Meet Han Kim

We recently connected with Han Kim and have shared our conversation below.

Han , so great to have you with us and we want to jump right into a really important question. In recent years, it’s become so clear that we’re living through a time where so many folks are lacking self-confidence and self-esteem. So, we’d love to hear about your journey and how you developed your self-confidence and self-esteem.

Not something I innately had, I was actually a very insecure person with low self-esteem. Even now, I have moments of vulnerability, which I don’t think is a bad thing. My confidence was developed through a mix of having a “no-regrets” philosophy and proving myself over, and over, and over. Many of the things that made me insecure or anxious were related to feeling a dread of failing or being perceived as such. Everything felt high stakes, and it seemed that there was always someone better at whatever it was I was trying to achieve. When people manifest, the strategy they use is to “embody what you want as if you already have it.” I was never a super spiritual person, but I really stand by this in terms of self-esteem. Breaking down what specifically makes you feel secure in yourself– the way you talk to yourself, ways of speaking & connecting with others, your own style– are ways that, with consistency and exploration, build into your confidence. I believe that confidence is a mental muscle. It is an aspect that takes time in training, and it must be done consistently, every time, pushing the pressure bit by bit, but never overloading. It started with taking smaller risks. Accepting an invite to vend with a friend. Taking on a small creative opportunity that didn’t ask for too much. Now and then, I’d take on a challenge that seemed to be just a bit more out of reach. Applying to opportunities that I didn’t know if I could land, talking for panels, and creating projects I wasn’t fully sure would be successful. Over time, I’ve built a security within myself: I’ve tested my limits, and I continue to stretch. And this is a system that applies beyond just in terms of creativity, as I’ve practiced this for other areas that I’ve felt insecure about. Going into a challenge or new territory has become second nature, and I know that I’ll be able to get through it.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I am a designer and illustrator both professionally, in my education, and in personal practice. For my career, I am a creative designer who helps my team work on consumer products. Throughout my time in university, I’ve had a wide range of interning for both non-profit organizations to larger companies. For my artistic pathway, I enjoy 2D illustration, merchandise, motion graphics, and AR, to name a few. I am always curious about experimenting with new media or ways of making, and I crave creative events where I can connect with other creatives in Los Angeles. What makes it so exciting is that I am always pushing my limits or expanding my knowledge in some way. For personal projects, I am able to create with no consequence. One day it’s a small sketch, but on another day it’s a campaign with several deliverables. When connecting with the creative community, I learn so much about the lives and wisdom of others. I am constantly in a state of learning, applying, and expanding myself, which has been the most gratifying experience thus far.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Design-thinking, being curious, and staying hungry. If I had to sum up the three qualities that have brought me to where I am today and to where I continue to reach. Design thinking is a mindset of creative problem-solving that applies to even “non-creative” briefs. As an artist and designer, it’s a matter of understanding the full context of what is and is not there. Where is the white space, and can you create iteration upon iteration to sculpt unconventional and innovative solutions? Being curious goes hand-in-hand with design-thinking, as it is only by staying curious you will be able to experiment with solutions, find resources, and meet people with whatever you want to do. Being curious and staying hungry are mottos that I use for my life altogether. It’s about navigating life with the acknowledgment of not knowing what’s going to happen if you take the chance, and an appreciation of answering the “what-ifs.”

How would you spend the next decade if you somehow knew that it was your last?

I really enjoy this question because it makes me think of what my mom reminds me of anytime I get tunnel vision. Whenever I get stressed or lose work/life balance, my mom tells me, “Just live life day by day, because you could die tomorrow.” It is a pretty cliché saying, but a goal of mine is to truly live to the fullest every day. So, if I had only a decade of life left, I think I would continue to do most of what I do now, but just amplified. I would continue to make creative projects that I care about and take the initiative to connect with my community. The only thing I would change is to spend more time with friends and family. As someone who gets sucked into creative work/projects, I don’t think I’ve had enough time to enjoy my time with loved ones. Knowing this and the combo of having a decade left, I’d want to indulge in time together.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://hankim.org
• Instagram: magic_pencil_han
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/han-kim-112b01217/