Meet Hye Jeong Park | Scholar, educator, and graphic designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Hye Jeong Park and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Hye Jeong, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
When I was a child, I fell in love with drawings and creating 3D objects. Receiving positive feedback on my artwork, knowing it could impact people, brought me joy and motivation to move forward. Consequently, at the age of 12, I chose to dedicate my life to art and design. I attended arts middle and high schools in South Korea with the aim of becoming a creatively influential individual, using my art to make a positive impact on the world. My career began in sculpture, and I have since evolved into a professional graphic designer, educator, and scholar teaching college students. Holding a Ph.D. in Human-Computer Interaction, my interdisciplinary experience in computer science enriches my ability to envision the future of our society and contribute to the graphic design field. My educational journey was challenging yet dynamic, and I take pride in maintaining my childhood goal of solving problems in creative ways and offering broad insights to improve the world.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am passionate about supporting and creating a better world. This passion led me to study Human-Computer Interaction and incorporate my knowledge of graphic design and fine art to address potential design challenges through human- and user-centered approaches. I thrive on identifying, analyzing, and building strategies to solve problems within the creative problem-solving process. For example, the Blue Container product from CoPort is designed as a multi-purpose device such as a power bank, digital signage, and nameplate. It also enables users to express their identity, personality, job, and work style in shared offices. This facilitates natural communication and collaboration, particularly benefiting those who run small businesses and wish to connect with others.

Furthermore, as a scholar, I contribute to academic discussion, aiming to impact scholars and researchers beyond my discipline. I participate in various international conferences across fields such as graphic design, engineering, psychology, and education to broaden my research focus on empathy and creativity. Empathy is a significant element in the design process, essential for fostering creative user-centered solutions tailored to user needs. My research, published in peer-reviewed international journals, demonstrates that empathy is a valuable trait across multiple domains, not just design. Overall, my scholarly research is closely related to my design goal. Discussing the research and design work, whether mine or others, and envisioning its potential global impact energizes me.

I believe that my unique fusion of graphic design and computer science expertise allows me to offer creative design solutions, and it sets me apart from others and most proud of. This interdisciplinary knowledge enables me to collaborate with professionals from various fields, developing strategies to foster creative idea generation for users, society, and the world.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
This is my second year in Colorado, so my experience here is somewhat limited. Nonetheless, I want to take my family and friends to Rocky Mountain National Park to explore my favorite hiking trails together. Then, I want to enjoy a relaxing time in Estes Park, strolling through the area and visiting its many interesting local shops. I also hope to introduce them to Denver and explore downtown to experience the lively and vibrant atmosphere of Colorado. I believe Colorado offers the perfect blend of nature and urban life, providing positive inspiration for my creative and scholarly endeavors.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would like to mention my colleagues. As designers working on significant projects, we often work as a team. In team settings, I am convinced that we can create considerable synergy by incorporating diverse skills and knowledge, leading to more creative and successful outcomes. Moreover, we can provide mutual support and motivation throughout the creative process and journey. For example, my colleagues and I were named finalists for our design, CoPort, in an international design competition where the acceptance rate was a mere 5%. We believe that this significant achievement would not have been possible without our collaborative efforts, empowering our varied insights and design strengths.

Website: https://hjparkd.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.park.22