Today we’d like to introduce you to Shinyoung Kim.
Hi Shinyoung, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
The experience of leaving Korea and living in China as a child shaped my desire for a nomadic lifestyle. Settling down was never appealing to me, especially during that time. I believed that a nomadic life suited me well. With a passion for art since middle school, I returned to Korea during high school and enrolled in an art high school. Determined to pursue a degree in design, I made the decision to attend Parsons in the United States. The journey hasn’t been easy, as I faced opposition from my parents and school teachers, financial difficulties, and a lack of resources. Nevertheless, I persevered and successfully obtained my diploma.
Throughout my college years, the idea of having a stable job consumed me. There was pressure from my family, but also the added pressure of being an international student on a visa. But what are the possibilities that designers just starting out can live a stable life the way they want? Like any other designer, I juggled part-time work, freelance projects, portfolio building, job applications, and cherished moments spent with friends in the evenings.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Before enrolling in college, my biggest hurdle was convincing my parents to let me study abroad. Looking back now, I can understand their perspective, but I still have no regrets about choosing to come to New York City.
As my parents predicted, things did get tougher. There were moments when I felt overwhelmed and contemplated giving up, particularly after experiencing repeated job search failures, being subjected to hate crimes in public, and confronting the complexities of navigating legal matters on my own. I don’t entirely agree with the saying, “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger,” because some challenges truly knocked me down and made it difficult to bounce back. I would be dishonest if I claimed to be perfectly happy at this moment, but I have found some inner peace by accepting the fact that I can’t strive for perfection.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
As a freelance designer, my current focus is on providing branding services to clients. While I initially believed that I wanted to pursue a career solely as a brand designer during my time as a student, I have come to realize that my skills and potential extend beyond branding alone. Currently, I am collaborating with a small jewelry brand in Soho, assisting them with creating event posters and planning their upcoming events. Additionally, I am deeply passionate about community building and expressing visual language within urban environments, which is evident in many of my personal passion projects.
I am open to collaborations and eager to explore new opportunities, so please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any ideas or projects in mind!
How do you think about happiness?
I started to believe that happiness is temporary, so I try to find happiness in my daily life. These days I am obsessed with the new Nintendo game that came out, “The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom” and “Stardew Valley”.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.shinyoung-kim.com/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shinyoung-alice-kim/
