Meet Won You | Designer, Mentor, Entrepreneur

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

Hi Won, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Ever since I discovered my passion for design, I found myself looking for opportunities to apply my craft – whether that was through freelance projects, volunteering, or even a short-lived attempt at doing a web design business while I was still in college. Things didn’t pan out with that early venture, but the thought of building my own company was always lingering in the back of my mind. I feel like entrepreneurship is deeply ingrained in me – nearly everyone on my father’s side came to this country and started their own drycleaning businesses. Seeing my parents be their own bosses from an early age definitely planted that seed of wanting to stake my own path.

After working at design agencies for several years, I realized I had a vision and passion for creating transformative brand experiences that many companies struggled to fully embrace. So much of the work felt confined by rigid processes, tight budgets, and overly prescriptive briefs from clients.

I wanted the freedom to truly pour my creative energy into developing innovative design solutions – defining the ethos, visuals, messaging, and digital experiences in a cohesive way. I felt there was an opportunity to work more collaboratively with founders and entrepreneurs who were just as invested in crafting an iconic brand from the ground up.

Of course, starting my own design consultancy was a risk. I had to prepare myself financially and mentally for an unpredictable income stream and having to wear many hats from creative director to accountant. But turning my passion into a sustainable business has been immensely rewarding. With running my own studio, there’s no ceiling to what I can achieve financially, and every project is an opportunity to build something brilliant for my clients.

What should our readers know about your business?
My design consultancy, Won J. You Studios, is dedicated to delivering impactful designs that drive meaningful results for our clients. We primarily partner with technology companies or businesses that are looking to embrace innovation and integrate tech solutions into their products or services. One of the core ways we differentiate ourselves is our passion for crafting beautiful yet highly functional solutions to our clients’ complex business challenges.

I get energized whenever I work with early-stage startups because I love the opportunity to collaborate with true visionaries and change-makers who are reshaping industries. Our portfolio showcases work with cutting-edge tech startups, AI platforms, fintech and more.

Ultimately, I want Won J. You Studios to be known as design change-agents for the innovation economy. We aren’t just makers – we’re creative problem-solvers helping pioneering companies shape the future. If you want cookie-cutter designs, there are loads of firms out there. But if you’re rethinking what’s possible and need a world-class design partner to bring that vision to life, we’re the ones to call.

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.
If my best friend was visiting Atlanta for a week, I’d make sure to craft an itinerary that really highlights the city’s diverse offerings – from lush outdoor escapes to the vibrant cultural hubs.

Since I think one of Atlanta’s biggest draws is the surrounding nature, I’d definitely take them hiking along the scenic trails of Sawnee Mountain or wandering the gardens of the Atlanta Botanical Garden. The city has such an incredible array of parks and greenspaces tucked away.

Another must would be experiencing Atlanta’s fantastic food scene. With such a large and thriving Korean community here, we’d absolutely indulge in some authentic Korean BBQ and stroll the ethnic eateries of Buford Highway. Of course, we wouldn’t forget to check out some soul food and Southern cooking.

I would also take my friend to the High Museum, and the Museum of Design which is next door.

Of course, we’d have to carve out time to explore Atlanta’s creative districts like Little 5 Points and check out trendy spots like Buckhead and Ponce City market.

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?
Throughout my design career, I received so much encouragement and inspiration from the online design community. Seeing some of the groundbreaking works of the early pioneers in web design truly motivated me to explore digital storytelling and continue pushing my craft forward.

I started designing websites in the mid-90s, so the visionary creations of designers like Eric Jordan of 2Advanced, Jens Karlsson of Chapter 3, and Jimmy Chen of Typographic absolutely blew my mind back in those early days. If it wasn’t for their avant-garde contributions that expanded the possibilities of web design, I don’t know if I would be the designer that I am today.

Of course, I’m forever indebted to my parents for immigrating to this country and instilling an entrepreneurial spirit in me through their own drycleaning businesses. Watching their grit and determination from an early age was hugely inspiring.

Finally, I owe a debt of gratitude to all the early brands and clients who took a chance on men. Their trust allowed me to put my perspective into practice on real projects, shaping who I am as a designer today.

Website: http://wonjyou.com/

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

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wonjyou/

Other: https://dribbble.com/wonjyou