Min Kwak
Education, Certifications & Training
DEGREE
Master of Fine Arts in Design and Technology, 2019
Parsons School of Design, New York
- Awarded Dean's Merit Scholarship : 35% of full tuition scholarship for outstanding student.
- GPA : 3.86
Bachelor of Arts and Engineering in Industrial and Communication Design, 2007
Handong Global University, South Korea
- Graduated with High Honors.
- GPA : 3.94
CERTIFICATIONS
UX Design Academy, An Advanced Course, 2015
Fast Campus Korea, a National Certification Design Institution
Autodesk Maya, A Master Class, 2013
Chung Computer Graphic Academy, a National Certification Design Institution
Professional Skills
VR/AR/MR, Games, 3D Animation, Modeling & Filmmaking
- Unity 3D / Blender / Autodesk Maya / Rhinoceros / Cinema 4D
- Motion Capture (OptiTrack) / Volumetric Filmmaking (Depthkit) / Computer Vision
- Shaders / VFX / Lighting / Environment / Particles / Physics / 360 Video / Spatial Audio
- Oculus / Vive / Magic Leap / iOS / Android
- ARKit / ARCore / Vuforia / A-Frame / Spark AR / Lens Studio
- Adobe Premiere / Final Cut Pro / Audacity / After Effects
- Film Production / Editing / Cinematography / Art Directing
User-Centered Design Methods
- Information Architecture / UX research / User Persona
- Flowcharts / Wireframing / Rapid Prototyping / Usability Testing
- Technical Writing / Storyboards
Graphics & Related Tools
- Photoshop / Illustrator / InDesign / Sketch / Adobe XD
- Arduino / Processing / OpenFrameworks
- Keynote / Microsoft Office Suite / Bootstrap / Github
- Brackets / Sublime Text / Dreamweaver
Front-end Development
- C# / C++
- HTML5 / CSS3 / Javascript / jQuery / p5.js
- Cross browser / Cross device Coding
- Responsive Web / API / Node.js / socket.io / Heroku
- Web/mobile accessibility standard/guidelines
Professional Experience
Transfr, New York, NY
XR Designer
8/2022 – Present
- XR Designer at Transfr, a leading VR training company based in New York City
Pratt Institute, New York, NY
Part-Time Faculty
1/2022 – Present
- Teaching Extended Reality: UX for AR/VR at Master’s program, Information Experience Design at Pratt’s The School of Information
TECHNODRAMATISTS, New York, NY
Lead AR/VR Designer
12/2020 – 7/2022
- Executing media art principles for immersive 3D AR applications that are distributed to major clients in the live theatre sector
- Creating 3D models, animation, avatars, UX, and VFX for real-time AR effects system and enhancing the experience with AR featured technologies such as body tracking, human segmentation, occlusion, plane tracking, lens filters, and face sync
- Directing artistic vision, enhancing holistic user experience through iterations, and establishing strategies for branding and marketing
- Achieving teamwork, distributing tasks, and collaborating with directors, stage performers, and software engineers to creating multiple art and technology performance that has received rave reviews globally
THE GUARDIAN, New York, NY
Lead VR Artist
5/2021 – 5/2022
- Performing a leading role in 360° 3D graphics and animation for VR film series about untold American history of racial terrorism from 1917 to 1921
- Constructing and editing 360° VR footage, and overlaying the historic archival photos on moving imagery of contemporary locations
- Creating illustration, graphics, and animation to enhance visual storytelling and immersive experience of 5 VR episodes titled “Red Summers” published by The Guardian
SWA, Charlottesville, VA
Lead Experience Designer
12/2020 – 11/2021
- Enhancing online user experience by designing company’s digital products
- Revamping multiple websites to achieve client’s seamless and efficient user experience by creating qualified wireframes, user flows, and prototypes
- Achieved clients’ high satisfaction by building effective information architecture and tactically identifying areas for improvement, and implementing solutions
YOKEYPOKEY VIRTUAL REALITY, Brooklyn, NY
XR Designer, Technical Artist, VR Instructor
6/2019 – 11/2020
- Creating VR/AR game/storytelling/immersive contents for clients, curriculum and events for local community.
- Educating STEM students VR technology, 3D animation, AR social lens filter, and game design in Unity with C#.
- Rapid prototyping, iterating and debugging multiple gaming experience, along with constant playtesting and feedbacks.
- Communicating and collaborating with clients, team members, and stakeholders to enhance seamless user experience.
XREALITY CENTER, THE NEW SCHOOL, New York, NY
AR Designer
9/2019 – 12/2019
- Created AR experience for Public Art project in NYC, enhancing the impact of viewers' appreciation of each art pieces as well as a holistic experience.
- Developed and released AR app for iOS/Android, optimizing and fabricating art to result an approachable AR experience.
