Interactive media setting sew standards for design

Interviewer:

Which are some of your favorite interactive media designers?

Kim:

I'm a huge fan of Theo Jansen's work. His Strandbeests had an enviable impact on the world of design, and each Strandbeest is individually designed. There are even a few different types to choose from based off what type of animal they represent.

Kim:

I also really like Bill Moggridge at Advanced Digital Systems. He has a great sense of humor and I enjoy his work because of this.

Kwok:

I love "Very Simple Machines" by Marcelo Zagatto. They are the most elegant designs of objects in game that I know of. The designers have created the most beautiful hybrids between real world proportions and digital objects. It is really fun to create designs based on these machines. Recently, I tried my own interactive design for a game that just started to get popular called "Rumble". It is really interesting to see how that game has inspired the entire community of designers.

Interviewer:

What makes these designs so appealing?

Kwok:

I think it is their simplicity, elegance and beauty. I have a side-project called "Ascend" that explores an idea of combining paper cutting with interactive design. I'm hoping to bring to life the same sense of mesmerizing beauty in the digital world. These designs just look inviting and fun to touch. It's like seeing an amazing piece of art in real life or in a gallery or museum that you want to reach out and touch but can't, so you try your best with your imagination.

Kim:

I enjoyed Theo Jansen's work for it's clever use of materials and the design aesthetic that he created. It seems so obvious now, but the idea of using natural elements is something that has never been done before and I hope it inspires lots of other designers to create in a similar way.

Kwok:

The designs from Marcelo Zagatto also have an inviting charm about them. Their softness and simplicity is something we can all relate to. They are not too fancy, not too abstract and still make you feel that they are really familiar and relatable to us even though they are digital models.

Interviewer:

What is your favorite design work of all time?

Kwok:

I actually have many, but my favorite is "The Reveal" by M. C. Escher. The interactive aspect of the design makes it so interesting and fun to play with. You experience a sense of satisfaction when you complete a task or see how it unfolds at the end. I also think that it's really unique in its interaction because you have to use your head and think quickly to make different choices in different sequences. It has inspired me a lot because of the interactive element and the beauty of its design aesthetic.

Kim:

I really enjoy the work of Bill Moggridge and his company. His philosophy of creating products that help people's lives is one I agree with completely. He also helped to create the iPhone, so it's no surprise that his work is so appealing.

Interviewer: What makes for good design? 

Kim: Design should be simple to make and fun to interact with, it should also be aesthetically pleasing in order to draw people in and make them want a closer look or interaction . The last thing it needs is lots of useless bells and whistles that create more clutter than anything else. Interaction designers shouldn't force something on users just because they can. They should start by asking themselves, "why would someone want to use my creation?" or "how can I make this easier or more fun to use?"

Kwok: I think it's very important that the designer submits himself/herself to the design process. To take some time off from thinking about how much money a particular design will make and just think about what it would be like if you were the one using it. It is really hard to do but I feel like it helps me a lot because then I can come up with designs and ideas that are more meaningful and personal based on my own life experience.

Interviewer:

How do you feel about the name of this site?

Kim: I love it. It is clever and speaks to the goal of the collection. If you think about it, magazines are typically all about fashion and they're usually called "High Street" or "Women's Wear" or something like that. So this site is aimed at people who just love beautiful things designed for people to really interact with them. We have collected designers who make objects for interactive use from all over the world but there are also a few designers who live in Korea themselves which is great because I can learn more about how other people define beauty and choose how they want their objects to be used.

Kwok: I think it's a great name. It speaks to the way designers view their creations. We often think of our designs as totems or iconic figures that represent us or our spirit and this collection is all about that. I like the idea of one designer making a totem for another designer and then that designer giving his totem to someone else and so on. It's a fun way to spread beauty and fun around through the world.

Interviewer:

The site is called "Beautiful Things" and it has been noted that you have your own personal aesthetic when it comes to design. How so? 

Kwok + Kim: It's funny because every time I talk about aesthetics, it's always a little bit different but I guess the main thing is that my aesthetic just celebrates natural beauty in objects. I love items that are made from things like wood and paper which are things we can relate to as human beings.

Conclusion: Ascend is an interactive design whereby mechanics, aesthetics or both can be used to create a powerful experience and aesthetic.

Interviewer:

How would you describe yourself as an artist? 

Kwok: Being an artist is very subjective but I guess I just like to use my creativity and imagination to tell stories. Some people translate real world objects into digital and others think of it as a tool they can use in their daily life. It's nice when you are able to connect them together in a beautiful way. I am also inspired by the creativity of other artists, which is something that definitely adds value to my work.