Designer 360˚: Designers Talking About DesignJan 2023
Interview for KakaoBank's Recruitment Blog (KOR)
To provide a 360˚ perspective and introduce the role of a designer in a well-rounded and multi-dimensional way,
we have included honest stories from designers, developers, and leaders about KakaoBank's designers.
What kind of people are KakaoBank designers?Hello, it's great to meet you through this interview. Could you briefly introduce yourself?
Louis:
Hello, I’m Louis, a designer. I joined KakaoBank's brand design team in the spring of last year when the weather was nice. It's already been 7 months, and now winter has arrived!
I’m curious about what you’ve been up to in the last 7 months at KakaoBank.
Louis:
I vividly remember my first Monday at the office. (laughs) In May of last year, when I joined, the brand design team was busy with the new office interior project. I joined at that time and have been busy ever since, working on the 5th anniversary project, the 26-week savings campaign, MMA, and ongoing projects. I had the opportunity to contribute to KakaoBank’s internal and external branding efforts through various branding projects, both internal and external, in a small yet fast-moving team.
Before joining KakaoBank, what kind of experience did you have?
Louis:
I first worked in the brand design team and retail team at my previous company, focusing on product design, illustration, and branding. Later, I transitioned to an IT startup where I gained experience in corporate branding and services with many overseas users. Then last year, I joined KakaoBank’s brand design team, which was rapidly growing at the time.
There wasn't much public information about KakaoBank’s brand design team, so I imagine it was difficult to make a decision about joining.
Louis:
Yes, that’s right. But I found videos about the new check card production on YouTube and an article-type interview on the blog. Those were very helpful. Through the video and article, I got a rough idea of the direction the design team was heading and what the atmosphere was like. I still had some questions, so I asked about them in the practical interview, and I felt confident that I could gain the brand design experience I was hoping for at KakaoBank. The conversation with the interviewers gave me a sense of the team’s vibe as well.
Were there any concerns or doubts before applying to KakaoBank? I think some of the applicants reading this might have similar concerns.
Louis:
I was concerned that, since it’s a “bank,” the design team might have a more conservative atmosphere, even though it was still a design team. My previous workplace had a very open atmosphere. But after joining, I realized that KakaoBank’s design team allows you to take ownership of the ideation, planning, and visual creation of the projects you’re working on. If things get tough or aren’t going as planned, we quickly share ideas with the team and develop them further. I also feel that, when collaborating with other departments, the design team’s opinions are highly respected and considered when making decisions.
Can you share the project that you enjoyed working on the most?
Louis:
I’d like to introduce the KakaoBank 5th Anniversary Project that was released last July. It was the project I took on from my first week, and I remember putting a lot of love and energy into it from the initial planning stages all the way to production. (laughs)
I also found Ryan and Chunsik in the 5th anniversary video adorable and cool, and I watched it several times and shared it with my friends. How was the project developed?
Louis:
We wanted the overall mood of the "5th Anniversary" event to feel bright and lively. To brand it, we set a vivid orange as the key color, and typography was bold to match the energetic mood. After establishing the visual direction for the video, for the LaChun dance, we envisioned Ryan and Chunsik as “celebrities performing on stage to celebrate KakaoBank’s 5th anniversary,” and we designed their outfits, poses, and stage setting to align with the identity of the 5th anniversary.
Service anniversaries are important milestones for KakaoBank employees as well. I’ve heard that you were also responsible for the internal event design for the 5th anniversary, in addition to the external event.
Louis:
Yes, that’s right. The key visual elements we initially developed were applied consistently to both external and internal designs, including 3D animation videos, physical golden coins, packaging, internal media, and goods for colleagues (hoodies and bags). While the media varied, we aimed to ensure that users and colleagues had a consistent brand experience under the theme of the 5th anniversary.
For the goods, I wanted them to be practical and meaningful items that KakaoBank employees would want to use every day. People use them not just at the office, but also on their way to work or during lunch breaks. (laughs) It might seem like a small detail, but we paid attention to things like small labels, packaging design, and the message conveyed. After they were distributed, I was really happy when colleagues noticed these details or used the items according to their preferences.
Let’s talk about the design team now. What was your impression when you joined?
Louis:
What impressed me the most was the T-shaped performance of my teammates. Since our brand design team handles a variety of tasks beyond just brand identity, including corporate culture, internal branding, online/offline marketing design, and product design, everyone is an all-rounder who can handle any task but also has their own area of expertise. There are people who are strong in card plate design, others who can handle 3D modeling in detail, and some who have rich experience in identity creation and guidelines. We also have team members who have deep knowledge of finance from working at KakaoBank for a long time. I feel constantly inspired by my colleagues, and it makes me reflect on what my own strengths are and how I can continue to grow.
You seem very fond of the team. (laughs) Can you share more about the team?
Louis:
Although our brand design team is compact, I want to emphasize that we’re very quick and strong in problem-solving. When we have a mission to tackle, we can gather quickly, and through the ideas each person presents, we can develop the parts that need improvement. Sometimes, a problem gets resolved in an unexpected way, or a colleague’s strengths help move an ongoing project forward.
We also share big and small design inputs in everyday conversations. For example, one team member recently came back from a trip to Japan, and we gathered to chat casually, but we ended up discussing unique signage and package photos in-depth, as if we were conducting market research for overseas projects. (laughs)
We also attend design conferences or seminars to gain new insights, and through team-building days, we get little joys outside of design work. I hope we can continue to make the most of these moments in the future.
Is there a special experience you can only have at KakaoBank’s design team?
Louis:
First of all, our work range involves financial design that is closely tied to people’s daily lives, which is unique.
For example, KakaoBank’s 26-week savings is a project where we collaborate with various external partners. For each new season, we create concepts and visuals for characters and even design physical goods that users can receive when they sign up. I recently worked as the lead designer for this project, and after it was launched, it was very rewarding to see user reactions on social media and think about how we could improve for the next season.
Also, working on card designs at KakaoBank was new and exciting for me. Cards are something we use every day, but as a designer, seeing them from a creator’s perspective was completely different. Watching my colleagues go through the process of designing new check cards and business cards, I learned a lot about plate production, processing, and printing methods. Since it’s a medium with its own challenges and unfamiliar aspects, I’d love to work on related projects again if I get the opportunity.
Lastly, do you have any words for those who are hesitating to apply to the design team?
Louis:
KakaoBank is a service used by a wide range of customers, from teenagers to those in their 60s. The fact that we get to design for such a broad spectrum of users and create designs that reach 20 million customers is both thrilling and carries a sense of responsibility. But of course, taking on a service that you may not be familiar with requires a lot of courage. I didn’t know where my path would lead when I first joined, but I feel that I’ve grown a lot through the many projects I’ve experienced here. If you want to grow by working on various projects at KakaoBank and feel a sense of fulfillment designing for a large customer base, I encourage you to apply. :)