Meet Jen Kim | Designer

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

Hi Jen, can you share a quote or affirmation with us?
“Realize deeply that the present moment is all you ever have.” -Eckhart Tolle I often catch myself ruminating on negative events from the past, and stressing about hypothetical happenings in the future. While past and future hold value, obsessively thinking about them does nothing but distract me from the present moment. When I finally realize I’ve been spiraling, this quote by Tolle reminds me to take a step back, and recognize the importance of the now. Being more present in what I’m currently doing, and being mindful of where my brain drifts off to, has helped me enjoy and see the beauty in every day tasks, no matter how simple or complex.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Before pursuing design, I was working a mundane, 9 to 5 job, that allowed me to leave Atlanta, and move to D.C. It was my first time living away from my family, my first job out of undergrad, and I felt elated to land any sort of work. I became complacent not doing something that I loved, but I enjoyed the stability of having a salary and being independent. After a few years, I grew increasingly restless, and I was itching for change. I was always drawn to the arts, but I never knew how to pursue that as a career, until one day I just Googled it. After some digging, I stumbled upon the Creative Circus, a portfolio school here in Atlanta. I realized I had some friends that had gone through the program, and immediately reached out to get some insight. It sounded like a dream: creative work, positive job outlook, a perfect place for a career change. Even though I was ready for a change, it was difficult to let go of the comfort and independence that was tied to my life in D.C. It felt risky to move back to Atlanta, back into my parents’ house, and go back to school to maybe (or maybe not) find a job in the world of design. So much uncertainty surrounded the decision to leave D.C., but looking back it was hands down the best decision I ever made. The design program at the Circus was wildly challenging, but despite the many all-nighters, I felt so energized with the work, the creativity, and the community. I knew I was in the right place. I graduated in the Fall of 2019, and even with the pandemic, have been lucky enough t0 have had consistent work since. I’m still learning new things everyday, and I find so much inspiration both in and outside of the design world. I find that I get most excited when I see smart, conceptual projects, with playful personalities. I love when you can tell someone had fun creating, no matter the type of work. I try my hardest to inject fun into every project I am involved in. That way the task at hand seems less like work, and more like play. Ultimately, creativity expands when there’s less pressure to complete the task, and more incentive to make something fun and enjoyable. It’s not always easy generating fun from a typically “boring” assignment, but once you’re there, it almost feels effortless to create things that make you happy.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
This best week ever would most likely consist of lots of eating, lots of beverages, lots of time outdoors (as long as the weather permits). Ideal itinerary would be (just thinking aloud)… wake up, grab a coffee from java vino, walk along the Freedom path towards Candler Park, grab brekkie on the go from Sean’s Harvest Market, find a cozy spot at the park and bask in the sun, then grab some bevs from Candler Park Market, OR Buddy’s (depending on location), then continue park hangs in the sun (but with beverages now), walk over to Highland Row Antiques and admire all the beautifully curated showrooms/items, then grab snacks from nearby market and picnic in the park(!), OR visit one of the many restaurants around town that have nice outdoor patios (El Tesoro, Argosy, Muchacho, are first to come to mind… but many more), then finally, end the evening on top of the Freedom Park hill and watch the sunset.

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?
I’d like to dedicate my shoutout to my friends and family. I know it’s very broad, but they have supported and encouraged me to pursue my dreams, and they all stood behind me every step of the way. Thank you :’ )

Website: jenkim.design

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jen-kim-889b1878/