Hyunju Julia Lee

Specialized in Interior Design.

Hyunju Julia Lee

About Hyunju Julia Lee

Julia Lee is the director of Fran&Co, an interior design firm located in Seoul, Korea. Born in Korea, Julia graduated from the California College of the Arts in San Francisco, where she immersed herself in a city that beautifully intertwines nature, architecture, and art. This vibrant environment deepened her understanding of how space influences daily life and allowed her to appreciate the transformative power of design. Fran&Co specializes in creating functional and sustainable spaces that cater to the diverse needs of clients across various sectors. Julia’s innovative design strategies focus on artistic expression, multisensory experiences, and human-centered design.

  • Winner of the A' Design Award.
  • Specialized in Interior Design.
  • Original Design.
  • Creative, Diligent and Innovative.
  • All Designs
  • Interior
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Interview with Hyunju Julia Lee

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?
Since childhood, I’ve been deeply sensitive to spaces and atmospheres. I still vividly remember a restaurant I visited with my family as a child — the stained-glass lights, velvet textures, and even the faint piano music remain in my memory not just as visuals, but as emotions. I think that’s when I subconsciously started seeing space as a medium of storytelling. I studied Interior Design in San Francisco and New York, and also pursued architecture studies in Chile and Argentina. Those diverse cultural experiences helped me expand my design perspective globally while staying grounded in emotional depth. Becoming a designer wasn’t just a decision, it was an inevitability.
Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
Fran&Co is a Seoul-based interior design studio I founded in 2022. We specialize in workspaces and commercial interiors that go beyond aesthetics. We create environments that support human behavior, evoke emotion, and drive business outcomes. Our motto is simple: "Making life more beautiful through space." Design is not just about surfaces, but about what space can do for people — emotionally, behaviorally, and even economically.
What is "design" for you?
Design is a form of emotional engineering. It’s not just about arranging furniture or picking colors. It’s about crafting environments that affect how people feel, think, and act. For me, design is a silent partner in life. It doesn’t shout, but it shapes everything.
What kinds of works do you like designing most?
I particularly enjoy designing workspaces and brand spaces because they offer a narrative challenge. Every brand or company has a story, a culture, and a dream, and my role is to translate that into a spatial language. Spaces that reflect identity and ambition excite me the most.
What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
One of my favorites is the Fran&Co office itself, which was awarded the iF Design Award. It was a deeply personal project. I transformed a windowless space into an inspiring atelier by layering forest-themed wallpaper, soft lighting, and a sense of emotional rhythm. The space embodies my design philosophy: healing, imaginative, and human-centered.
What was the first thing you designed for a company?
My first official project was a collaborative office space in Seoul. It was a startup company looking to define its brand through its physical space, and I designed it to be casual, flexible, and grounded in industrial minimalism, while keeping the budget in mind. That balance between identity, design, and business has stayed with me ever since.
What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
I love working with natural finishes — textured woods, warm metals, and layered lighting. But I’m also fascinated by digital rendering and VR tools. They allow clients to emotionally connect with the concept before it’s built. Technology is no longer separate from design; it’s a part of how we communicate feeling.
When do you feel the most creative?
Usually in solitude, late at night or when I’m traveling alone. Seeing new environments, walking through a museum, or just staring at the sea. That’s when design ideas begin to whisper.
Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
I focus on three key aspects: emotional flow, spatial logic, and sensory depth. A good space must feel good, function well, and resonate with memory.
What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
I feel like I’m composing music with space. There’s a rhythm, a tension, a quiet moment, and a resolve. It's emotional. Sometimes it’s joy, sometimes obsession, often curiosity.
What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
Whenever a space I’ve designed is brought to life, I always feel a blend of two emotions. First, there’s a sense of anticipation and nervous excitement, like the moment just before a theater curtain rises. Then comes a quiet sense of fulfillment, as I watch people inhabit the space, respond to it, and gradually make it their own. When a client tells me, “I feel energized in this space,” it reminds me why I do what I do. That’s when I truly feel the purpose of being a designer.
What makes a design successful?
A successful design connects. It doesn’t have to be loud or complex. It just needs to touch people in ways they didn’t expect but deeply needed.
When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
Authenticity. I look at the intention behind the design: what problem it solves, how it considers users, and whether form and feeling align. Good design isn’t just beautiful, it’s emotionally and logically grounded.
From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
Designers shape the world quietly but profoundly. We must design for sustainability, for inclusion, and for healing. We have a responsibility to create spaces that protect the future.
