Meet Hyeda Park | Illustrator & Designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Hyeda Park and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Hyeda, what’s the end goal, career-wise?
I usually draw moments from my travels or particularly happy moments. I want to design or decorate spaces that create can hold memories rather than souvenirs. Whether it’s an Airbnb, a café, or a restaurant. A space where I can showcase what I’ve drawn and created! It’s a dream I hope to fulfill someday.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
It feels like there are moments when simply envisioning somewhere vague in your mind brings comfort. It’s the moment when you can briefly dispel the dark clouds of daunting real-life problems in your mind and find the strength to try again. I hope that people who see my artwork and brand can gain that kind of strength. A moment of refreshment in daily life!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If you visit Seoul, there’s so much you can do. It’s one of the busiest and most dopamine-inducing cities in the world. If you have the stamina, you can have fun from morning till dawn. Karaoke, photoshoots, board game cafes, cute accessory shops—you name it. But my top recommendation is hiking up a mountain. Seoul has plenty of big and small mountains, and they’re very accessible. Especially in the fall, the mountains are incredibly beautiful. Round rocks and gentle curved trees. I always feel warmly embraced when I hike in Seoul’s mountains. With so many mountains, there are certain dishes in Korea that you must eat after hiking. That’s seafood pancake, mountain vegetable bibimbap made with seasonal greens, and traditional liquor called makgeolli. And then, sweating it all out in a traditional Korean sauna called jjimjilbang, all the accumulated toxins vanish. It’s a perfect itinerary for when you’re exhausted from a day in the city that passes by too quickly.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My biggest supporter is my partner. While love and encouragement have been helpful, my partner, who is an art director, photographer, and designer, has provided substantial practical assistance to my work. They’ve It enabled us me to see the work from diverse perspectives. Creating is something you do alone but also something you can’t do alone. Even if it’s not a partner, I believe having such a collaborator is essential.

I met some wonderful fellow artists at illustration book workshops. From when I knew nothing at all, we’ve been giving feedback on each other’s to my drawings and picture books, positively influencing each other’s work. We’ve even exhibited together and recommended each other for jobs freelance gigs!

That’s why I always try to participate in interesting workshops or gatherings when I see it on illustration portfolio sites or meetups.

Instagram: @hyedainthepark

Image Credits
Hyeda