I'm Daniel, a seasoned product designer with a passion for visual storytelling and user-centered design. I'm currently based in Fairfield, California, and bring 15 years of experience in graphic and product design, with a focus in advertising and banking sectors. My design philosophy revolves around creating experiences that are not only functional but also visually captivating. I believe that design is about solving problems and making a meaningful impact on people's lives. I'm especially partial to good art, art that can speak to social justice and equity.
I excel in leading teams, juggling multiple tasks, and ensuring that every project meets the highest standards of excellence. I have an eye for color, detail, and how best to use negative space. My background in Figma and user-centered design principles allows me to craft intuitive interfaces that resonate emotionally with users. My stint in teaching in higher education speaks to my instructional collaboration and ability to plainly communicate to interdisciplinary teams about the process and final product of our work.
My most prized art project to this day is my graduate school thesis assignment: Hangul Proverbs. It was a neat assignment that allowed me to depart from my graphic design talent and tap into illustrative skills. If you haven't seen it on my website, please check it out! It is the one project I was able to use art to realize the intersection of my lived experience in two cultures- Korean and American. My hope is to revisit this thesis in the future and see where else it takes my inward thoughts and feelings.
At the core, I'm an introvert with few words and have always used art to speak for me. So it’s not a surprise when folks discover that I'm a wannabe pro golfer or Gundam enthusiast in my private life. When I'm not immersed in design projects, I'm either tinkering with a new gunpla model or researching swing forms and thoughts. I have also picked up on hiking scenic trails as another go-to activity for inspiration and relaxation. If you're in the Bay Area, you might catch me and my partner at Muir Woods with our two rescue dogs, Levi (German pointer/beagle mix) and Cooper (Boston terrier mix)!
Finding the right balance between work and self-care is always a tough one for any goal-oriented professional, but I'm glad that over the years I've learned how to find that balance to make it through the long game of not just surviving, but thriving at this thing called life! I'm excited about the future and the possibilities that lie ahead. As I continue to grow as a UX/UI designer, I'm eager to take on projects that challenge the status quo and push the boundaries of what's possible in design. Let's create something amazing together and make a lasting impact through design!