Archinect
Somang Yang

Somang Yang

Chicago, IL, US

 
View Portfolio

About 

My belief in humanism has led to my interest in higher educational and healthcare design. One of studio course works involved designing a healthcare center for children with autism spectrum and sensory processing disorders. All kinds of sensors were considered to accommodate a diverse spectrum of patient needs. My group designed a transition center as well to help adolescents prepare for independent life. My current studio work is to optimize learning space design in higher education. This project was based on my thesis topic about developing digital literacy in an interior design program. It is essential to prep in technology for designers, especially in this rapidly changing digital era. Through my teaching experience in the interior design program at Illinois State University, I found real-world experience is expected to be provided in higher education. Thus, my design concept is to apply office design strategy to learning space design.

I further believe that humanism should be the first major discipline as an interior designer. As interior design reflects human environments through the lens of a designer, humanism is the inclusion of all aspects of humankind and the human environment. Achieving humanistic design requires considering equity, inclusion, social justice, community, sustainability, and global issues. My goal for design is to make the world a better place for community and human by creating meaningful design. I think creativity comes from full empathy and consideration of user in the space. I believe the workers in Stantec have achieved these goals and I want to be one of them.

My diverse career as a project manager, art director, and illustrator in the graphic design industry has helped me succeed in earning a Master of Science degree in interior design. I have built my education and field experiences based on my passion for creativity through art and design. After earning my undergraduate degree in fine arts, I worked as a graphic designer for 10 years and an illustrator for 15 years. Using my vast art-related knowledge, I successfully shifted my career from fine arts to the design field, utilizing various visual communication tools, including hand-drawing, painting, and sculpting, as well as digital software such as Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Sketchup, Autodesk Sketchbook, Revit, AutoCAD, and Microsoft Office One Note. My role as an art director in the graphic design company was to meet with clients, identify their needs, deliver their information to the team, and suggest effective design solutions to the clients. Most projects were publication designs such as posters, catalogs, logos, banners, books, interior and exterior graphics, and signs. As an illustrator, I participated in developing illustrations for package designs.

I believe that my interdisciplinary skills and vast knowledge in visual arts and design areas will complement the values of interior design. I have helped develop interior design programs based on integrated principles of fine arts and design. Through my extensive range of experiences in related fields, I am confident that I will make valuable contributions to your company, providing meaningful solutions for design strategy and presentation.

Elsewhere:

Employment 

Auburn University, Auburn, AL, US, Graduate Teaching Student

Leading the interior design studio courses solely while developing, designing, and evaluating student works.

Aug 2020 - current
 

Illinois State University, Normal, IL, US, Lecturer

The faculty member has demonstrated experience working in and fostering a diverse faculty, staff, and student environment and will have experience in developing or the potential to develop initiatives, mentoring, and teaching that makes a meaningful design education accessible to underrepresented or disadvantaged groups.

Aug 2019 - May 2020
 

Center of math, science and technology at Illinois State University, Normal, IL, US, Renderer

Project to provide interior rendering of makerspace includes space planning, banding, programming and rendering

Jun 2018 - Aug 2018
 

XRI inc., Seoul, KR, Project Manager

Managed the proficiency of workflow between design team and development team
Responsible for software development in graphic design perspective
Led the design team to meet the time schedule.

Mar 2009 - Dec 2010
 

Education 

Auburn University, Auburn, PhD, Interior Design

I am adaptive to new technology and willing to adapt and spread new technology to the community.
The research interest focuses on identifying the linkage in the use of technology between education and the design industry. The current research area is defined within the case of computational design in the interior design industry, focused on space planning.

Aug 2020 - current
 

Illinois State University, Normal, IL, US, Masters, Interior design

Illinois State University is accredited by the Council of Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA). In the interior design program, I have prepared to design innovative, functional, supportive and responsible interior environments that positively impact the quality of life. I have developed skills and knowledge in color and design, drafting, space planning, building and interior systems, materials and finishes, historical interiors, building and barrier-free codes, FF & E, lighting, sustainability, and Computer-Aided Design knowledge.

Jan 2017 - May 2019
 

Awards 

John A. Marbel E. & Jacqueline Q. Karch Scholarship, Scholarship

2018
 

Design Communication Association, Award

Drawing Competition Juried Exhibition
Acceptance Rate: 39% (106/271): Accepted
Presented on Oct 5–20, 2018 at the MVR Gallery, Cornell University

2018
 

Student Travel Award, Scholarship

2018
 

Granado Espada Character Costume Design, 3rd Place

2006
 

Areas of Specialization 

Skills