G. Stephanie Songmfa Cadidate Industrial Design bs Human Environment & Design

The more I learn to see the world of the everyday, the stronger I feel about my choice to be part of the world of design. In my past two years at a graduate school, I rethought and designed everyday objects through various projects. Through this process the way I see the world has changed tremendously. I’m inquiring for your Industrial Designer position with you for that reason. I believe it is the place that will deepen my skill of interpreting the everyday into meaningful products.

I have learned a lot of things from in and outside of school. A year of study at the Netherlands from my undergraduate degree shifted my point of view to the world. Although I have lived abroad before, it was my first time to face a bold cultural difference all alone without the protection of my family nearby. I had to understand and accept many new things in a short time in order to survive. It was only a year long, but its impact on my life was enormous. I have become more flexible with changes of life, people and places. Last Summer I did a three-months-Internship at Josh Owen llc. This actual working experience has taught me to pay greater attention to design details and pushed me to carry further to complete a design. Before then, I had been rather blind to the process of solidifying floating ideas. which is almost as important as conceptualizing a product for the completion of design. I know your comany is looking for people who are able to balance between those two realm of the conceptual and practical. My portfolio pieces and Master Thesis will tell you, with and without words, that I am the right choice for you.

I would love to receive the opportunity to contribute to your company . In a week or two, I will be in touch with you to see if arrangements for an interview can be made. I will be also glad to accept a phone call or an e-mail from you if it is preferable. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

G. Stephanie Song Rochester institute of Technology Graduate Industrial Design

“I have become more flexible with every change of life, people and places.”

to whom it may concern,

InterestThere is a saying from Confusious, “First take care of yourself, then your family and nation, the whole world will be in peace.” I believe in this somewhat ideological statement, in itself and within design contexts. Design should pursue responsibly that which it brings to lives of individuals, society and this world, that we together create. In the end the spirit of design is a central source for bringing change to our lives and surroundings.

To obtain a full-time position at a professional design firm that acknowledges the social and environmental impact of design, and specializes in the creation of everyday design objects

Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, New York, usaMaster of Fine Arts in Industrial Design, anticipated Graduation 2009 gpa: 3.9/4.0

Yonsei University, Seoul, South KoreaBachelor of Science in Human Environment & Design, Minor in Business Graduated 2006, gpa: 3.5/4.3

Inholland University, Haarlem and Rotterdam, the Netherlands Exchange Program in Business & Communication DesignSeptember, 2004-June, 2005 Graduate level of skills in Typography to compose text, colors, images with other elements of 2- or 3-dimensionsHighly efficient of Adobe cs3/4 Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesignHighly efficient of SolidWorks, ConceptsUnlimited, Alias

Josh Owen LLC., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, June–August 2008 Industrial Design Intern. Responsible for creation of 2- and 3-dimensional concept sketches both physically and digitally. Used computer applications Concepts Unlimited, Adobe InDesign, Illustrator and Photoshop. Also worked on proposal presentations for prospective clients, including Kikkerland, Areaware, Normann Copenhagen, and Casamania. All jobs were created under Josh Owen’s guidance.

Master Thesis: Design for Invisibility To Place Things BetterWhen an object fits our living environment and habits so well, it gradually disappears to the background of our everyday life and becomes invisible. Designed a placing system that flexibly speaks to an user’s space and his/her individuality.

bmw Research project: Zeitgeist 120 years, Catching the Spirit of the Time, November, 2007-March, 2008 Group Project. Prospected future by studying World history of 120 years (1890 – 2010), and making connections between events. Proposed Future Lifestyle according to the result of this research. Presented work to designers from bmw Advanced Design, Munich, Germany in 2008 at rit.

Samsung Raemian Trend ReportSalone Internationale del Mobile di Milano 2006

Participated Salonesatellite 2006 with a wooden table Dawn Won S Green Award, Yonsei University Design Award for Dawn that reinterpreted Korean traditional pattern Vice-president, Yonsei Amateur Fine Arts Club Whawoo at Yonsei University 2003-2004

References available on request.