How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
Design is becoming more human-centered and interdisciplinary. In the future, I believe design will be less about objects and more about systems and emotional experience. The fusion of AI, psychology, and ecology will be key.
Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
I find inspiration in travel, museums, architectural tours, everyday scenes, emotional shifts, music, and meaningful conversations. Often, ideas emerge in those quiet moments when I let myself feel and flow with time. To stay creative, I believe in giving myself enough space to simply be — to daydream, to pause. Without that openness, inspiration has nowhere to land.
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?
I don't define my work by a single visual style, because every project is a new story. Some are minimalist and serene, others layered and expressive. My approach is more about the emotional and spatial logic behind the design than any fixed aesthetic. What ties my work together is the intention to create spaces that feel meaningful, intuitive, and emotionally resonant. I adapt my visual language depending on the brand, context, and the users — but I always ask: What do I want people to feel here? I believe that style is not a signature look, but a way of thinking. For me, that means designing with empathy, listening deeply to the identity of the space, and crafting environments that are both functional and poetic.
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 live in Seoul. Korean design is deeply rooted in harmony, balance, and the beauty of emptiness. That heritage always lives within me, even when I'm designing something global or contemporary.
How do you work with companies?
I collaborate closely, starting with understanding client’s core values. My process includes deep listening, visual storytelling, and aligning design choices with business strategy — not just aesthetics.
What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
Choose a designer who listens well and thinks beyond trends. Look for someone who aligns with your values and can translate your brand into a spatial experience.
Can you talk a little about your design process?
My process begins with understanding — people, context, and intention. Then comes concept development, sketching, material exploration, and detailed coordination. It’s both intuitive and structured.
What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?
1.A vintage floor lamp from New York 2.A ceramic bowl I bought in Korea 3.A collection of rocks and fossils 4.A book from my favorite interior design professor 5.My aged wooden piano. Not design per se, but a quiet anchor in my space.
Can you describe a day in your life?
Mornings begin with green tea and planning the day. Afternoons are for deep work — drawing, writing, reviewing visuals. Evenings are for reflection, sometimes ballet class or writing.
Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
Design is not just about trends. It's about observing, asking deeper questions, and building your voice. Stay curious, stay kind, and don’t be afraid to be different.
From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
The joy: Creating something meaningful that touches people’s lives. The challenge: balancing creative integrity with real-world constraints. But that tension often births the best work.
What is your "golden rule" in design?
Design with empathy. Every space should understand its user before trying to impress.
What skills are most important for a designer?
Observation, storytelling, spatial intuition, and the ability to synthesize ideas. Communication is just as important as creativity.
Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
Sketchbook, Adobe Suite, AutoCAD, Enscape, and inspirational images and site photos. I also rely on my own writing as design tools.
Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
I structure my days with intention, making sure to build in time for thinking, not just doing. I prioritize tasks and give each stage the attention it deserves.
How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
It depends. From a few weeks for small-scale to months for spatial or branding projects. The concept phase is often the most time-consuming, but the most important.
What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?
“Where do your ideas come from?” — and my answer is always: from life, from observing, from listening closely.
What was your most important job experience?
Designing Fran&Co's Seoul office. It was not just a project. It was building my philosophy into a physical form.
Who are some of your clients?
Startups, retail brands, and corporate clients looking for meaningful transformation.
What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
Projects that involve storytelling, like transforming a forgotten basement into a poetic retail space or designing an office that reflects a staff’s journey.
What are your future plans? What is next for you?
My next steps include publishing my book, and launching a furniture line rooted in the values of emotional space, and expanding Fran&Co into global markets. I also hope to speak more internationally, sharing design philosophy with broader audiences.
Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
Both. I lead the design direction and collaborate with a small, dedicated team. For certain parts like storytelling or editing, I also work solo.
Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
Yes, a new retail project that plays with repetition and layering, inspired by traditional architecture.
Any other things you would like to cover that have not been covered in these questions?
Design is not just what we see, but what we feel, remember, and carry with us. I believe good design evokes memorable emotions, not just enhances functions.

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