Alex Shim.

Hi, my name is Alex Shim. I have a master's degree in electronic engineering and it has not been since I started my career as a product designer. I started designing and building my furniture in 2016.

If you think about it, furniture occupies the largest proportion of the space and we are surrounded by furniture most of the time. Furniture can take any form depending on its use and can reflect an individual's taste. In this way, it's nice to see my furniture highlight a space and share my taste with others.

Currently, I am mainly working on reinterpreting and expressing the techniques and design of traditional Korean furniture to suit modern use and design.

Communicating with the public by expressing my tastes through objects.

I like designs that are simple but have a single highlight. A simple design is concise and its simplicity can provide comfort. The monotony of simplicity may seem boring, but it can attract attention and leave a lingering impression.

To me, a good design is one in which the designer's tastes resonate with the public, while aesthetic elements do not harm the functional elements of the product.

I closely observe the artistic expressions and techniques of our (Korean) ancestors in the past, reinterpret them to suit current uses and trends, and express my feelings for the furniture I build.

I first consider the use of the furniture and the space where the furniture will be placed and collect data accordingly. Keeping space in mind, I sketched several design concepts that fit the atmosphere of the space. Once the design concept is established to some extent, I use 3D modeling tools on the computer to further develop and modify the design. Then I developed a two-dimensional product design to determine the production process.

The culture and artistic expression of my ancestors are very delicate, and each process contains the soul of the woodworker. The delicacy and sincerity that go into each process give me a lot of inspiration.

It is a pleasant surprise and I am honored to win the silver place. Winning the award allowed me to ensure my identity and determine the direction of my design.

I learned about the NY Product Design Awards through the woodworkers I follow. Looking at the designs of past winners, I thought the designs awarded were very practical and original. So I wanted my design to be recognized by this award as well.

Considering the overall proportion of furniture, the lighting part of Book Lover was quite narrow in space. Considering that the furniture was designed for book readers, it was very challenging to increase the light level in this narrow space so that it is both suitable for reading a book and serving as a mood light for a cozy atmosphere in the bedroom.

This is my first time entering and winning an award. As I mentioned earlier, I admired the work of previous winners, so it is an honor to have my work in the same league. By winning this award, my confidence and pride in my design will take me to the next level.

Korea's exquisite yet vibrant culture is well recognized, including the arts and designs. For example, the unique designs of the Korean alphabet, traditional decorative paintings on buildings, and delicately decorated traditional handicrafts are still a great inspiration to many people, including myself.

AI will come into everyday use. However, I believe that what elicits emotion and empathy is the design created from interacting and empathizing with different cultures and sharing a sense of nostalgia rather than colorful and sophisticated designs created through data gathering. Therefore, the consideration and reinterpretation of the culture and art of the past will be crucial.

Be confident in your own design and believe in your taste.

I think it's important to acquire skills and practice them. It is more important that you maximize your concentration even if you only practice once than simply putting in a lot of time and practicing repeatedly. Even if the amount of time you put in does not seem long enough, it will end in great results, unless you get lazy over time. For creativity, it is important to keep a close eye on what is going on around you in everyday life. For example, the trace a flying bird makes or a car passing by can all drive "a-ha" moments.

I don't want to sound like a nerd, so I don't usually tell people, but I'm more of a perfectionist than an optimist. I strive for excellence, which means putting a lot of time and money into my work. Although the design of my work looks simple, it was not made overnight.

My teacher, who is also the managing director of Handworker, has been a great inspiration. He always gives his all to designing and manufacturing furniture. He stresses that even parts that cannot be seen must be designed and processed in great detail and his attitude to furniture has inspired me all my life.