winner’s Interview
Designer : Jong Chan Kim
What inspired your design?
It’s a one-off. However, I always get inspired by other designers’ work. When I see other products, I’m constantly trying to understand the thought process behind it and how they did it.
What was your process?
First of all, when I have a subject, I research it and start to brainstorm. After I get a few directions and ideas, I try to find images for inspiration. After all of these research steps are finished, I start doing sketches, 3D modeling, and rendering.
Do you have any musical background?
I’ve had the chance to play many musical instruments such as guitar, piano, flute, drums, and traditional Korean instruments.
What would you like to do as a profession?
Consumer electronics and consumer products design.
How did you hear about the contest?
I learned of the contest from my design professor at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco.
What interests you most about the grand piano?
The grand piano can command a large space with its sound, and that is fascinating to me. However, the design and cabinetry of the acoustic grand piano is limited to accommodate its strings. Modern technology has improved the quality and power of digital sound to be as good as acoustic, so therefore the design of the instrument is now free to be more flexible.
What interests you most about Roland?
I think Roland has created some of the best technology for digital instruments. I am not a professional musician, but I cannot distinguish between digital sound and analog sound. The sound really is the highest quality.