My
Kim
Bui

What led you into design?

Ever since I was a kid, I was always a visual person. I wouldn't remember words, but my memory was always filled with vivid mental images. Early in my childhood, I always liked anything that was related to creating new things. Later in my teenage years, I got acquainted with computers early thanks to my software engineer dad. I accidentally discovered mangas on some random website and became an active member of various online forums. At that time, having banners was a thing in forums and I naturally started dabbling with Photoshop making them.

Fast forward, I worked in several small branding studios. But I was always intrigued by the interactive possibilities that websites offered so I started experimenting with code and gradually became proficient while working at a small agency.

What does a typical day look like?

My typical day kicks off with a bunch of messages from my OKOK Services studio partner, Faris Kassim, since he is based in Seoul while I am in Amsterdam. Despite the time gap, I tend to stick to a routine that keeps me sane. I am really into pilates and yoga, so I usually wake up very early to start my day with a sport class. 

I then catch up with Faris and start my usual work day. We discuss our plans, share updates, and get in sync for the day ahead. Our days are usually filled with client meetings and multiple projects. Most of the day we’re working on design or development, and other parts of the days are filled with more boring tasks but essential which are invoicing, keeping our spreadsheets updated that keep the studio running smoothly.

What's your workstation setup?

I work with a very minimal setup at home most of the time. It consists of my Macbook Pro 16-inch with a LG 27” 4K monitor. I like silly things that make me happy like this Sonny Angels stuck to the back of my monitor, and my little dog cable protector.

Where do you go to get inspired?

Social media plays a huge part of my inspiration. I spend an unhealthy amount of time on Instagram, TikTok, Are.na and a bunch of random websites. I also have a huge tab issue, I usually have 5 windows open with a thousand tabs. As soon as something catches my eyes, I send it directly to Faris or keep it inside an Are.na folder called #ciiwaw aka “cool if it was a website”. We tend to discuss and ping-pong ideas throughout the days even if it doesn’t relate to any of the work we are currently working on.

What product have you recently seen that made you think this is great design?

I am obsessed with Ira Ivanova’s work. Her work always amazes me and stands out to me in this age of overwhelming information and visual saturation. 

What pieces of work are you most proud of?

Last year, we got invited to work on a piece for an exhibition called ⟪ORGD 2022: Amazing Persuasion of Designer X⟫ based in Seoul. It was interesting to be able to work for both a digital and a physical piece. We had to conceptualise, design, code and produce the piece and think how the visitors would interact with the installation. 

Together with Alex Heeyeon Kil, we conceptualised a two-part installation work addressing the themes of 'Persuasion'.

We also got to work with our friend Hyunjin @pot_works that made the logo. 

You can experience a part of it here: https://orgd22.okok.services/

What design challenges do you face at your company?

The ever changing landscape of the industry, from design tools to development frameworks. You need to adapt quickly and learn fast to keep up. 

For instance, during the web3 craze, we were faced with a dilemma. While those projects were in high demand, they didn't quite align with our existing skill set. Striking the right balance between taking on projects we can pull off with relative comfort and those that push us beyond our comfort zone is an ongoing challenge.

Another hurdle we often encounter is dealing with work under NDAs . Our ability to showcase projects in our portfolio is essential for attracting new clients. But when we're bound by confidentiality, we have to be strategic in which projects to take on.

What music do you listen to while designing?

Any advice for ambitious designers?

The nature of our work keeps me in a perpetual state of self-doubt.

It's a field with an abundance of remarkable talent, and especially when you're just starting out, it's easy to doubt whether you can truly keep pace.

When I initially started in the industry, I would just cold email people that I admired. And one response really transformed my confidence. It read “If I can do it, you can do it.” The fact that these words came from someone I looked up to made all the difference. I now find myself echoing the same advice to others: “If I can do it, you can do it.”

Anything you want to promote or plug?

Check out our work at okok.services and follow us on our instagram to get the latest updates. You can also personally contact me at mykim@okok.services :)