Interview with Hyunchul Shim
Hyunchul Shim is a furniture designer and craftsman based in Korea, exploring the balance between traditional structures and contemporary sensibilities.
Designer of the Day Interview
17 May 2026
Since childhood, I have enjoyed making things with my hands and disassembling and reassembling machines and electronic devices. After majoring in electrical engineering, I worked in semiconductor circuit design for about 17 years. Around 10 years ago, I developed a deep interest in furniture making, and through directly handling and exploring materials and structures, I naturally became fascinated with the field of design.
I believe proportion is one of the most important elements in design. Even with the same structure and materials, different proportions can create completely different senses of balance and atmosphere. Since even small differences can significantly change the overall impression of a piece, proportion is something I tend to spend the most time refining during the design process.
My engineering background and experience working on nanometer-scale semiconductor design have had a significant influence on my current work style. I came to view structure, proportion, and material properties more logically, which naturally led to an attitude of carefully considering even the small details that can easily be overlooked during the design and making process. At the same time, as a Korean, my reverence for and interest in traditional Korean aesthetics naturally led me to explore restrained expression and negative space.
I usually start my day by listening to classical music. (I tend to keep classical music playing in the background throughout the day.) Then, I spend about 30 minutes reading with focus and organizing my thoughts by writing in my reflection notebook. After that, I spend the rest of the morning sketching. I try to sketch and scribble something every day, even when I do not have any particular inspiration. In the afternoon, I work at my studio, and I try to have dinner with my family whenever possible.
I primarily encounter contemporary trends through exhibitions by various artists, and I also make an effort to stay abreast of these developments by following the social media of art and design magazines. I believe that accurately understanding artistic movements and trends is a crucial foundation for creating new innovations. Therefore, I consider it very important to consistently understand and observe contemporary art.
I think good design should have a positive impact on society and the environment, while also retaining its value over time.
My creative process typically begins by freely adding various ideas and elements, then gradually removing them one by one. I consider a work to be close to complete when I feel there is nothing left to remove. Of course, I do not believe there is such a thing as a perfectly finished design, but there is often a moment when the structure, proportions, and atmosphere come into a natural balance.
I consider the intention behind my work to be very important. I think it requires enough time for contemplation, and that my personal thoughts and attitudes should be reflected in the work.
Interview about Booklover Multifunctional Bedside Table Design Interview
Design Legend Interview
14 May 2026
Since childhood, I have enjoyed making things with my hands and taking apart broken electronic devices and machines out of curiosity. This naturally led me to study Electrical Engineering, and after earning a master’s degree, I worked in semiconductor circuit design for about 17 years.
Around 10 years ago, I became interested in furniture making, and through working directly with materials and structures, my interest gradually expanded into the field of design. Although I did not initially plan to become a designer, the process of making and exploring naturally led me to the work I do today.
Around 10 years ago, I became interested in furniture making, and through working directly with materials and structures, my interest gradually expanded into the field of design. Although I did not initially plan to become a designer, the process of making and exploring naturally led me to the work I do today.
Read a book
Fundamentally, I think good design should have a positive impact on society and the environment, while also retaining its value over time.
To me, design is a connection. It connects myself with people, and furthermore connects people, space, and time with one another.
I would like to continue exploring the relationship between traditional cultural heritage and contemporary design through furniture and objects. In particular, I am interested in creating works that reinterpret restrained Korean aesthetics and negative space within modern lifestyles.
My motto is to observe the world around me slowly and attentively. Especially in the field of design, where quick results are often expected, I believe deeper work can emerge through long periods of observation and contemplation.
I primarily read books in the fields of humanities, science, art, and economics. While I draw a great deal of inspiration from the humanities and the arts, science books have recently had a significant influence on my design.
Designer Interview
14 May 2026
Since childhood, I have enjoyed making things with my hands and taking apart broken electronic devices and machines out of curiosity. This naturally led me to study Electrical Engineering, and after earning a master’s degree, I worked in semiconductor circuit design for about 17 years.
