A big congrats to Jennifer Yoo (@jenkyoo), one of our 30 TDK Awards winners' for 2019. A Shillington graduate from New York, their work was chosen by Jessica Walsh from Sagmeister & Walsh in NYC: "Unexpected, fun and experimental, I love how different each project was. The colour palette of the 'Lovely SPAM' project, the illustrations, copy writing and mystical quality to 'Fete de la Foret', a luxury pet brand, to the playful experimental typography for 'KANPAI!', a drink delivery service. Jennifer's folio is well executed, and she shows off each brand nicely without over doing it. Well done." We asked Jennifer to answer a few questions for next years TDK Awards hopefuls.
What do you wish you’d known now when you started your design course?
Photoshop. It’s insane how multi layered the program is and how much you can can do with it once you understand how it works.
What originally lead you in to design, and how has that changed - what do you want to do/are doing now?
A long lost memory and feeling unfulfilled at my current job in fashion editorial led me to design. I recalled my bygone college years staying up all night working on ‘Graphic Design 101” projects, X-ACTO Knife'ing lines and circles and rubber cementing them to paper. I remember strangely enjoying the process way more than what’s normal and decided to make the leap to change my career.
I am currently freelancing as a designer at a beauty company. Every day is a challenge and I am learning so much! My ultimate design life would be the Hoodzpah sisters, but on a smaller scale helping small companies become the best version of themselves.
Any hot tips for getting ahead at uni?
I attended a part-time, sort of continuing education design school, so my advice applies to that. Youtube is your friend and your instructor outside of class. Instagram is a steady, current, constantly evolving and diverse stream of inspiration. I follow a lot of studios, artists, illustrators and designers from different backgrounds and fields on Instagram and it’s helped me get through those black hole, design ruts.
What do you love about the design scene in your city and what companies are on your dream list to work or collaborate with?
I live in Brooklyn and work in downtown Manhattan, so I love that there is always something to see on my commute, from the diverse commuters to the art on the subways. I also love old storefronts although they’ve been disappearing, thanks to @jamesandkarla for keeping them alive. My ‘Dream Companies’ list is large! Violaine et Jérémy, Yeaaah! Studios, Young Jerks, Hey Studio, Anagrama, A Friend of Mine, Happy Centro, Tractorbeam, ByFutura and last but not least, Stagmeister and Walsh!
I follow a lot of studios, artists, illustrators and designers from different backgrounds and fields on Instagram and it’s helped me get through those black hole, design ruts.
Where do you see your career in 5 years?
I would love to be somewhat established as a designer with a few brand identities under my belt and more in the works. And I hope to have figured out Photoshop!
2019 for you in a sentence
2019 so far has been challenging and exciting and I hope it continues in that trajectory.
Where to find Jennifer Yoo online.
Instagram: @jenkyoo
