We’re kicking off a new series called “People Spotlight” where we introduce to you the members of our company. Like the colorful cast of a movie, there will be those in front of the scene and others behind the scene. But one thing’s for sure: everyone plays a critical role in the success of Picky.
Starting off today is our creative genius Nicole from Canada. She’s the mind behind the brand. The designer with the plan.
Earlier this year, Nicole spearheaded Picky’s rebrand, launching an exciting and dynamic color palette alongside new key visuals to bring Picky into 2024. Prior to joining the company, Nicole had already studied in Seoul in 2018 at Hongik University through an exchange program that solidified her interest to stay in Korea and pursue her career in design.
Now she’s been with Picky for over a year and never ceases to be a creative force in every aspect of our branding—including our new logo design, graphics for our giveaways, business cards, and the upcoming Picky Club merch for our brands and creators.
We sat down to interview Nicole about her work, learn about her skincare holygrails, and get “Korea life hacking” tips from her:
Q: What made you decide to come to Korea?
A: Moving to Korea to work in the creative field has been my dream since I was in high school. I knew I wanted to be a designer at a very young age—12 years old to be exact! I was a fan of groups like Girls’ Generation and f(x), and was intrigued by the portfolio work of Min Heejin. She’s a bit controversial now… haha but at the time she was my biggest role model and I still think she’s a creative genius. I owned copies of albums like The Boys, Pink Tape, Hoot, and Red Light and wanted to be able to make a name for myself in a fun, unique way just like her. I got the opportunity to do an exchange program studying Communication Design at Hongik University in 2018, and that solidified my decision to come back here to pursue this career. Design is a huge aspect of ordinary life in Seoul (just walk down the street and you’ll see a coffee shop or a bakery with the aesthetics of a design studio), and other creative scenes I’m interested in beyond graphic design such as music and fashion, are absolutely flourishing. I really respect the way that Korean artists and designers cherish their craft. I aspired to learn new skills here, while having everyday inspiration to improve my own skills and techniques.
Q: What did you do before coming to Picky?
A: I graduated university in 2021, and started my first full-time job 1 month after graduating. It was for a design studio in Vancouver called Etho Studio that specialized in designing for the built and natural environment through projects that focused on branding, editorial design, to architecture. That was an amazing experience for me, and I’m grateful for them for taking me on as such a junior designer. They really aligned with my passion for using design for projects that emphasized sustainability, telling stories and narratives in thoughtful and mindful ways. Additionally, I have ongoing freelance work for clients in the coffee, creative and film industries, staying in tune with my interests of supporting locally owned businesses.
Q: More than a year later, what have you learned about life in Seoul and what advice do you have for new immigrants coming here?
A: Living and working in Seoul is definitely a different experience than coming here for school or vacation. It’s important to be realistic with your expectations—it gets easy to romanticize working here based on tourist trips. I’ve had a chance to do all 3 (study, vacation and work) now, and the jump is quite extreme! Staying positive, shifting your perspective, and being open to new experiences are the most important things to keep in mind when coming to any new country. But always stick to your own morals and values! Life is fast-paced here, the work hours can be long, however there’s an endless amount of fun places to discover and things to do in your free-time. If you’re willing to put in the effort in your work, then the rewards are bountiful. Making friends and having a strong support system here, especially if you’re here alone, is extremely important. Luckily, I think coming to Korea to work for Picky definitely helped with the settling in process.
where we introduce to you the members of our company. Like the colorful cast of a movie, there will be those in front of the scene and others behind the scene. But one thing’s for sure: everyone plays a critical role in the success of Picky.
