Jinho Kang

Specialized in Fine Art Design.

Jinho Kang

About Jinho Kang

He is something new artist in illustration area compare to his long career of animation. He splits the human's thinking into small pieces and put it together by weird way. It represent the human's ego, mind, natural characters that every human being has.

  • Winner of the A' Design Award.
  • Specialized in Fine Art Design.
  • Original Design.
  • Creative, Diligent and Innovative.
  • All Designs
  • Fine Art
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Crazy Head Digital Art

Fine Art Design

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Interview with Jinho Kang

Could you please tell us more about your art and design background? What made you become an artist/designer? Have you always wanted to be a designer?
My major was physics but I was an animator for over 20 years in South Korea. Animation and design is much similar like brothers and sisters. When I saw the artwork of Moebius I was shocked. This is the new world I have to go into. It was started in 1988. Since then my works going as animator, illustrator, character designer until now.
Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
I was working many animation companies over 10 years since 1990. After 2002 I work alone as freelance artist. Sometimes I work for some animation and mobile game company.
What is "design" for you?
It seems like creation of God. Every object surround us have their own beautiful shapes to care.
What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
The recent works that is combined with human, cars and something else.
What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
Digital program with photo of human and object of modern society/facebook, YouTube.
Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
Every time I do I focus on the fun and satire with some cyberpunk.
From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
Every design has born for the human society so It should goes back to them.
How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
I think It goes to the more convenient for human as always it did. In case of me Let's make new things which is you never seen before.
When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
It was group exhibition with various artists at Seoul Korea in ten years ago. I have no plan the next one.
Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
It comes out from all kinds of media. movies, games, music video, etc.
How would you describe your design style? What made you explore more this style and what are the main characteristics of your style? What's your approach to design?
what are the main characteristics of your style? What's your approach to design? My design is like complexity of human especially their thinking, ego and natural born characters. What are they thinking about now? What are they interested in most? So I stick their interest to their head together which they can't take it away.
Where do you live? Do you feel the cultural heritage of your country affects your designs? What are the pros and cons during designing as a result of living in your country?
I was born and live in Seoul Korea now. My design was not affected by my country but different many artists of different country through the YouTube channel.
How do you work with companies?
My main job is making animation with various different companies of animation and game.
What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
There are two things to consider which is personality and work ability. Good designer should have both 50:50.
Can you talk a little about your design process?
1) sketching for the proper layouts 2) searching and drawing object for the character 3) makes detail for more goes with the concept.
What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?
1) scissors 2)home made shelf 3)I-phone 4) fruit knife 5)clothes hanger
Can you describe a day in your life?
Living a day with joyful mind. Negative mind doesn't help my creative artwork.
Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
Whoever you are what you have is most creative so always focus on yours first.
From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
Being a designer It's cool job not only you make create something new but It help other people. Negatives are you are becoming more sensitive person.
What is your "golden rule" in design?
Find something in your head that makes you happy and just enjoy the rest of it while you're working.
What skills are most important for a designer?
Being able to design the layout that fully conveys your ideas behind the work.
Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
I usually use Photoshop. And my tool box is usually filled with various photos, music videos and movies.
Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
I chop it down into small tasks i can do every day and try to keep that schedule.
What was your most important job experience?
Working on the TV animations from Warner Brothers in 1990 and 2020 was the turning point of my career.
What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
Human related robots and mechanics. Because they make me feel like I am looking at a completely different world than ours.
Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
Most of time I work alone for design area. Sometimes I work as team leader for animation.
Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
There are no special works-in-progress but I always care about layouts for fun.

