There is a clear desire to blur the lines between art, design and tech in Hyomin Liv Kim’s already expansive practice. Originally from Seoul, the London College of Communication’s Graphic and Media Design course – which is well known for pushing the boundaries of traditional design – turned out to be the perfect fit for the young creative.

“My experience at LCC went beyond merely improving my technical skills; it was a valuable time for discovering my identity as a designer,” Kim tells CR. She cites the university’s melting pot of students from diverse cultural backgrounds, skilled technicians and a faculty that excels in various fields as key inspirations when it came to developing her own style.

Studying ceramics alongside more conventional disciplines like graphic design has also helped shape what her practice looks like today. Typically featuring a distinctive blend of 3D, motion and visual identity, the designer uses her work as a tool to create immersive experiences that people can easily engage with.

“By integrating cutting-edge technologies such as interactive media and digital installations, I enhance the immersive quality of my projects, allowing audiences to actively participate and experience the work,” Kim explains. “I strive to create pieces that enable people to deeply engage with contemporary issues and reflect on their own perspectives and experiences.”

One such project is Inflation Room, a VR experience that centres on the rising levels of greenhouse gases as one of the most serious environmental issues facing our planet today. In order to highlight the problem in a novel and engaging way, she placed it in the context of what is arguably people’s most intimate space: our bedrooms.

The designer has also shone a light on her personal experience as a left-hander in projects such as Distortion and Weightlessness, a 3D artwork that playfully illustrates the discomfort felt by lefties during everyday dining experiences through the distortion and expansion of utensils.

In addition, she’s explored her South Korean roots in projects including a series of eye-catching motion posters that highlight traditional Korean practices such as Samulnori (a percussion genre that combines four types of musical instruments with words) and Talchum (a masquerade dance performance in which people dress up as humans, animals and supernatural beings).

Samulnori+Talchum marked one of Kim’s early experiments with artificial intelligence; she used the technology to transfer traditional Korean dance movements into 3D software. While some of her peers are more sceptical of AI, the designer has found it to be particularly effective for “visually expressing ideas” and “infinitely broadening the possibilities for artists”.

Alongside experimenting with AI, Kim is keen to continue incorporating other new technologies into her practice, including 3D printing to create objects that can enhance people’s daily lives. “My goal is to utilise digital media art across various fields to provide not just visual pleasure but also thought-provoking experiences and interactive engagements with the audience,” she says.

As she takes the first steps into her career, the designer is also determined to continue building on the personal growth that her time at LCC laid the foundations for. “The most impactful piece of advice I have received was to acknowledge and accept my shortcomings compared to others,” she says.

“In the past, I struggled with the pressure to be perfect, which stifled my creativity and caused unnecessary stress. However, by recognising that everyone has unique strengths and weaknesses, I was able to identify my own strengths and accept my limitations. This change in perspective has given me the gift of true personal development.”

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