Around 10 years ago, I became interested in furniture making, and through working directly with materials and structures, my interest gradually expanded into the field of design. Although I did not initially plan to become a designer, the process of making and exploring naturally led me to the work I do today.
Around 10 years ago, I became interested in furniture making, and through working directly with materials and structures, my interest gradually expanded into the field of design. Although I did not initially plan to become a designer, the process of making and exploring naturally led me to the work I do today.
I work mainly with sculptural furniture and objects. I explore the relationship between the aesthetics of traditional cultural heritage and contemporary design, placing importance on an understanding of materials and restrained expression. I am also directly involved in the entire making process, from design and material selection to fabrication and assembly, maintaining the intended details throughout the process to achieve a refined level of completion.
To me, design is the process of shaping the relationships between function, structure, materials, and ways of life into form. Beyond simply solving functional problems or creating beautiful shapes, I believe design is about creating a medium that naturally connects people, space, and everyday life.
I enjoy working with wood as a base material and exploring a variety of material properties. I am especially fascinated by how completely different atmospheres and forms can emerge depending on the texture, weight, and way each material is handled.
One of the works I feel most attached to is Booklover. Inspired by the open structure of traditional Korean furniture, it was designed to fit into contemporary living. Rather than simply adding functionality to furniture, I wanted to allow the values of tradition to continue within modern everyday life.
The first project I ever designed was my computer desk. At the time, I needed a laptop desk that would take up minimal space, so I spent a lot of time thinking about how to make it narrow while still keeping it functional as a desk. I remember sketching and drawing plans for the first time, erasing and redrawing them countless times.
My favorite material is wood. Even within the same species, wood varies in grain, texture, and color, and I see the way it changes over time as both a drawback and part of its charm. I am also very interested in metals such as brass. I find the contrast created by their density and cool texture alongside wood particularly appealing.
I feel most creative when I am working directly with materials in my studio. Compared to simply sketching or thinking through ideas in my head, new forms and ideas often emerge naturally through the process of shaping materials and refining small details.
I believe proportion is one of the most important elements in design. Even with the same structure and materials, different proportions can create completely different senses of balance and atmosphere. Since even small differences can significantly change the overall impression of a piece, proportion is something I tend to spend the most time refining during the design process.
To me, successful design is something that can be used naturally over time. It should remain in everyday life and spaces for a long time, with a presence that goes beyond its function.
When judging good design and bad design, I think it is important to consider how positively a design can impact society and the environment.
I think it is important to maintain a continuous interest in society and the environment and to keep reflecting on those issues. Expressing the results of that contemplation through one’s work is, to me, part of an artist’s responsibility.
Recently, I exhibited in Athens, Greece, alongside the winners of the Prize Designs for Modern Furniture and Lighting 2025.
I usually find inspiration while listening to classical music or spending time reflecting through books. I also travel frequently with my family, and I often draw inspiration from unfamiliar landscapes and architecture encountered during those journeys.
My work tends to focus on simply emphasizing a single element rather than decorating excessively, and on creating emptiness rather than filling space. Influenced greatly by traditional Korean aesthetics, I have become naturally interested in restrained expression and negative space. Although I begin by freely adding various elements, as I continue observing the work, I eventually go through a process of removing them one by one.
I work in Korea, and Korean cultural heritage has had a strong influence on my work. In particular, the structure, proportions, and sense of negative space found in traditional Korean furniture and architecture have become central themes in my practice.
I begin my work by thinking about why something should be made. From there, I establish a structure and function that fit the intention of the piece, then refine the proportions and details as the form gradually develops.
I think the ability to observe closely is one of the most important qualities for a designer. Being able to look carefully at surrounding environments and objects rather than simply passing them by, and to closely observe the nature of materials and even small differences in proportion, greatly influences both creative ability and the overall completeness of a design.
Contact through email and Instagram DM.
Interview about Booklover Multifunctional Bedside Table Grand Interview