Designer of the Day Interview with Jinho Kang

Could you please tell us about your experience as a designer, artist, architect or creator?
I worked in the Korean animation industry for more than 20 years. My work includes mostly Warner Brothers TV series such as Tiny Toon series and Much Lucha. For the last 10 years, I’ve been working in the game industry.
How did you become a designer?
Before I got into the animation field, I worked as a Sci-Fi illustrator for some time. A French cartoon artist, Moebius (Jean Giraud) was a huge inspiration for me. After that, I was fascinated by humorous animation styles of Warner Brothers, which made me want to borrow its styles and apply them to my work. That’s how my present arts were born.
What are your priorities, technique and style when designing?
First, I try to come up with ideas and sketch them, which helps me make a good layout. Second of all, I select most suitable characters. Third, I get to work using pictures and digital programs. I find digital programs very useful as they quickly visualize my ideas.
Which emotions do you feel when designing?
I feel elated when I manage to make or find perfect characters that match the sketched layout.
What particular aspects of your background shaped you as a designer?
I spent lots of time on a variety of digital programs. Using those programs, I took things apart and put them back together. I tried to see things in different angles and viewpoints. I tried to expand my artistic perspectives appreciating various artists around the world.
What is your growth path? What are your future plans? What is your dream design project?
I’d like to create more various and humorous cyber funk of my own styles, and go even further to express my work through figures and sculptures.
What are your advices to designers who are at the beginning of their career?
Most personal is most creative! It’s important to find something you can enjoy doing and make it better gradually and constantly.
You are truly successful as a designer, what do you suggest to fellow designers, artists and architects?
Artistic talents and abilities are important. But what’s more important is good communication skills. Being able to communicate with people in the related field would be a key to a successful finish of your work
What is your day to day look like?
My routine is pretty much the same as most other people. One thing that’s peculiar to me is that I spend a lot of time watching movies and various illustration arts of other artists to keep myself updated on what’s happening.
How do you keep up with latest design trends? To what extent do design trends matter?
It’s easy to keep up with latest trends as the Internet makes the world smaller and smaller. For me, latest trends are not really important because I could lose my own identity if I’m not very careful with them.
How do you know if a product or project is well designed? How do you define good design?
Every works have their own symbols and meanings. It's gonna be nothing but drawing or works without that meanings. So the good design comes from something that well mixed together.
How do you decide if your design is ready?
This is such a difficult task that I have made some rules. First, after I make a layout, I try to stick with it as far as the layout leads to. Second, if I come up with new ideas while doing my work, I make some changes and see how it looks.
What is your biggest design work?
Recent works, the Crazy Head series is my biggest one. It has all kinds of obstinacy that all humans have through their lives. However, it does not necessarily see them as bad. Instead, it sees them in positive viewpoints, which make me feel more attached to it.
Would you tell us a bit about your lifestyle and culture?
I’m presently living in Korea. But ironically, Korean cultures hardly affects my work. I don’t think about particular countries or religion. I try to create something that’s common and applicable to any part of the world.
Would you tell us more about your work culture and business philosophy?
I’m a fun-loving person. And I like to work in a fun-loving atmosphere. I believe we can be more creative and productive if we laugh more.
What are your philanthropic contributions to society as a designer, artist and architect?
I’m involved in different artistic societies in Korea. I go to regular meetings and seminars where I get a lot of chances to share my ideas and experience with some of younger animators about jobs we do.
What positive experiences you had when you attend the A’ Design Award?
I learned to love myself more and take more pride in myself. It’s always to know that my work gets acknowledged and appreciated by other people.

Extended Interview with Jinho Kang

Could you please tell us about your experience as a designer, artist, architect or creator?
I’ve never gotten any education for designing. I got into illustrated images and started drawing. I’ve been in the animation business for over 20 years.
How did you become a designer?
I like the fact that I can put many meanings into a single image.
What are your priorities, technique and style when designing?
I loved designing so I started doing it and before I realized it, I was in the world of design.
Which emotions do you feel when designing?
I’ve done many science-fictional pieces that deal with human’s anguish, and I want to continue working on them with cyberpunk elements.
What particular aspects of your background shaped you as a designer?
At first you will probably need to mimic other people’s works but you need to find your own style, and develop it.
What is your growth path? What are your future plans? What is your dream design project?
Good designers create something visually impressive. Great designers create something that has profound messages relating to the lives of human beings that respect other human beings.
What are your advices to designers who are at the beginning of their career?
I think individualism should come from respecting the world of others and understanding them.
You are truly successful as a designer, what do you suggest to fellow designers, artists and architects?
Good designs give more convenience and bring goods to many people. It brings good to everyone.
What is your day to day look like?
I want to satirize people’s agonies. I want to work on things that make you reassess about yourself and give hope to you.
How do you keep up with latest design trends? To what extent do design trends matter?
I wish I could actually build the giant robots from my designs and put them next to Eiffel Tower.
Who is your favourite designer?
Scissors. It is so useful and well designed in our lives for so many things on a daily basis.
What are your philanthropic contributions to society as a designer, artist and architect?
Designs are like women. Without them, there’s no purpose in life.
What positive experiences you had when you attend the A’ Design Award?
I might sound strange but I always get help from someone from my dreams.

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