- Rapid prototyping with Unity, C#, 3D modeling and animation.
- Improved the product by communication and collaboration with the NYC-based Artist and XReality Center of the New School.
GAMES FOR CHANGE, New York, NY
XR Docent
5/2019 – 6/2019
- Facilitated viewers’ VR experiences at Immersive Arcade of Games for Change Festival 2019.
- Guided with HTC Vive and Oculus Go.
ANALESSON, Remote
Senior UX/UI Designer
11/2016 – Present
- Responsibilities in designing and maintaining official website.
- Improving UX by regular updates of user flow and contents design.
KYOBO LIFE INSURANCE, Seoul, Republic of Korea
Senior UX/UI Designer
1/2014 - 10/2016
- Enhanced company online brand and user experience by designing and managing digital channels including the official website, mobile app, social networking services and email marketing system.
- Blended technical acumen and visual creativity to drive continuous improvements to UX and UI, generating an outstanding user experience.
- Revamped website by leading a brand website renovation, tactically identifying areas for improvement, implementing solutions and reforming to a responsive web.
- Achieved seamless and efficient user experience by creating high-qualified wireframes, flowcharts, storyboards and prototypes.
- Increased monthly website traffic by 17%, achieving highest monthly traffic rate.
- Delivered successful results by collaborating effectively with project managers, developers and team leaders.
- Showcased proficiency in design software including Photoshop, Illustrator, Keynote, Sketch and programming languages such as HTML5 and CSS3.
- Attained web/app accessibility certification mark by constant validation in accordance with web standard.
- Triggered improvements by communicating with leaders and board members on the client side to pinpoint gaps and potential improvements for a user-centered design.
MH DESIGN, Seoul, Republic of Korea
Multidisciplinary Designer
1/2011 – 12/2013
- Produced successful designs across various media including web, print, editorial, CI/BI, and illustrations.
- Boosted brand identities by crafting strategies for impactful marketing in alignment with client needs.
- Created designs and concepts based on knowledge of layout principles and esthetic design concepts.
- Consistently achieved client satisfaction by strengthening client relationships, identifying client requirements and maintaining full transparency about project costs, timelines and outcomes.
INPAINTER, Seoul, Republic of Korea
UX/UI Designer
5/2009 – 11/2009
- Enhanced and simplified design of e-Customer Relationship Management (e-CRM) system by designing digital contents and interfaces.
- Built and designed reliable, user-friendly and visually attractive website for Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MEST) of South Korean government.
CENTER FOR INTERNATIONAL AREA STUDIES (CIAS), Pohang, Republic of Korea
Visual Designer
2/2007 – 2/2008
- Conceptualized powerful brand strategy and created a Corporate Identity (CI) to attract customers, enhance brand visibility and public awareness and increase revenue.
- Planned and designed advertising and promotional material as well as publications of the institute.
Awards
The Best Short Film in Reel Out Charlotte, the Annual LGBTQ Film Festival
- Art Director, Assistant Editor for the short film called "Exchange"
- May 28, 2020
Dean’s Merit Scholarship by Parsons School of Design
- July 2017 - May 2019, New York
President's Scholarship by Handong Global University
- September 2006 - December 2006, Pohang
A Bronze Prize at Calendar Design Contest by Crown Bakery Company,
- October 2005, Seoul
- Created editorial design for calendar based on self-painted illustrations for high-qualified marketing.
A Special Prize at International Communication Design Competition
- June 2004, Seoul
- Developed design concept for anti-war and produced a poster for effective public campaign advertisement.
Projects, Exhibitions & Workshops
RED SUMMERS, 360 VR animated and live-action documentaries
6/2021 - 8/2021
- A five-part 360 VR video series on the untold American history of racial terrorism from 1917 to 1921 published by The Guardian.
- Working as a Lead 3D Graphic Artist & Animator, VR Video Editor
GIOCO : THE ABSTRACTNAUT, Live AR Music Concert
Montreal, Canada, 4/2021
- AR (Augmented Reality) Live Music Performance
- I, as a Lead Designer, executed design and development for AR immersive live theatre by creating VFX, 3D avatars, props and environment, interaction and animation utilizing iOS’s lastest AR features, such as body tracking, plane tracking, face sync, occlusion, camera filters, and environment reflection.
- Directed the horizon of visual art and UX to enhance holistic user experience and consistent artistic vision.
