A story of a glass blower

A Story of a glassblower A reflective story about myself as a designer

Story by Yeonju Jeon

Since I was a kid, as soon as I gained self-awareness, I started to ask myself what are the ingredients consist me. Things that I have and things that I have not.

These thoughts locked me in a boundary that I created myself letting external factors define myself and determine what I can do and what I can’t do.

As I began to look outward, I was able to see b o u n d a r i e s that predefine and limit people.

It was like a cluster in that society defines people based on their gender, race, social class, economic status, and more. Often, it becomes a cage that suppresses people and demands them to stay where they are.

I didn’t want those factors that I didn’t do anything about to determine who I am and what I can do.

Not anymore.

The only thing that I can accept to define me is the things that I acquired myself.

I encountered many inspirational figures who helped me to shape my perpsective on life.

Fire

Motivation

Tea Uglow’s work taught me how to deal with uncertainty and transfer that into work.

I gained insight from Jean Grenier’s book that I should free myself to reach the absolute.

Through a blowing tube, I send what I value to the world. I value efforts to make the world a better place.

Giving and accepting.

Intergration.

Respect.

These are the things that I value the most.

Blow

Value

A hint of identity can add more color to my life.

I perceive things through the lens of impression and intuition.

Color

Identity

This reflects on how I understand the world and how people perceive me.

Tool

Skill

I integrate artistic and scientific approaches. I apply different techniques and methods that I learned into my work and also reflect the perspectives I gained.

Sometimes, unexpected crises visit us, challenge us, and change our perspective in such a short time for a great deal.

This allows us an opportunity to look back on our behavior and its impact on our land and society.

We got to appreciate what we already have, look at people around us, and feel their hardship.

The world is not perfect yet. Perhaps, it will never be going to be perfect. Nevertheless, I have to raise my voice and move into action. Because that’s the only thing that enables us to make a change in our society.

I hope society can give everyone an equal chance and embrace individualities regardless of the differences each one of us has.

I believe in my role as a designer to initiate changes by redefining our solutions and reshaping the behavior of people.

“Do you think I’m naive if I believe that design can contribute to change the world into a better place?”

Look what I’ve become.

Still, I’m a fluid.