We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Won You. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Won below.
Hi Won, so excited to have you with us today, particularly to get your insight on a topic that comes up constantly in the community – overcoming creativity blocks. Any thoughts you can share with us?
Being a designer, it can be a challenge sometimes to constantly stay creative, especially in the face of a looming client deadline. And early in my career, I used to struggle with creativity blocks quite a bit, because I had the dual pressure of having an imposter syndrome as well as a deep-seated desire to always make something original or innovative. And what I’ve learned which helped me the most is that originality doesn’t come from the ether. I always found myself procrastinating because I was awaiting some kind of divine inspiration before I started making something.
But originality doesn’t always strike like lightning. Sometimes it does, but more times than not, inspiration comes organically during the process of creation. Waiting for inspiration got in the way of my actually creating anything at all. Once I learned not to be so obsessed with chasing originality, but rather trust the design thinking process and to focus on getting started, that’s when I was able to find myself slowly shaping and reworking my designs until new ideas started to percolate.
One practical technique that I discovered as well has been to incorporate research into my process. Doing competitive analysis or design audits is useful early on in developing a baseline understanding of a specific domain and cultivating a visual language for a particular client business category. And by absorbing and synthesizing this information, it helps to bootstrap and fuel some initial creative thinking.
Another great technique I’ve incorporated into my process is brainstorming with colleagues and other teammates. Brainstorming sessions with peers offer a dynamic environment where ideas can flow freely, and can really spark some creative ideas. Additionally, the diverse perspectives that emerge during these sessions can also lead to unexpected breakthroughs in my design process.
Last but not least, it’s been my experience that creativity requires oxygen to breathe and grow. I find it incredibly useful to simply step away from the computer and give myself permission to go for a walk or take a shower, or even go to an art museum. Giving myself the space to think before sketching out ideas has also been immensely helpful in unblocking my creativity.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I currently lead the charge at Won J You Studios, a digital product design consultancy that specializes in creating award-winning websites and mobile apps. What I love about my work is that I have the opportunity to use both my creativity and technical knowledge to solve business problems for my clients. Over the past 20 years, I’ve had the pleasure of designing for leading brands such as Porsche, Intel, McDonald’s, American Express, The LA Times, and many more.
At my studio, I work with clients from a wide range of industries to build elegant and user-centered solutions. Whether it’s designing digital interfaces, crafting brand identities, or creating captivating visuals, my goal is to make every brand interaction meaningful and memorable.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
That’s a great question. The first critical quality is curiosity, and as a corollary to this is to never stop learning. Especially in my field of design, software, tools, design trends are constantly changing, so you can never be satisfied with what you know. Change is a constant, and it’s important to challenge yourself to continually learn and grow. As an example, AI is rapidly disrupting every industry, and design is no exception. Learning to incorporate AI into my design process has been part of my evolution as a designer.
The other skill that I think is critical is learning how to receive feedback from others, especially critical feedback to design. It’s never easy to hear negative feedback about something that you lovingly created, but knowing how to separate yourself from your work and to be objective when hearing critical comments is vital to growing as a designer. This was an especially difficult skill for me to acquire. But the people who I see improve the most as younger designers are always the ones who can receive feedback in a constructive manner.
And lastly, a final quality that’s been impactful in my personal journey has been a willingness to accept and seek out new challenges. Going outside of one’s comfort zone is never easy, but it’s been so helpful in pushing me to grow. Challenges can include taking on new kinds of creative briefs, accepting new responsibilities at work, branching out on my own and starting my own company. Anything that forces you to develop new skills and push yourself is essential to being successful in this world.
How would you describe your ideal client?
My favorite types of clients to work with are ones who have a clear vision for their product, and have a deep appreciation for good design. If their product has a positive social impact, then that, of course, makes the work feel more meaningful as well.
Some key characteristics that I’ve identified in a good client partner includes:
1. Collaboration and Communication: Effective collaboration is essential. Ideal clients are responsive communicators who actively engage in the design process. They provide timely feedback and good insights and guidance to help refine the work.
2. Willingness to Invest: Quality design requires an investment of time and resources. Ideal clients recognize the value of design and are willing to allocate a budget that allows for comprehensive research, prototyping, and refinement.
3. Long-Term Perspective: Design is not just a one-time effort; it’s an ongoing process of improvement. Ideal clients view design as an evolving journey and are interested in building lasting partnerships for continued success.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://wjystudios.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wonjyou_design/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wjystudios
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wonjyou/
