Reina Mun is an interdisciplinary designer, artist and also a technologist who has always been fascinated by the multiple ways how design can be used to birth objects that are both functional and connect with people on a personal level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Interview with the 2023 NY Product Design Awards<\/strong> Winner \u2013 Reina Mun<\/p>\n\n\n\n Q1. Please give us a brief bio of yourself and your background.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n My name is Reina Mun and I am an interdisciplinary designer, artist, and technologist born in South Korea and raised in Hong Kong. I am currently completing my postgraduate studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Prior to this, I studied architecture and design at the AA School of Architecture in London.<\/p>\n\n\n\n My practice revolves around creating physical mediums that blur the boundaries between design and art and the interplay between the scale of architecture and objects. Through design and art research, I place queries in objecthood and cultivating intimacy and empathy. I am interested in how design can address the challenges of living in a fast-paced world driven by rapid technological advancements and an obsession with efficiency and smart technology. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Q2. What made you become\/why did you choose to become a product designer?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n While I wouldn’t necessarily classify myself as a traditional product designer, I’ve always been fascinated by the ways in which design can be used to create objects that are not only functional but also evoke emotions and connect people on a personal level. For me, the user experience is paramount and I’m constantly striving to create designs that resonate with people on an emotional and interpersonal level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n By constructing experiences through design, I aim to create objects and spaces that not only serve a practical purpose but also engage people on a deeper level. This approach has been a driving force in my creative practice and I’m committed to exploring the potential of design to foster empathy and intimacy in our increasingly technology-driven world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Q3. Tell us more about your business\/company, job profile, and what you do.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n My work as a designer and artist focuses on creating objects that are not solely utilitarian but entails poetic and artistic narratives. I approach my work through a research-based process that incorporates computational technologies, digital fabrications and speculative design. My work ranges from microarchitectures and furniture to lighting, interactive objects and playful devices. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Q4. What does \u201cdesign\u201d mean to you?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Design, to me, encompasses the art and science of creating meaningful and purposeful experiences. It is not limited to just aesthetics or functionality but extends to the social, cultural, and emotional contexts in which it exists. At the core of design is a deep focus on the user and the individual experience. By prioritizing the needs and desires of people, designers can create mediums that resonate emotionally and connect with people on a personal level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In my practice, I like to explore the boundaries between the real and the unreal to create new relationships between the work and its audience. Whether I am designing a space, an interactive installation, or an object, I believe that design can be a powerful tool for fostering empathy, bridging divides, and creating connections between people of different backgrounds and cultures. Ultimately, design is a means of enhancing and enriching people’s lives, creating experiences that are both meaningful and resonating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Q5. What\u2019s your favorite kind of design and why?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n My favorite kind of design is one that puts efforts in engaging people’s personal associations and interpersonal layers with the work. I find that designs that establish a deep emotional connection with their users are the most impactful and memorable. I am drawn to designs that possess a timeless quality and can remain relevant and meaningful even as our tastes and preferences evolve. I believe that such designs are able to stand the test of time because they are able to tap into universal human experiences and emotions.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Reina Mun is an interdisciplinary designer, artist and also a technologist who has always been fascinated by the multiple ways how design can be used to [\u2026]<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":18,"featured_media":19082,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[372],"tags":[360,488,382],"yoast_head":"\n