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Objective

Education

Skills

Work Experiences

Research Projects

Honors & Activities

Résumé

SooniRoomDesigned Bedding & Stationery Senior Show creating a Total Brand named SooniRoom

DawnA Hand Made Wooden TableParticipated Salonesatellite 2006 Furniture Design, Senior Year

Zeitgeist 120Catching Spirits of the timebmw Research ProjectGraduate First Year

AiryA purse that prevents pain of the shoulders and NeckIndividual Project

KyogamA lounge sofa that encourages emotional and social interactions among people.Toy Design CourseGraduate Second Year

mfa thesisDesign for Invisibility:To Place Things BetterDefining invisibility in acts of designing everyday objects and applying the notion to a placing system

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SooniRoomIt is a story of your lost youth, dreams, and the mundane memories of reminiscences.

DawnUpon dusk, candle light and wooden slats make a play of shadows against the doors paper cover.

Zeitgeist 120Catching Spirits of the timeWhat is the spirit of our time and the coming future?

Airy“Distribute the load evenly…Carry your bag as close to your body as possible”

Kyogam“Talking to people, sharing our different thoughts is the best thing I can do whenever I’m free… Doing nothing became something fun.”

mfa thesisDesign for Invisibility:To Place Things BetterThink of where you are, who you are with and what you use everyday. You are in the space where everything is man-made except for your own body.

Stories

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SooniRoom the brand

Project 1

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About Born of three members incorporating a series of furniture, bedding, clothing and stationery design for a girl named Sooni. She is a 23 year old girl who fondly collects objects of reminders for her childhood memories.

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Sleeping Reminiscence Sooni Bedding

Bedding Sleeping ReminiscenceDesigned by G.Stephanie SongRecreating childhood memories of a little girl using a blanket as a physical means.

Character Sooni taking picturesDesigned by G.Stephanie Song

MaterialDigital Printed Fabric stitched to colored Fabric, Velcro

ScaleBlanket: 82.6" x 62.9"Bed Sheet: 74.8" x 37.4"Pillow Cover: 25.6" x 18.5"

DescriptionA blanket with removable paper doll parts on top

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PatternsDesigned by using repetitive patterns of hair pins, shoes, buttons and flowers combined with worn-out colors.

How to play with SooniFree to choose & change Sooni’s wardrobe just like old time paper doll play.

The Moment/ Story of me n you/Yearly, Monthly, Daily Sooni Stationery

Stationery SetDesigned by G.Stephanie Song

InspirationsOld text books, handwritings

MaterialPrinted Recycled Paper

ScaleDiary: 8.26" x 5.9"Photo Album: 5.5" x 5.5"Calendar: 5.5" x 5.5"

Character Sooni writing diaryDesigned by G.Stephanie Song

DescriptionDiary, folded-out Photo Album and detachable Calendar

Patterns & ColorsFaded out colors applied

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bmw Research Project

Zeitgeist 120 Catching Spirits of the time

About the wallA four-months group project designed by rit graduate students. The wall was a collage of images or artifacts to capture zeitgeist–spirits of the time of 120 years from 1890 to 2010.

Left Collage of ImagesPart of the wall crossing over sections of Zeitgeist, Politics and Music in 1950s

Nine CategoriesArchitecture, Art & Design, Automobile, Camera, Fashion, Zeitgeist, Politics & Society, Music, and Technology

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Project 2

Project ObjectiveBy connecting related events across the time line, we imagined what future scenarios might result.

Final presentationAudiences discussion in front of the wall after the presentation.

Scale16' x 7'

Process Photos ClockwiseThe beginning/ 3d experimentation/Field trip to Smithsonian Museum at d.c

Field ResearchImplementations

Connecting dots

isms on Magazines

november december january february march

Future Speculations

Image Gathering

Time line

Presentation

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MakingConnectionsWe made several versions of both physical and digital connections of the wall.

9 Categories listed on pg 14

Years 1890-2010

StorySome of the connections shown above are easily understood while others aren’t. Of course, not every event is directly related. However if you speculate about them enough and start think about

their inter-relations, these connections become valid. In order to show inconventional relationships, we needed to see the big picture and the overlapping of eras and categories.

