My parents were entrepreneurs. We came to the United States from Korea when I was nine-years-old in search of a better life. Every day, I watched my parents make a living by making sandwiches in their small shop, in pursuit of their American Dream. Growing up in our newfound home in Vienna, Virginia, I had a dream of my own. I doodled and imagined having my own design studio one day.
For 20 years, I have worked as a graphic designer. First independently, then leading a team of eight designers at Hoon Designs for 16 years, and now as the founder of Graphite Creative. Through it all, I never lost my first love: the art of the line. Doodling. Scribbling. Sketching. I love the simple yet profound act of putting graphite on paper.
You don’t start with any intention. It’s mysterious. Spontaneous. Natural. It becomes a visual language that gives the viewer the chance to see what they want to see. It’s open to interpretation through others’ eyes. And it has the power to change people’s hearts and minds.
Today, I make my living by helping others dream their dream, through strategic and creative design collaborations that result in imagery that has the power to move people. I’m fortunate to say today that I have an energetic, talented, diverse, and incredible team. We simply love what we do and have fun doing it.