tldr; – Michael Karam Byun Cho is a creative director & graphic designer✨ who loves design thinking.
His works are focused on crafting brand experiences with culture & community.✨
Michael Karam Byun Cho, is a creative director based in Los Angeles & New York City. Currently, the creative & marketing director for PRAISE in-studio team, his main focus lies in incubating fast-track branding experiences by building communities for new businesses.
Michael was raised in a multi-cultural environment, and is inspired to have an anthropological approach when designing experiences. He likes to go beyond the visual aesthetics and dive deep into shaping communities & culture.
He has received a master’s degree in User Experience in Emergent Technology (2015) from New York University – ITP, New York City; a master’s degree in Media Communications & User Experience Design (2011) from Hongik University, Seoul, and a bachelor’s degree in Architecture (2008) from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. With a diverse academic background, Michael brings synergy in developing immersive experiences; working seamlessly between 2D and 3D contexts.
With unapologetic systems thinking in design, his dynamic balancing act in freeform, creativity and strategic commercialization creates new forms of processes and values in brands. While consistently researching influences of emerging technology in today’s culture, he emphasizes the need of human-touch in opening dialogue amongst creators and consumers. A belief that a natural socializing environment of diverse people will lead to a socially responsible method in shaping healthy foundations for brand equity (customer-to-brand communication) and digital media culture (customer-to-customer communication)
#Brand #Experience #Human #Analog #Digital #Culture #Diversity #Visual #Future #Emotions #Thinking #Dynamics #Systems #Technology #Communication #Design #3D #Web3.0 are keywords in his approaches.
As a former digital media university professor in Mongolia, Michael loves learning about emergent technology and muses its future utility that drives cultural change while bonding with many different people through deep thought-provoking talks.
When not working, Michael enjoys playing tennis with his wife, read fantasy books and dream about 3D art & game development. This is a secret, but he also enjoys Pokémon games and is hyped for Scarlet & Violet versions. ;)
Experience
Creative Director at Praise Corporation
OCT 2017 - PRESENT
✹Directing the in-house studio team in developing scalable visual experiences with research, prototypes storytelling, and design. Increasing company capacity for product development by more than 700%.
✹Leading vision and development of client brands and designed various consumer-to-brand touchpoint visuals for 25+ Clients focused on building a branded community.
Project Bella Mask –
(2018-2022)
Conceptualized & executed on innovating the branding experience for a Korean mask product exceeding US sales expectation to $4M Gross Sales in 2021.
Client Tic Tac Tiles –
(2018-2021)
Built visual systems across consumer-to-brand touchpoints and brought the brand to life by accelerating social media presence: increasing engagement above 500%, and cultivating an active community from 0 to 36k with increasing growth.
Client SG Construction –
(2020-2021)
Design-directed creation of an innovative rebranding experience for SG Construction, a $70M valued company in Korea, from visual concepts to various mediums including illustration & photography.
Project Praise Mask –
(2019-2020)
Developed branding with the digital design team in art direction & storytelling for a K-beauty face mask product to appeal to international consumers. Appearing as product placement for a famous Vietnam TV Show amounting to 6 million views on Youtube.
Education
New York University – Tisch Interactive Telecommunications Program
MA User Experience in Emergent Technology
2013-2015
Hongik University – Intl’ Design School of Advanced Studies (IDAS)
MA Digital Media & User Experience Design
2009-2011
University of Michigan - A. Alfred Taubman School of Architecture
BSc Architecture & Music
2003-2008
Feature & Publishing
Featured Best Portfolio
Featured on Bestfolios (2022)
Featured Art
Featured NFT Art on Chico Crypto’s Youtube (300k Followers)
Behance Motion Gallery Feature
Featured in Motion Graphics
Published Design Journal
Journal of Korea Design Knowledge, 19th Ed., 154p ~ 163p ISSN 2092-7045, “Augmented Reality as Effective Media Communication Tool for Future Users” - KCI
ResearchGate
Exhibtion
2021
Opening Gallery, NiftyKit HQ – CryptoVoxels, Metaverse
2015
Convohack, Babycastles Gallery, New York, NY
2013
Itp Winter Show, “A Digital-Analog Representation of Us”, New York, NY
2011
Rhizome Exhibition, Mokkumto Gallery, Hyehwa, Seoul, Korea
Idas Open House Exhibition, Hongik University, Seoul, Korea - Resource
2010
Seoul World Design Festival, Design for All, Jamsil Sports Complex, Seoul, Korea
Awards & Recognition
2016
Vetted Member #9733 of WorkingNotWorking
2010
Shortlisted, Seoul International Design Competition held by Designboom Exhibited in Seoul World Design Festival
Complimentary Prize, Seoul Cycle Design Competition by Designboom & Seoul Design Foundation
Skills & Interest
Design Thinking
Brand Strategy
Problem Solving
Brand Design Systems
3D Design
Creative Direction
Storytelling
Web Design
AR/VR Design
Creative Coding
Front-End Dev
User Journey Mapping
Tools
Figma
Adobe Illustrator
Adobe After Effects
Adobe Photoshop
Notion
Blender
processing
p5js
reactjs
Monday
Slack