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Future isms on Magazines covers

Big Five ismsThe final five should communicate clearly what possible future they represent.

AboutBrainstormed over eighty isms which may represent the spirit and lifestyles of the future. (e.g. McDonald-ism for 1980s Blog-ism for 21st century) Each of us had chosen two isms out of the final five, for which we created magazine covers depicting these futures.

IS REALITY

BURNING YOU

HOW TO MAKE MY CUBICL-OUSE ENTERTAINING : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : :

ULTIMATE WAY ACTUAL EYE CONTACT WITH OTHERS

TO MAKE THE

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AUGUST 2057

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Neo-diyismdiwo (Do It With Others) ismHabitatismTransportationismEmotional-attachmentism

diwoism Do It With Others Habitatism Increasing numbers of Neo-Nomads

Wired MagazineAugust 2057Do It With Others-ism is a play off of the current diy movement. People in 2057 may have to relearn how to make proper eye contacts. This issue gives tips to make this experience easier and better.

Blueprint MagazineFall 2035Do you need a style suggestion for your personal yurt? The future will be the era of Noble Nomads who are free from family and national ties.

Article Inside35 Styles for Your Modern Yurt

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Kyogam a lounge sofa

AboutKyogam in Korean means emotional (Gam) interactions (Kyo) between two people. This project is to encourage social & emotional interactions.

Play a project theme

“Practically anything can become an agency for some kind of play.” Brian Sutton SmithThe Ambiguity of PlayHarvard University Press, 1998, pp6

AboutUnderstand an act not an object of playDesign a play agent reflecting the definition of play based on the book The Ambiguity of Play, video and paper interviews, and daily observations

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Project 3

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Video InterviewsSeven interviewee ranging from 19 months to 74 years old were asked “How do you play?”

Interview AnalysisPlay is interacting closely with people and caring about each other.

“Talking to people and sharing our different thoughts is the best thing I can do whenever I’m free… Doing nothing became something fun.”

Leena, 25 years old, FemaleCollege Graduate

Focused Group InterviewThree interviewee in their late 20s were asked about:Childhood Memories of PlayComparison to the PresentRelationship of Freedom and Play

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Left drawingTalking, drinking andeating out are all play activities for adults.

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ConceptPlay as sharing, comforting and understanding A platform that rotates slowly with the weight of two or more people sitting within. Targeting mid-20 to 40 year olds who enjoy time alone or with their close friends and family. This sofa creates a moment of being connected.

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Dawn a coffee table

Reinterpretation of the traditional pattern into a modern form.

Project 4

AboutA hand made wooden table with a removable lighting fixture in the center of the table top.

Pattern StudiesPlaying with combinations of several patterns

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Dawn 31.4 X 31.4 X 16.3 inch, plywood

On top of the table, you can open the lid by putting your fingers through strips, and change a light bulb attached inside.

Dawn Light + Shadow + Nostalgia

I always longed for dimmed candle lights seen through the door. At dawn, shadow was created by patterns of strips through the paper. The warm atmosphere of the time comforted me, and brought my nostalgic memories back. I wanted to share that experience with others by designing this light + table “Dawn”.

Dimming lights In the evening, candle light and wooden slats make a play of shadows against the doors paper cover. This comforting atmosphere is what I remember as authentic Korean.

Scale & Material31" x 31" x 16.5"Plywood, Walnut ◀ ◀

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16.5

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Airy a purse

AboutAn individual project to design a purse to prevent neck and shoulder pain due to incorrect postural relationships with bags to users

Project 5

“The problem with carrying a heavy bag is that while it may not cause you an injury at the time, carrying itover time has an accumulative effect…”

Tim HutchfulBritish Chiropractic Association

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Behavioral Pattern StudiesPeople tend to wear bags that may cause imbalance of a body

Drawings (continued)Recognizing the body as an opportunity to design a newly structured purse

“Distribute the load evenly…Carry your bag as close to your body as possible”

Tim HutchfulBritish Chiropractic Association

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ConceptA purse that responds to contour lines of a human body This project solves the problem of having a back or neck pain after hours of carrying heavy purses or bags. This bag lessens the physical burden on the shoulders by evenly distributing the weight of a load. Even more it can still be aesthetically beautiful.

