Greetings to all supporters and friends of IridiumGroup! Welcome to our first e-newsletter of 2008 and the beginning of spring.
I hope to provide these updates to you as we develop new projects, and I'm eager to share this creative work of which we are so proud.
In this edition, we feature our designs for American Red Cross, as well as an interview with June Kim, one of the Senior Designers at IridiumGroup.
We'll aim to share our own perspectives on communications and brand identity design, and offer insightful observations on the business.
Also, check out my blog at
brandliving.blogspot.com. Thanks so much. — Dwayne Flinchum
For American Red Cross, IridiumGroup was recently hired to conduct a communications audit and create a visual identity that included an update of the iconic cross and signature lock-up. We deconstructed the visual brand to review separate studies of typography, color, imagery, composition, and secondary brand elements. A system of publication design was created along with standards for usage of all brand elements.
Q&A: June Kim
June Kim, Senior Designer at IridiumGroup, has led the creative efforts over the past year for work we delivered to Children's Hospital Boston as well as
the American Red Cross visual identity and publication design system (shown above). If you would like to comment on his story or any of the work shown,
you may reach June at jkim@iridiumgroup.com, or by telephone at 212.582.6692, ext. 22.
Where were you born and raised? Where did you study?
I was born and grew up in Seoul, South Korea and studied medicine there. My second life began when I moved to New York City to study design.
I received my BFA at the School of Visual Arts and Master's degree at Pratt.
Why did you choose communication design as a profession?
In my teens, I was attracted to arts, music, films, journalism and politics. However, external pressures made me go to medical school and it's no wonder that I was not happy there.
As years passed, I remained unhappy, but fortunately, grew courageous enough to choose what I liked to do.
During those early days, I was a cellist member of an amateur orchestra but my interest lay in designing concert posters and brochures.
I was also one of the early adapters of internet and online communications.
Those experiences collectively led to my new direction: I decided to fly to NYC by myself. I still count it as one of the best decisions in my life.
What do you enjoy most in your spare time?
I love to visit places that I've never been to. One of my favorite trips was traveling along the lakes and the Alps surrounding Salzburg with listening to the Sound of Music OST.
And I even enjoy driving to small, unfamiliar towns in New Jersey and upstate New York.
What has been the favorite part of your job at IridiumGroup?
To me, my most favorite part is the good people here. I also enjoy the variety of projects.
I feel lucky to have the chance to work on various kinds of big and small projects, for clients both non-profit and corporate, and in print and web formats.
The best thing is that we are moving forward to wider possibilities.
What do you believe is the greatest accomplishment of your life?
Even though it is not my personal achievement, I am proud of having played a small part in bringing democracy to my home country.
In my early twenties, South Korea was under military dictatorship. I joined a student activist group and went out to the streets of Seoul to protest for democracy.
We were hurt by tear gas and batons, and some friends of mine were arrested and sometimes tortured.
Even after I came to the U.S., I organized and joined
an online-based group of supporters for Korean political reforms,
and successfully helped one of the co-protesters to be elected to the Korean president. It was an invaluable experience.
What types of art do you like? Music? Literature?
I like contemporary arts, Puccini's operas, non-verbal performances (including Cirque du Soleil), Korean and Japanese movies and anything related to typography.
If commercial design can be considered an art, one of my favorite exhibitions is observing Japanese package designs at Mitsuwa.
You're a new father and are expecting again. Can you tell us more about your family? Your wife's name, and children's names, ages?
My wife, Boyeon, and I first met as classmates in the junior high school. For a long time, we were good friends and years later a relationship developed and eventually
made us parents of an 18-month-old boy named Kai. He seems to research everyday how to become more adorable and is going to be a big brother in June.
Name the project you would most desire to work on. Choose anything you can imagine!
I hope I can have a chance of working on the identity for the Olympic games someday. I also have dreamed of designing the national flag of a re-unified Korea.