Hanji

by Choi Savannah (Subin)

Project Description

For this project, my aim was to develop an emotionally durable commercial product using Hanji. Hanji is a type of traditional Korean paper that is made from methods and ingredients native to the country. It has been a part of Korean life for over a thousand years, and significant Korean documents were printed on it. The craft has many narratives and qualities attached to it, so when used right, it offers opportunities for a design that is more meaningful, which results in a longer lifetime of a product.

There are two main traditional ways of using Hanji that I Implemented in my design: the thin sheets show the delicate and lighter side of Hanji and the woven look displays the strength of Hanji.

In the designing of the form, I was inspired by vowels from the Korean written language. The vowels’ design is based on three elements: a horizontal line representing Earth, a point for the Sun and a vertical line for the human; these combine to make the main vowels for the Korean language (ㅏㅓㅜㅗㅡㅣ).

The form of these vowels and the Hanji share a likeness in provenance and identity. As you can see, my design can be shaped to recreate the main vowels of hangul and by doing so, the pendant light becomes very versatile.

By clicking on this video, you can see how the user can interact with the wall light: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S68OjSuBF9k.

Bio

I am passionate about producing original and lasting product solutions for the senses. I believe that product durability is not only dependent on physical durability but also, on the emotional meaning that the product evokes.

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