A stylized image of a pink cat, a Nintendo Switch and and a plant.



Introducing

Heeji Kim

IxD alumni (class of 2020) and
this year’s feature designer

A stylized illustration of a laptop and a yellow ball.
An image of Heeji Kim, a young Asian woman with long dark hair wearing a green jacket standing outside on a fall day. There are stylized illustrations of organic shapes and black cat overlaid on the image.
 

How did you get into Interaction Design?

 I’ve always had different creative hobbies and interests—drawing, sewing, book binding, story writing, etc.—I knew I wanted to do something creative when I grew up, but wasn’t sure what exactly.

In 2014 I enrolled into the Fine Arts program at York University. The studies were fun, but I increasingly felt that it was too restrictive for who I was and all my different interests. All my courses were based on physical media, but really I wanted to create within a digital medium.

It was a leap of faith, but in 2016 I enrolled into IxD, which ultimately helped me flourish as a creative.

 

What is the meaning behind your design of the Year End Show?

I wanted to channel a celebratory energy through my design. After all, grad shows are all about celebrating the completion of your studies, and the new beginnings!

Another design goal was to visualize the most important lessons I learned through my study - recognizing individuality and diversity. Our design identities take different shapes and we as people are very unique. And let’s be honest, the past few years have been tough for many of us, and I think we could really use funky designs to accompany us into the new year.

Stylized illustration of four organic shapes with faces.
 

What was your favourite project from IxD?

My grad thesis project, hands down. I got to study a topic that was very personal to not only me, but a lot of people: anxiety. My project was about taking a clinical approach to anxiety mitigation and turning it into something more delightful and usable. I wanted my design to incorporate “fun”, so I got to go full out on crafting illustrations and experimenting with user delight.

I know the question only asks for one project, but I HAVE to mention this one too—the visual narrative project where I got to sew mushrooms and a rat :-)

A photograph of felt mushrooms and a rat.
 



What was WFH like for you?

I was lucky enough to land a job I wanted during a global pandemic, but I’ll be super candid here; I struggled a LOT with work from home. The experience of working in a space where I sleep, eat, and relax was something completely new for me to get used to. I also realized that I rely heavily on people’s facial expressions and gestures when communicating, so presenting my design on zoom was difficult too. It definitely got better over time with self discipline and daily routines, but whew, the first few months were really tough on my mental health.

I’m aware that a big portion of the grad students will be working from home, so if you’re one of them and you’re scared or struggling with WFH, let’s chat!

An illustration of a figure on a video call with a speech bubble that says "What the f*#k is going on??"

What is your advice for the class of 2022?

Keep learning! Regularly expose yourself to stuff that helps you stay inspired, be it other people’s design, reading a design book, or watching documentaries.

Learn to manage your anxiety, don’t let it win. Remember you were able to get here, so don’t let it stop you from pursuing opportunities.

What's next for you and are there any goals you’re working toward in your practice?

In my 4th year of IxD, I made a promise to myself that whatever I did would make a meaningful and positive impact on the world. I love my current job and its impact, but I also know that my learning hasn’t finished. I don’t know when it’s going to be, but I’d love to go back to school for illustration or a more specialized design program.