Taking a glimpse into the mind of Dana Hong, it is evident how passionately she works to cultivate her distinct design style in and out of her high-rise office. Dana lives in Seoul, South Korea and serves as senior art director and illustrator at BankSalad, a Korean financial and health data company. Dana studied journalism and mass communication at UNC-Chapel Hill and earned her master’s degree in graphic communication design at Central Saint Martins. After never thinking twice about an art-related career, Dana shifted from an advertising track to a graphic design one in order to express her ideas in visual form.
When it comes to Dana’s approach to design, her ideation process shifts based on her project format and target audience and is molded significantly by her global education and work experience in America, Europe and currently Asia. During my study abroad program, my class met with Dana to tour the BankSalad office and discuss the evolving field of illustration. Dana sparked a conversation on how illustrators often depict pieces of their own personality within their art: “People say the characters and people I draw have my look and vibe,” she said.
Through her creative contributions to BankSalad for a little over one year, Dana utilizes graphic design and animation as an effective marketing tool in the corporate world. “I think many people want to use finance technology, which often people can find difficult and sometimes intimidating,” Dana pointed out. However, within the realm of digital finance apps, BankSalad distinguishes itself by integrating “friendly, creative elements” into its user-interface.
“I believe design, illustration and motion have been playing huge roles in helping people use difficult technology or complex ideas in an easier and convenient way,” Dana explained. Tech businesses use these imaginative and innovative storytelling techniques to paint a somewhat mundane task, such as personal finance management, in a colorful, humanizing light. Dana elaborates that “visual elements have always been and still will be one of the most important key factors when communicating with users and consumers.”
Importantly, Dana addresses her hopes for the future of the illustration industry in the face of artificial intelligence: “As a creator, I wish designers and illustrators can get more respect for their original and creative work,” she said.
Outside of her position at BankSalad, Dana designs artwork that combine vibrant colors and meticulously drawn figures in order to convey relatable, human emotions and storylines. Check out her latest projects here.