I aspire to be a visionary, driving sustainable growth through a long-term strategy.






I'm a multifaceted designer with 7+ years of experience in South Korea and the U.S.,
blending visual and business design to create both aesthetic and strategic solutions.

My work spans beauty, retail, and community sectors,
reflecting my commitment to design’s impact at every level.
Each project in my portfolio follows a design-thinking approach
—starting with visual narratives, deepening through brand substance,
and anchoring solutions in business values.

My international experience has reinforced the power of cross-cultural insight,
collaboration, and strategic creativity in driving meaningful design.





 namkirina@gmail.com
 linkedin.com/in/hyuna-nam






This is a journal I wrote after graduating from college. At that moment, preparing for a job was my first experience, and I reminded myself that I had tried to do my best when I prepared for college admission.





After I graduate my college,
March 02, 2016


Back then, I had to be sensitive even to the thickness of pencil leads. I mainly used 2H for sketching and chose up to 6B depending on the purpose. Frequent lead breaks meant the pencil was getting old. Some days I liked Tombow, other days Staedtler felt right. The ones I liked quickly became short. Back then, you could just attach an extender. I preferred ones that didn't leave a smell on my hands when gripping them. Sometimes, after holding them for a while, some would give off a metallic scent. After a stub came a new pencil. There was always a slight tension when first putting a knife to the hexagonal-coated wooden stick. The angle of the blade and the pencil lead mattered. It felt good to smoothly peel away the wood and neatly trim the graphite core.


The same went for erasers. Pressing a new eraser's edge against paper was almost reverent. After using it until the edges became round, I had to cut them with a knife to make them sharp again, ready for immediate use. For paints and brushes, imported ones were better than domestic. Domestic ones were fine, but brands like HWC or Barbara certainly had that special something. Occasionally, squeezing out an HWC paint tube onto the palette or getting a Barbara brush was a gift I could give myself.


The front and back of drawing paper mattered. Running your hand over the paper's edge – the smoother side was the front. When hands weren't sensitive enough, holding it up to the light was another way. If the sides got switched, it felt uncomfortable throughout the drawing process. Both sketching and coloring were much easier on the smooth front side. Among colored pencils, I used black and white the most, needing to keep several extras of each. A pencil would quickly wear down to a stub after finishing each drawing.


Sharpening regular pencils and colored pencils was different. For colored pencils, I used an automatic sharpener. Nothing was handier – just push the colored pencil head down firmly, and amid the loud noise, it quickly produced a sharp point. Regular pencils, though, had to be sharpened by hand. All these tools – pencils, erasers, paints, colored pencils – were meant for a single completed drawing. Completion was crucial. Each day's task was to complete a piece within the given time according to the assigned theme. Completion meant many things. After completion came evaluation. Scores were given, and skill levels were determined. From the summer when I was twenty-one until the beginning of winter when I had just turned twenty-two. That's how I lived back then. After not remembering it for a long while, now that I'm a senior, it all comes back as if it happened just recently.







Work Experience

International Marketing & Research Associate

SCAD
May 2025 - Present
Remote





  • Localized institutional content for the Korean market, driving stronger paid social performance on Instagram and Meta
  • Conducted market research and competitor analysis, identifying opportunities that informed SCAD’s positioning in Korea
  • Built and documented translation guidelines that improved clarity and brand alignment across all Korean-language content




Brand Strategist

BBUREE
Jun 2024 - Present
Los Angeles, CA



bburee.com
bbureestudio

  • Directed brand strategy and launched the first product from concept to market in 6 months
  • Developed a brand narrative infused with Korean heritage, strengthening emotional connection
  • Designed website content and user framework, building a scalable design system to improve customer experience
  • Forged partnerships with manufacturers and lifestyle collaborators, boosting brand presence in 200+ new audiences



Creative Designer

SOMISOMI Franchise Inc.
Feb 2021 - Jun 2023
Los Angeles, CA







somisomi.com
somisomiicecream


  • Designed cohesive visual systems for 10+ store launches, increasing brand consistency scores
  • Orchestrated HQ rebranding by managing vendor coordination and visual implementations
  • Produced annual merchandise for 200+ employees, facilitating cross-border production with Korean and U.S. vendors
  • Created brand website assets and collaborated cross-functionally with engineers on UX for the online ordering platform


BX Designer

ARTREEZ
Mar 2021 - May 2021
Seoul, South Korea





  • Developed mobile and web layout guidelines to improve user experience and visual consistency as part of the Pikicast platform refresh
  • Designed UI assets, character illustrations, and social media templates, ensuring a cohesive brand identity across 5+ newly launched content channels
  • Led visual storytelling efforts, strengthening brand engagement through compelling graphics and optimized content presentation



Graphic Designer

EGGPLANT FACTORY
Jul 2017 - Feb 2021
Seoul, South Korea




eggplantfactory.co.kr


  • Delivered cohesive branding solution by delivering visual systems for 12 clients across retail and lifestyle sectors
  • Oversaw licensed product collaborations, ensuring compliance and visual alignment with global IPs
  • Created community-focused brand assets to enhance customer experience and engagement



Designer

DESIGN ZINI
May 2015 - Dec 2021
Seoul, South Korea





  • Designed title and key visuals for the Reebok Fit Fest at Jamsil Olympic Stadium, attracting 3.5K attendees
  • Designed editorial layouts for the National Assembly’s publications, contributing to 5 official reports over six months
  • Developed promotional materials for Seoul City public health campaign, supporting city-wide fitness initiatives




Education

SAVANNAH COLLEGE OF ART&DESIGN
The De Sole School of Business Innovation
Creative Business Leadership, M.A.
Aug 2025


Maintained a 4.0 GPA throughout the program
Finalist, SCADapult Business Pitch Competition, 2025
Winner, SCAD Startup ‘Re;start’ Rebranding Challenge, 2024
International Student Model (April, 2025)
Traslator at Marketing & PR team (May, 2025 - Present)




KYUNG HEE UNIVERSITY
College of Art&Design
Visual Design, B.F.A.
2012-2017



25th Graduation Exhibition Committee
Best Prize, Graduation Exhibition, 2017




©Hyuna Nam 2025