Designer Jun Ki Hong experiments with “the formal possibilities of letterforms”

Driven by a desire to “communicate something beyond just the form itself”, the designer explores the potential of type to be both conceptual and expressive.

Date
22 June 2023

Jun Ki Hong is a South Korean graphic designer who grew up in Seoul. His love for the medium took hold early on in his life when, while still in primary school, he began entering poster design competitions every year. “I always enjoyed creating letterforms for these posters,” he recalls. “I also developed a passion for Photoshop and would often create artworks related to K-pop artists, which I would share online. It was during this time that I instinctively began dreaming of becoming a designer.”

Now based in New York, Jun’s creative practice is very much defined by these early interests. He cites K-pop as his biggest influence, but he also continues to embrace typography, which he calls “the essential building block of my design work”. Whether creating an identity for a food festival by The New York Times or working on a colourful typeface for Pride Month, Jun’s approach to type is thoughtful, imaginative and precise. “I strive for design outcomes that are clear and easily comprehensible, and strong typographic design within branding helps me achieve this goal,” he explains. “Looking ahead, I hope to continue expressing my perspective through a variety of projects and deliver refreshing and relatable visual experiences to people.”

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Jun Ki Hong: Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (Copyright © Base Design, 2022)

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Jun Ki Hong: Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (Copyright © Base Design, 2022)

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Jun Ki Hong: Red Bull (Copyright © Jun Ki Hong, 2023)

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Jun Ki Hong: Zooba (Copyright © Jun Ki Hong, 2023)

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Jun Ki Hong: Jun.playlist (Copyright © Jun Ki Hong, 2023)

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Jun Ki Hong: The New York Times Food Festival (Copyright © Base Design, 2022)

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Jun Ki Hong: ADOY, her (Copyright © Jun Ki Hong, 2023)

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Jun Ki Hong: Pride Typeface (Copyright © Jun Ki Hong, 2023)

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Jun Ki Hong: Lettering: Type, Poster 6 (Copyright © Jun Ki Hong, 2023)

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Jun Ki Hong: My Favourite Pepperoni Pizza (Copyright © Jun Ki Hong, 2023)

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Jun Ki Hong: FIRE SALE (Copyright © Jun Ki Hong, 2023)

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Jun Ki Hong: The New York Times Food Festival (Copyright © Base Design, 2022)

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About the Author

Daniel Milroy Maher

Daniel joined It’s Nice That as an editorial assistant in February 2019 and continues to work with us on a freelance basis. He graduated from Kingston University with a degree in Journalism in 2015. He is also co-founder and editor of SWIM, an annual art and photography publication.

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