Juni Kweon

“Little by little” is a bit of a motto for designer Juni Kweon, whether it's building up your experience or posting your work on Instagram. Each little piece becomes part of the bigger picture. “Looking back now, I realize I got much further than I expected just by continuing and not giving up,” says Juni. From the formative years that shaped her whimsical 2D and 3D designs to maintaining a personal practice, Juni shares below how to keep on creating, even when times are tough.

About my work

My creative practice
I am a graphic designer, motion designer and illustrator. I mostly work on visual design, branding, animation and UI-based projects. I especially enjoy integrating storytelling into my work.

Influences and inspiration
I’ve loved Hayao Miyazaki’s work since I was a kid; I’ve watched Spirited Away over 100 times and can still watch it now. I love his storytelling and art style, and I really appreciate how much love and care he puts into his work. I think his work makes me see everyday life as more meaningful.

My training
I went to art school and studied illustration and design, but before that, I spent a lot of time drawing random things during middle and high school. Around that time, I also spent a lot of time just thinking about what I liked, hated, appreciated and felt. I think that period shaped who I am today more than anything else. I honestly miss having enough time to slow down and think like that now.

Favourite recent project
Recently, I was able to work on a project for DoorDash, my first official 3D project. It was a playful 3D animation showcasing restaurant-quality meals delivered throughout the day. I had a lot of fun designing the 3D environments and thinking about how to make each scene feel lively, warm and fun. Also, the project helped me experience how fast-paced the real industry workflow is, which I really enjoyed.

A day in the life
Recently, I’ve been trying to keep a healthier routine, so I try to wake up early, sleep earlier, and cook for myself more often. Besides work, I usually play Animal Crossing: New Horizons and spend time decorating or building my second home in the game.

A starter pack for my job:
Kurata Sana from Kodocha. She always maintains positive energy even when she is having a hard time; she inspires me to stay positive like her.

How I got here

Starting my creative journey
After graduation, it was honestly not easy to start my career. I did four internships and took whatever freelance work I could find while looking for a stable job. It took me a few years before I finally found something steady.

Landing my first few jobs, clients and/or commissions
Most of the time, I reached out first. Of course, it was not always successful, but I tried to appreciate every small opportunity along the way. My first job came through a job posting website; one of my professors helped me a lot during the application process.

At the time, I felt like I wasn’t fully ready, but I pushed myself. Looking back, I think the pressure I experienced helped me grow and improve faster. Sometimes being pushed a little outside of your comfort zone can help you move forward.

Biggest challenges along the way
Getting my first entry-level role was definitely the hardest part. There were many moments where things felt uncertain, but I tried not to get too discouraged. I just held on to the belief that things would eventually get better if I kept moving forward, little by little. Looking back now, I realize I got much further than I expected just by continuing and not giving up.

Everyday skills I’ve found helpful for my creative work:
I think speed is really important in this industry. I try to sketch random ideas in my sketchbook often so I can practice coming up with ideas faster and more naturally.

My social media and self-promotion vibe is…
Honestly, I’m also not very good at social media promotion – I mostly just post my work simply without thinking too much about strategy. But I do think that continuing to post my work encourages me to consistently create personal projects. Over time, some people have also reached out to me for work after seeing my projects on Instagram, so I think it’s still meaningful to keep sharing your work little by little.

Three things I've found useful in my career:
Good relationships with people, staying positive and health.

Thankfully, many good opportunities came to me through the people around me, so I think maintaining good relationships is really important. Staying positive also helps reduce stress.

Lastly, health is very important to me because I personally have low stamina, so if I don’t take care of myself, I can’t work well for long.

My greatest learnings when it comes to making money and supporting myself as a creative:
I’m honestly still not very good with money-related things, but I’ve learned that knowing your own limits is really important. Protecting your energy and avoiding burnout matters a lot if you want to keep creating for a long time.

Advice

My most useful career tips
One of the hardest things for me was believing that I was doing well enough; for a long time, I felt like I wasn’t enough. But I think those experiences helped me grow into a better person. At the same time, I also think it’s important to support yourself and be kinder to yourself.

Where I go to feel connected as a creative
Sometimes my friends and I gather together and do small monthly design projects; we each make something random within the month and share it with one another. This helps me keep making personal work outside of my job, which I really appreciate.

What I'd say to someone looking to get into a similar role
Of course, artistic skill is important, but for me, being responsible and diligent is just as important. I think consistently showing up, finishing things properly and caring about your work really matters in the long run.