, NYC somewhat realistic so you can see the NYC skylines when you see it on every which side. That makes it unique and different.
DI: How did you come up with the name for this design? What does it mean?
: It was the title of my solo exhibition in 2016. Literally it means coexistence of man and nature.
DI: Which design tools did you use when you were working on this project?
: I used my skills such as Hand-drawing, CAD and Hand-crafting.
DI: What is the most unique aspect of your design?
: Diamonds representing the forest and lake could be changed in different colors and could be arranged differently so that it could vary expressing the four seasons.
DI: Who did you collaborate with for this design? Did you work with people with technical / specialized skills?
: For casting and finishing step with the electric gilding skills, some good experts worked with me to realize it.
DI: What is the role of technology in this particular design?
: CAD and nonferrous metal skills.
DI: Is your design influenced by data or analytical research in any way? What kind of research did you conduct for making this design?
: In social perspective view, NYC’s scene could be interpreted in different way from my view about the coexistence, so I needed to interview as many as people I know to hear diverse thoughts.
DI: What are some of the challenges you faced during the design/realization of your concept?
: Since I don’t want to expose any extra connection part shown out of the pendant itself, I should pay really close attention to find the idea size of the chain hole invisibly. I precisely measured the size of the city through the aerial pictures again and again then scaled it down to found the best size for the jewelry because all materials are too valuable to just explore for a lot of trials.
DI: How did you decide to submit your design to an international design competition?
: I decided to submit my design to an international design competition in order to share my ideas with as many people as possible. Sharing idea with people is exciting.
DI: What did you learn or how did you improve yourself during the designing of this work?
: I’ve learned about many minerals and gems especially diamonds very newly.
DI: Any other things you would like to cover that have not been covered in these questions?
: Even though I submitted this jewelry design work to this competition, actually I’m an industrial designer who is interested in furniture design, jewel design and illustration not a professional jewelry designer. I think all design parts are my tools to demonstrate what I think and I feel. Based on my major, I'll keep doing design various things in all industrial ways. Next time, I hope you see my another works in all different categories again!!