Claire Choi
Claire Choi
Empathetic Designer
Southern California
www.designbyclaire.com
instagram @spendthedaywith
instagram @chairkloi
instagram @clairesfilmlog
youtube
WHAT DO YOU DO?
“I’ve always been a firm believer in the power of storytelling. ”
In a world of billions of people and platforms with thousands of stories to tell, it is easy to get lost in the clutter. But, bringing a fresh, unexpected voice to the table is where true impact and mission can be prioritized. Without the right delivery or style, unique stories, voices, meanings, and values cannot be told or shared in the right ways.
Currently, as a student designer entering my junior year of college, I've been working to better understand the power of conscious design and what it means to understand another's experiences. Specifically, I love working with branding and strategy, while maintaining flexible focuses in graphics and project-based design. I stand by the idea that finding your own unique method of visual communication or finding a group encompassing identity comes down to being able to hone in on what is at the core of any narrative. Additionally, the power of photo/video and its endless capabilities of fostering emotional connection and impact never fail to challenge and amaze me. Much of my own storytelling experience comes from a desire to remember honest, happy moments of my own life and the lives of the people around me.
WHAT STEPS DID YOU TAKE TO GET TO WHERE YOU ARE NOW?
I think that I've gotten to where I am now by constantly trying to stay open-minded. When I was younger, I was in weekly studio art classes and that eventually led into me attending an arts high school studying Visual Arts. Sophomore year of high school, I was at a summer camp and was learning about darkroom processing and photography. And for the first time I understood the importance of process. Being able to have so much control but also experiment with light, color, and contrast was something so foreign to me. Doing everything from taking the photo to developing the film and printing the end result was truly life changing. Understanding this historic process and how important it was to me to respect that, while making it my own was the goal. Because of this, I shifted out of a very routine schedule of fine art, turning to design, storytelling, and research.
How do you stand out in your field?
When it comes to my work as a designer, the goal has always been more to stay true to myself, the client, the team, whatever the setting may be. I feel that staying honest and open is where the most creative, unique approaches can be found. No matter how out there a concept is, it doesn’t make sense if whoever it is for can’t connect to it in some way. In my approach and approach, I constantly question the decisions I make. Cross collaboration or interdisciplinary angles like where video meets graphics or music meets lighting have always been reinvigorating for me.
WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON RIGHT NOW?
Right now, I am working as a brand/web designer for a student startup focusing on music education. I’ve been given a lot of freedom in creating an identity for this growing company and it’s been great focusing on something that is close to my heart.
Recently, I completed a design intervention project focusing on how to promote positive emotion regulation at bus stops.
WHAT'S YOUR STYLE/PERSPECTIVE/TASTE? DO YOU HAVE A PROJECT THAT REPRESENTS THIS?
My style and perspective is rooted in the idea of empathy. In any project, I think it is most important to first understand and connect before diving into all the details of color, design, structure, etc.
Specifically, my style and taste tends to lean on the warmer side. I love warm, relaxed colors and as cheesy as it sounds, growing up in California and spending a lot of time in the water has definitely influenced that.
WE ARE ALL SLASHIES WITH MULTIPLE SKILLS, WHICH ONE DO YOU WISH YOU COULD DO MORE OFTEN?
I wish to focus more on design strategy. Recently, I was able to work with three other women in creating an Innovation District Proposal for the City of Ithaca. Really starting from the bare-bones of the project, we conducted primary/secondary research to understand the entrepreneurial and small business culture that makes Ithaca unique and worked throughout the semester to present a final deliverable. The entire goal was to join disparate communities caused by divides between university communities and the actual city community. By focusing on how to play to Ithaca’s strengths rather than making the next Silicon Valley, we were able to create a new narrative, completely backed by research and interviews.
WHAT IS FRUSTRATING YOU RIGHT NOW?
As a college student, it’s hard to figure out what is most important. Pressures of transitioning into adulthood mixed with papers and projects can get overwhelming. Straying out of the constant workaholic mindset is extremely difficult. But, keeping myself in check by using creative endeavors as a reminder to take that break has been very helpful. I’ll always be worried about school and assignments, but thankfully a lot of my favorite work is design focused.
Additionally, there are a lot of things that are frustrating me, especially in this strange, disorderly period of the pandemic. For the most part, it’s trust. When it comes down to developing any kind of platform focused on identity, connection, and community, there needs to be an aspect of trust and a focus on experience. Whether it is trust among product users and product creators or audience and platform, to establish a true relationship and develop an exciting, usable, and identifiable experience, trust plays a huge factor. With the rapidly growing capabilities of technology, starkly divisive political environments, and developing issues of climate change and government related disagreement, there is a global sense of fear and sensitivity that seems to only be growing. Groups and individuals continue to take steps back as their differences lead to a deepening gulf of discomfort and distrust.
Because of this, I believe it is time for a change. It is up to problem solvers, story tellers, and design thinkers to foster the digital and physical environments that give a sense of support, hope, protection, and safety to all users through visual communication. This always goes back to crafting experiences that bring people together and creating foundational brand identities that continue to transform over time. Being aware of the ever-changing world gives storytelling the real power to prompt change, allowing for new lengths of reach and substantial vocalization, without losing the root of their stories or foundations. To create and work to promote relationships, awareness, positivity, and community has always been a goal of mine.
IF YOU COULD HIRE SOMEONE FOR $20/HR, WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE THEM DO TO MAKE YOUR DAY EASIER?
I would probably have them organize my laptop files. My desktop can get so cluttered while working on a project where versions and versions are constantly being downloaded and shared. But, I also would love to have someone to bounce ideas off of. I can get in my own head really easily and just having someone to brainstorm with is the most helpful.
LET'S BRING OUT THE TIME MACHINE. WHAT DO YOU WISH YOU COULD HAVE TOLD YOURSELF, WHEN, AND WHY?
Honestly, I’ve never been one to hold onto any regrets or mistakes as they’ve changed me for the better and made me into the designer I am today. If anything, I wish I could have told myself to slow down and not sweat the small stuff. In high school, it was all about getting into college, taking those awful standardized exams, getting good grades, etc. Although I was fortunate enough to have a unique high school experience, much of it consisted of me putting too much pressure on myself over being successful (even though I had no idea what being successful meant to me).
IF YOU COULD TALK TO AN EXPERT TO GAIN MORE INSIGHT ON SOMETHING, WHAT WOULD IT BE ABOUT?
I want to gain more insight into how emotions play into design. We are always working so hard to solve problems through design, but I want to take a step back and understand why people enjoy or dislike certain things. How do they feel or react when interacting with a product or intervention. Humans are all so interesting and different and that’s something that I’ll always be curious about.
WHAT KIND OF OPPORTUNITIES/PROJECTS ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?
Currently, I’m looking for any intern opportunities or freelance video/photo/graphic projects.
DESCRIBE YOUR IDEAL JOB/CLIENT/COLLABORATION.
My ideal job/collaboration is one where I can dabble in a little bit of everything. Being able to “play my cards” and experiment with different outlets is where the creative process becomes the most fun and invigorating. This ideal situation always involves some form of group work with assurance that all opinions can be shared freely without fear.
WHAT IS YOUR HOURLY RATE, RETAINER, OR SALARY RANGE?
As an intern my hourly rate ranges from 13-15 an hour. For freelance photo video, 20-30 an hour.
HOW SHOULD SOMEONE APPROACH YOU ABOUT WORKING TOGETHER?
Email me at csc266@cornell.edu
HOW DO YOU STAY CREATIVE?
Go outside. Take a step back.
This member profile was originally published in June 2020.