Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Dong Ho Cho. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi DONG HO, thank you for being such a positive, uplifting person. We’ve noticed that so many of the successful folks we’ve had the good fortune of connecting with have high levels of optimism and so we’d love to hear about your optimism and where you think it comes from.
I believe optimism starts with not worrying too much about things that haven’t happened yet. We often worry about future events, and in many cases, these worries tend to spiral into negative and worst-case scenarios. Therefore, I think it’s important to refrain from worrying excessively in advance. To do this, confidence and self-esteem are crucial. The belief that the future me will handle things well, and that when the time comes, it won’t be as bad as I imagined, is essential. When we have this kind of trust in ourselves, the unnecessary worries that trouble us will gradually fade away. I believe that this attitude towards life leads to a more optimistic view of the world.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
While studying Business Administration at university, I believed that the role of art in society would grow significantly in the future, so I decided to transfer to the Department of Sculpture at the College of Fine Arts. During my time in the sculpture department, I became interested in how the spaces we live in influence human life and cognition. This interest led me to create works related to spatial perception, including installations. As I continued to explore this field, I felt the need to study more about space design, which led me to pursue a Master’s degree in Spatial Design in London. Currently, I am contemplating how to merge my experiences in sculpture, spatial design, and business management into my work. As part of this process, I am planning to create art furniture. Art furniture serves as both a piece of furniture and a sculpture or spatial installation, allowing it to be placed in everyday living spaces. Through this art furniture, I hope to intervene in the spatial perception process of those living in these spaces and expand their understanding of the concept of space. The project will be a collaboration with my wife, who graduated from the sculpture department as well. We plan to set up a studio and work as a duo. My wife studied Media Art as her undergraduate major in the Sculpture department and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Furniture Design in London. Together, we are preparing to launch our studio, Studio EAST X EAST.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
In terms of qualities and skills, the diverse range of studies I’ve pursued has been incredibly helpful. First, the ability to analyze specific situations and synthesize information to extract new insights, which I developed during my business studies, has been very useful. This skill allowed me to consider new directions or optimal outcomes that weren’t immediately apparent. To develop this, it’s important to not just accept a given situation as it is, but to always approach it with a critical mindset and reconsider it.
Next, the framework tools I used in business studies to structure logical arguments have also been very helpful in organizing my thoughts. Tools like SWOT analysis, for example, can help clarify ideas or situations that might initially seem confusing, allowing you to structure them more logically and gain new insights. Even in everyday life, applying these tools to organize small, seemingly insignificant details can be quite beneficial.
Finally, the training I received in the sculpture department, which encouraged me to delve deeper into the layers of thought, has been invaluable. In contemporary art, the content or concept of a piece is often paramount, and artists need to develop a solid and profound concept for their work. During my time at the art school, I continuously practiced deepening the layers of my concepts. The initial ideas that come to mind are often surface-level, common ideas that others might also think of. These one-dimensional thoughts usually stem from the media or commonly shared knowledge. Therefore, to create something truly original, you must dig deeper into your thinking. By training yourself to explore these layers of thought, you will be able to come up with unique ideas that others might not have considered.
One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?
I am always open to collaborating with others and eager to work on various projects together. Thanks to my background in Business Administration, Sculpture, and Interior Design, I believe I can collaborate with people from a wide range of fields. In particular, it seems increasingly meaningless to draw clear boundaries between art, design, and other areas of daily life. Without needing to specify a particular type of person, I welcome anyone who shares the desire to plan and create something interesting together. I am interested in all projects related to physical space, from human-scale spatial compositions and installations to furniture and sculpture. If you’re interested in collaborating with me, please feel free to reach out at [email protected].
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.dongho-cho.me
- Instagram: cho_i_dongho
- Linkedin: DONGHO CHO
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