Today we’d like to introduce you to Min Heong Hong.
Hi Min Heong, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
From the beginning, I dreamed of becoming a singer and pursued it until 2017. Unfortunately, the K-pop industry’s age limitation made things tough, so I had to let go of that dream.
Around the same time, my brother was studying abroad in San Diego, CA, and my dad offered me the opportunity to study in the US. Intrigued by learning new languages, I decided to attend college in California to explore my second career. While trying different classes to find my passion, I found myself captivated by fashion magazine design, and it led me down a new path in the design field. Funny enough, this wasn’t my first experience with design. Back when I was 10 years old, I had a blast creating flash games during computer classes. I even managed to get my hands on some certifications in software like Photoshop and Microsoft PowerPoint. I assume that early exposure to design had a hand in guiding me toward my second career choice.
In college, I delved into Graphic Design, but I wasn’t entirely certain about my future, especially with the publication industry’s uncertainties. Yet, it was during this period that I came to a profound realization—I possessed a natural inclination for both logical thinking and creativity. This realization led me to discover the world of UX/UI design, a perfect blend of my interests and skills.
Afterward, I set my sights on transferring to a design school, and that’s when Parsons School of Design truly caught my attention. Growing up watching shows like America’s Next Top Model and Project Runway, I had a strong desire to be in a college that offered a perfect blend of design and fashion. Parsons stood out because it provided a Fashion Communication minor, which was exactly what I was looking for. Excited about the opportunity, I joined Parsons, and it turned out to be an inspiring experience. I met countless creative individuals who not only nurtured my creativity but also helped me enhance it further.
However, it wasn’t a smooth ride. Finding the right balance between creativity and the commercial aspects of design posed its challenges. Furthermore, I had to take the initiative and embark on a self-study journey along with school projects and the Cornell Tech program since there were limited UI/UX classes available for undergraduates. It was also challenging to be a design representative during my time at Cornell Tech, but I had the incredible opportunity to work with Cornell Tech engineering students, guided by advisors and stakeholders from Spotify and Author by Humana. It was a rigorous, year-long program, but it taught me the value of real-life work experience and the significance of effective communication within a team.
Overall, this journey has shaped me into the person I am today. Despite facing challenges as an international student and a design enthusiast, I’ve grown stronger and solidified my identity as a designer.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
No, it definitely wasn’t a smooth road, and the major reason behind that was the language barrier.
As an international student, I began learning English at the age of 21. While I had some basic exposure to the language in school, I didn’t have a strong grasp of it, especially since my focus was on music at that time. Learning a new language as an adult proved to be quite challenging. I remember feeling completely lost after my first class in the States, and it even brought me to tears. Can you believe it took me an hour just to read a single page? While reading the textbooks was optional, I had to read all of them just to get familiar with the lectures. It was really tough, but since I had already come to the US, I was determined not to give up due to this language barrier.
To overcome this challenge, I sought advice from my professors, spent countless hours studying to understand the lectures, and worked diligently on my assignments. My persistent efforts paid off when my business professor offered me a TA position and the opportunity to work at the college office.
When I transferred to Parsons, I felt more confident in understanding and speaking English, but the education at Parsons posed another level of challenge. The articles I had to read became more complex and took me an hour to comprehend just two pages. Every week, I had to handle around 100 pages of reading along with numerous assignments. I always had to seek help from my tutors at Parsons for proofreading, which took extra time. Similarly, during my time at Cornell Tech, I struggled to understand many meetings initially due to the unfamiliar terminologies in the healthcare industry. Everything seemed to be getting more challenging instead of getting easier. The language barrier was a significant factor contributing to my struggles and burnout.
Moreover, learning a new language means that I also have to adapt to unfamiliar cultural differences. Western and Eastern cultures are vastly different, and being a more humble person by nature, I found it challenging to adjust to the confidence-driven atmosphere in America. In discussion-based classes with a small number of students at Parsons, I sometimes felt overwhelmed as I felt like everyone aggressively expressed their opinions since the way to communicate was quite different from what I was accustomed to in my home country. It was a valuable lesson for me to realize that confidence was something I needed to embrace and learn.
These examples only scratch the surface of the challenges I faced, and it was undoubtedly the most demanding journey of my life. However, each experience taught me valuable life lessons, regardless of the outcome or success.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a Product Designer with a passion for creating seamless experiences and transforming ideas into tangible digital products and services. What truly energizes me is helping others, and this aspect of my personality strongly influences my approach as a designer.
At the core of user experience design lies empathy, a skill I hold in high regard. I believe there is a distinct difference between having natural empathy and actively honing the ability to understand and connect with others. To me, designing experiences and products that cater to users’ needs is not just a professional endeavor; it’s a way to genuinely assist and support people. Serving their interests with dedication brings me immense pride, and I firmly believe that human beings should always be prioritized.
In my work, I am driven by a relentless pursuit of simplicity and innovation, both in visuals and experiences. I believe in enhancing usability by providing users with exactly what they need while removing anything unnecessary. Embracing a philosophy of simple yet innovative design, I aim to create products that truly resonate with users and elevate their overall experience.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
What I absolutely love about New York is how it reminds me of Seoul, South Korea, where I spent most of my life. The bustling city life, the convenience of transportation, and the abundance of stores and restaurants that stay open late all resonate with me. As the popularity of Korean culture rises, I find joy in exploring the many Korean restaurants and stores scattered throughout the city. Having previously studied in California for a year, I often felt homesick there due to the lack of accessibility. That’s why being in New York feels like a comfortable and familiar environment.
On the other hand, my least favorite aspect of New York is undoubtedly the hygiene situation. The cost of apartments here is exorbitant, yet they are often cramped, with some unfortunate residents having to deal with cockroaches and rats. The streets are often littered with countless garbage bags, and the state of the subway cleanliness can be quite disappointing. It’s an aspect of the city that could definitely use some improvement.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.minheonghong.com/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/minheonghong/
