Meet Julie Kwon

Julie Kwon is Edenspiekermann LA’s most recent addition to the team—as Junior Visual & Interaction Designer, working with us to define brands and build digital products in the City of Angels.

Originally from Ecuador, she’s spent most of her life in Los Angeles where she received a BFA in Communication Arts, Graphic Design from the world-renowned Otis College of Art and Design.

Before joining ESPI, she was a Junior Graphic Designer at Bella + Canvas, as well as an Educator at the J. Paul Getty Museum.

What stood out to us about Julie immediately was her authenticity—as a person and in her work—which she brings to the table every day.

What made you want to join Edenspiekermann? How do you find working with us different, compared to your past experiences? I had never worked in a design agency before this but I was always interested. I wanted to learn more about ESPI’s creative process and I knew that joining ESPI would help me grow as a designer. Compared to my past experiences, there is a lot more trust that is placed on my role as a designer here, which is a good thing. I really appreciate how every individual here is an active contributor to a project despite what their official titles are.

What do you enjoy most about being here in LA? What’s your least favorite thing? I enjoy the diversity in LA because it brings out the best in music, food, and unique cultural events. My least favorite thing is always traffic.

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LA is known for its terrible traffic. What music do you listen to, to make the commute more bearable? Any podcasts you enjoy? I’ll usually go through a strange combination of classical piano, r&b and hip-hop music, the news station on the KCRW radio station, and this podcast that my coworker Frank got me into, called Design Details.

Do you have any creative rituals you’d like to share with us? I have a tendency to write a lot of notes. The basic pencil and paper approach is always a good starting point. Creating a set of keywords or formulating a main idea through a single sentence are some ways that help me get in the right headspace.

What kind of projects do you like working on most? I like working on projects that I know nothing about. It challenges me to dig deeper into a subject until I feel confident about the topic. Embracing an unfamiliar subject with naivety can sometimes create nice opportunities for original ideas.

Which non-designer inspires your design work most? I’m really fond of Christoph Niemann’s work. His illustrations seem so effortless. It never seems to require more than a pen and a drawing pad. I want to be able to produce design that is as memorable, yet simple as his drawings are. Check out his Instagram account, @abstractsunday.

If you had to choose between juicing, meditating, or taking yoga classes for the rest of your life in LA, which would you choose? Juicing.

Any last words of wisdom?

See you later, Julie!