| How did you end up
exhibiting your work? |
"I graduated with a degree in architecture
and after gaining diverse work experience in interior
design, graphic design, and even in a design area called
'Miscellaneous'. After the "Escape from the City" Home
Idea competition, I planned to go to the U.S. for a training
program as part of the reward for winning. However I have
always had a keen interest in furniture. Whether luck
was on my side, a fresh challenge in Hanssem's competition
that focused on architecture, furniture, and interior
design came up that perfectly fit with my current interests.
I even thought that my entry for that competition had
real marketability, but Hanssem saw it more of as an ideal
piece with little practical applications. "
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|
What kind of things have you been doing with Hanssem
since you won the award last November? |
"Currently
I am in the middle of negotiations with Hanssem for a
design service contract. For the six-month duration of
the contract, I will present aesthetically-pleasing prototype
designs that can incite growth. After the six months,
there must of course be some sort of tangible results,
and while my proposals must be diligently carried out,
there will also be feedback discussions. The only thing
that I regret is not being able to fully develop my winning
piece of work from the competition. But since my proposed
ideas then are fully reflected in the piece of work I
am currently doing now, in retrospect I have no big qualms
about my situation."
|
| What kind of contract
details did you make with Hanssem Interior?
|
"A six-month
'design services' contract was formed, as mentioned above.
Obviously this is a contract based on design royalties.
The company protects the intellectual property rights
of my ideas, while I present my vision ideas to it. For
six months, a basic allowance will be paid as well as
actual expenses incurred for the designs, and any production
costs for the building of the prototype will be paid separately.
Personally I think it is rare for a design company to
invest like this for such a general design. The company
will even provide me with a workroom as well. After the
design service contract expires, a new contract will be
written, this time, perhaps, a contract for the production
of the products. In such case, Hanssem will manufacture
and test-market products from the prototype, and if the
value of the privately manufactured prototypes falls drastically
or if the product is not delivered in a timely fashion,
the designer can hold the copyrights for up to a year
after contract expiration. If production runs smoothly,
a contract with a royalty system of commissions based
on % of sales will be written up." .
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| What has changed the
most for you since you won the award and what resources
is Hanssem providing you? |
"The things
I want to make and the things I intend to make have all
changed due to the fact that the company will cover all
costs; therefore I think this is truly a great opportunity
for me. Unknown designers believe that meeting the CEO
of a company is a very difficult, if not impossible thing
to do. However I think I was very lucky to have had the
opportunities to not only participate in this competition,
and have doors opened for me, but also be able to directly
meet and talk to Hanssem's CEO, Mr. Cho, Chang-Gul, in
order to progress my work. Indeed, Mr. Cho did not simply
talk to the winners of this competition. Instead, he had
dinner with over 20 of the entrants who he personally
thought had potential, and each entrant was able to present
his/her ideas individually to him. Mr. Cho is fully committed
to this project because he thinks he owes that much to
the winner of the first competition, and as creator, organizer
and first entrant to the Hanssem Design Venture Project,
he feels personally responsible for its success.
|
| What do you think is
the most important significance of the Hanssem International
Design Competition? |
"There is
a feeling of mistrust permeating the design market in
Korea. Designers and clients and also among consumers.
I further believe that this gap of mistrust between designers
and clients, and other dubious relationships are the key
obstacles to the growth of the Korean design market. Designers
believe that companies are consciously trying to exploit
them or rip them off. The companies do not respect or
recognize intellectual property rights in general, esp.
those carried by the designer. Designers are also saying
that there is no systematic way for the payment of designer's
ideas, as well as no reliable way to attain a fair price
on items. I believe that the Hanssem competition can be
the first step in eliminating the air of mistrust currently
plaguing the industry as well as coming up with ways to
fully protect ownership rights according to contracts,
much as it is currently done in advanced nations around
the world."
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| What was the biggest
turning point that you had to face in the preparation
of this current piece? |
"I do not
expect anything more from the company. Now all that's
left is to live up to my potential and maximize the company's
investment in me. I am not trying to think too much about
life or the things in designing that I think are either
too difficult or impossible to solve. My solution is to
just merely try to look for my niche in my surroundings.
Also, I believe being involved in Hanssem's competition
was, no doubt, a big breakthrough in my career. But that
does not mean I can simply stay complacent to my current
situation. Because on the contrary, this is only the start."
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