SketchingThis physical model is a conceptual demonstration of the idea using copper webbing as its material.

Drawings These drawings show processes of form development from abstract line drawings to more concrete ideas.

Right, BelowStudies fromback to front

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mfa thesis

Design for Invisibility:To Place Things Better

AboutThis thesis celebrates the beauty of everyday design. It defines what invisibility means for design, and studies its influence in our daily life. As a project, it applies the theory to a placing system.

Thesis Project

When an object fits our living environment and habits so well,it gradually disappears to the background of everyday life and becomes invisible.

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“Everyday is the space of becoming not being.” James Hunt

AudienceUrban dwellers

QuestionsWhat does design mean for normal people living their lives?

Everyday Everyday is the actual site and time of using designed objects. It is time space.

Invisibility of designIt reflects the ever changing nature of everyday. It lets objects become part of it without showing off.

Look around you. You are in the space where everything is man-made except for your own body.

Project: To Place Things BetterWe always struggle to place things properly-both tangibles and intangibles. Implacement of personal belongings creates physical mess to the space, and emotional confusion to the organization of our life.

“Nature becomes human; around and within man it becomes a world an organized experience. And man becomes nature, a concrete existence, a power.” Henri Lefebvre, The total man Dialectical Materialism

ObjectiveTo design a more enjoyable and highly adaptable system for actual users of the everyday

StrategiesRecognize the space around and between the subject(s)Rediscover and transform walls to an invisible placing system according to your habits

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1 Vessel and stick Place a roll of paper in a container

2 Hang on hooks Hang a t-shirt

3 Stack up Pile books

4 Roll Roll a paper or carpet

5 Pin up Pin posters up

6 Toss Toss dirty laundry away

7 Highlight to assign a space Color the wall behind a desk

8 Label Put labels on sorting containers

9 Align and arrange Line up cosmetic bottles in one area

10 Put away Put dishes under the cupboard

10 Placing HabitsFound in Daily Observations and Research

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IdeationsUsing lines and planes to create a proper space

A journey to find right elements to design a user-friendly placing system. I started with a small modular system which works only in limited conditions, and developed proposals that have open-ended possibilities.

Below Spatial studiesbetween walls using strings .

Above A rubber band shelf inspired by a dish rack.

BelowFrom geometric studies to building a structure with a modular system which responds to walls.

Lesson LearnedUse of surface within a well built frame makes the form and construction simpler and more sound .

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ConceptWall dependent modular system which utilizes left out corners and upper spaces

Users’ participation and understanding of his/her own space is most important to make this system work.

User Testing AnalysisIts high adaptability to the individual space, simple configurations and playfulness are successfully accepted to testers along with the notion of invisibility. However, a more robust structure for heavier loads, and a simple guideline for beginners are still required.

Suggestions Need unified angles for connectors and rods for more flexibility of the structure.

D E S I G N E L E M E N T S F O R T H E F R A M E

4 kinds of connectors

5 pieces of metal rod for a unit

Each unit requires

one or two connectors

AboveThesis Show 2009

Horizontal imagesDetails from far left connectors and metal rods, sphere-magnetic holder, perforated plastic shelves

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Elements of DesignSilicone 90˚ cross-connectors Silicone suctioning wall foot Magnetized Metal Folding Shelf

Before After

ConclusionDifficult to evaluate the success of design before it is put into the everyday context. New proposal will provide a sounder structure and 90 angled connectors will make the system simpler and more intuitive to use.

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Final Proposal Suggests the NewHabits of Placing

A new approach to the act of placing will change theusers’ perception and behaviorsin regard to placing objects within their surroundings.

Concept DemonstrationsAs time goes by, the structures disappears into your surroundings.

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Thank You. If my portfolio has raised your interest, please contact me.

References and more information on these projects can be provided upon request.

contact 292 Oxford Street Apt. 21Rochester, New York 14607

p: 585.402.5398e: courir1227@hotmail.com