Meet Lia Kim | Illustrator & Motion Designer

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

Hi Lia, can you share the most important lesson you’ve learned over the course of your career?
I believe the most important thing as a designer and artist is getting out of your comfort zone. Before I pursued my career as a motion graphic designer, I was a painter who always drew on canvas and was afraid of trying digital arts. I got into college as an Illustration major but wanted to learn a new technique, or a brand new approach I had never tried before. I believe where you are starting from makes your art more special and differentiates it from that of other designers. My lesson from life is don’t be afraid about going in new directions or leaving behind your career because your previous interest and career become a part of your own style and make you stand out as an artist.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I enjoy bringing and adapting my illustration skills to motion graphics. I think the approach of my drawing skill and animation blended together and goes well with the industry demands and style of motion design. Currently, I’m finishing up my last semester at college and am excited about starting my new journey as a designer in NYC. Since I began to start motion media as my career, I have been through some challenges. In terms of style of design, I have to find a way to balance illustration and animation to meet the demands of video efficiently. I have reached out to alumni or industry people and asked for advice or about their experiences. They have probably gone through a similar journey as me. It is always good to reach out to professionals, and they welcome giving advice to people who are fresh to this industry.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Atlanta is a diverse city where you can explore diverse cultures. I would take a friend to local coffee shops/cafes. Chattahoochee Coffee Company is located in West Midtown and is good to bring your laptop to and just chill. East Pole Coffee Co. has a nice exterior and is nice to grab a cup of coffee and feel the sunshine. In Momo cafe, you can taste Japanese-inspired drinks and choicest coffee.

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 would like to thank the faculty and the people I’ve met at my college, Savannah College of Art and Design.The department of Motion Media design has lots of good resources and support for students. While attending college, I was able to access many softwares and design tools including 3D programs. From my experience, the professors gave thoughtful and insightful industry-based feedback to students. Whenever I submitted my work to competitions or awards, the cost was covered by the college as well. There is also a student run annual Motion Media conference called ‘Comotion’ and over 45 companies joined the conference this year. I was able to get my internship last summer and a full-time job this year from the conference.

Website: https://yeukim20.myportfolio.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/see_weird_glass/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lia-kim-29b660170/