ALIBI, A Reality-Bending AR Live Performance
New York, 2/2021
- A Live Theatre Experience Empowered by AR (Augmented Reality)
- As a lead designer, I executed artistic vision, implemented creative technical approach, built and managed 3D assets, animation, avatars, and VFX
- Worked with AR performance system using features of ARKit such as body tracking, plane tracking, human segmentation, face sync, and occlusion
New Babel, AR App for iOS and Android
New York, 9/2019 - 12/2019
- Created and developed AR public art installation app for iOS and Android
- GPS-based AR immersive experience activated in and around Union Square Park in NYC
- Worked with XReality Center of The New School in collaboration with artist William T. Ayton and The New School’s Global Catalyst Senior Fellow, Diana Ayton-Shenker
The Chanukah Experience, VR Entertainment & Learning Game for Oculus Go
New York, 9/2019 - 12/2019
- Designed and developed the first VR entertainment & educational game about Chanukah
- Developed with Unity, C# scripting, and 3D modeling with Tinkercad
- Commissioned work by Chabad, the world's best-known Jewish Hasidic movements
NYC Media Lab 2019's Demo Expo
New York, 9/2019
- NYC Media Lab's signiture science fair demonstrating emerging media and technology projects at their annual summit
- Showcased 2 projects - "It Wasn't Written" (experimental visual essay) and "J-A-S-N-C-R", VR music video.
MFA Design and Technology Thesis Show, PRISM, Parsons School of Design
New York, 5/2019
- Created and exhibited 2 emerging media and technology projects for MFA Design and Technology Thesis Show at Parsons School of Design
- Experimental video essay and VR music video were created as an alternative visual historiography on North - South Korea and surrounded countries
- Utilized volumetric capture with Depthkit and Xbox, Unity/C#, and collaborated with musicians and choreographers for music production
"Exchange," A Short Narrative Film
New York, 11/2018 – 5/2019
- Demonstrated ability in Art Directing and Editing.
- Winner of the Best Short Film - Viewer's Choice in Charlotte Pride and its Reel Out Charlotte, the Queen City’s Annual LGBTQ Film Festival on May 28, 2020.
VR Music Video Production, J-A-S-N-C-R, The New School
New York, 12/2018 – 5/2019
- Created a song and VR music video as a part of the project “It Wasn’t Written.”
- Collaborated with a composer and a vocalist from Mannes School of Music, and a choreographer and performers from Fine Art and Illustration from Parsons School of Design.
- Accomplished volumetric filmmaking to create immersive VR experience.
Music Video Production, “Patiently Waiting” by Fuzzy Britches
New York, 3/2019
- Worked as Art Director and Production Assistant in music video production.
Thesis 1 Pop-Up Show ANGLES, Parsons School of Design
New York, 12/2018
- Exhibited experimental video essay, “It Wasn’t Written.”
Major Major Show DIMENSIONS, Parsons School of Design
New York, 5/2018
- Exhibited 3D immersive audiovisual installation, “Silence Breaker – One Survivor’s Story.”
- Worked as a brand designer for the exhibition.
International Workshop at India Institute of Technology
Gandhinagar, India, 1/2018
- Designed an integrated transportation system with smart card application for Indian regions.
- Prototyped functioning products – App & physical cards with check-in-out machine.
Verizon Design Challenge, Parsons School of Design
New York, 10/2017
- Ideation, research, and design for user experience design flow of new mobile product of Verizon.
- Suggested contents recommendation service using face-recognition technology.
- Sponsored by Verizon.
Video Production for Viral Marketing, Kyobo Life Insurance Company
Seoul, South Korea, 3/2016 – 6/2016
- Performed planning, management, and production of video contents.
- Produced media products for SNS marketing enlightening the value of life insurance.
Health & Fitness App "Do IT!", UX Design Academy, Fast Campus Korea
Seoul, South Korea, 5/2015 - 8/2015
- Initiated and built iOS application for health and fitness as a project of UX Design advanced course.
- Conducted UX research and user persona for production of qualified mobile service for target customers.
- Created and designed seamless flowchart, storyboard, and wireframes of each steps of user experience.
- Performed multiple prototyping and user testing, and reflected any productive updates.
Graduation Exhibition VERNACULAR, Handong Global University
Seoul, South Korea, 11/2006
- Exhibited thesis work - Book design "You Are Special."
- Artwork containing Illustration, Photography, Editorial Design, and Branding work.
International Workshop & Volunteer works at Kandahar University
Kandahar, Afghanistan
- 3 Times of workshops : 12/2004 – 1/2005, 7/2005, and 12/2006 – 1/2007.
- Designed official installations and facilities of Kandahar University.
- Supplied computers and taught digital graphic softwares to faculty members.
International Social Service at Cambodian Local Elementary School
Sihanoukville, Cambodia, 7/2006
- Held a summer camp and taught Art & Craft and English to the local students.
Academic-Industrial Cooperation, SPC Group with Handong Global University
Pohang, South Korea, 3/2006 - 6/2006
- Produced a promotion calendar through the cooperation with illustrations and graphic design.
Student Council and Chapel Designer, Handong Global University
Pohang, South Korea, 2004 - 2006
- Worked as an official designer of Student Council and Chapel, generated successful result for election and detaining.