Visual Communication
Designed with Adobe Indesign & Illustrator
KSAIC Magazine
KSAIC Magazine is a student-led publication created by the Korean Student Association (KSA) publication team at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. This magazine serves as a platform to highlight campus life, art exhibitions, student events, notable SAIC alumni, competitions, and cultural insights. It features in-depth interviews, editorial content, and visual narratives that engage the SAIC community.
My personal contribution includes a four-page Michelin Guide spread, where I curated, designed, and assembled the content, showcasing recommended Korean restaurants in Chicago. The remaining sections of the magazine were collaboratively designed by each team member, with ongoing modifications and refinements made collectively. The final publication is featured on SAIC’s official website and distributed among students upon special request from the institute.
Fujifilm Camera Illustration
This realistic illustration of a Fujifilm camera was created entirely in Adobe Illustrator. I focused on capturing intricate details such as the lens, dials, and metallic textures to achieve a three-dimensional, photorealistic effect.
This project demonstrates my skills in precision drawing, shading, and digital rendering, showcasing how Illustrator can be used to create lifelike objects purely through vector-based design.
Museum: On Exactitude in Science
This project is a blueprint-style illustration inspired by Jorge Borges’ story “On Exactitude in Science.” It explores the evolution of American residential architecture, featuring detailed drawings of iconic house styles from 1780 to 1970, including Frontier Log Cabins, Carpenter Gothic homes, Queen Anne Victorians, Craftsman Bungalows, and Mid-Century Ranch houses.
Using Adobe Illustrator, I meticulously created technical line drawings to reflect the precision and clarity of architectural blueprints. The design visually communicates how architectural styles reflect the cultural and historical contexts of their time.
This project highlights my skills in information design, technical illustration, and storytelling through visual systems, blending architectural history with a conceptual narrative.
How To Water Culture Orchids Poster
This instructional poster provides a clear, visual guide for growing orchids in water culture, a low-maintenance alternative to traditional soil planting. Using custom illustrations and a clean layout, I explained each step of the process, making the information accessible to both beginners and experienced plant enthusiasts. The design balances functionality and aesthetics, demonstrating my ability to communicate complex processes through visual hierarchy and iconography.
Nat King Cole Concert Poster
This poster was designed to promote a Nat King Cole performance at Blue Chicago on Clark. Using Adobe Illustrator, I combined bold typography with a surreal, urban-inspired illustration to capture the rhythm and energy of jazz music. The vertical alignment of the text mirrors the towering cityscape, while the limited color palette adds a modern, sophisticated feel.
The illustration featured on the poster is entirely original and created through a hands-on process. I first painted paper sheets using three colors—two adjacent on the color wheel and one contrasting color from the opposite side—to create visual harmony with a striking accent. I then cut the painted paper into abstract cityscape shapes, carefully arranged the pieces, and photographed them. Finally, I digitally transformed the composition into a cohesive illustration using Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop. This multi-step approach gave the poster a unique textured and handcrafted quality, blending traditional art techniques with modern digital design.
This project highlights my skills in typographic hierarchy, composition, visual storytelling, and mixed-media design.
One Roof at a Time - Awareness Poster
Created to raise awareness about the benefits of green roofs, this poster combines physical 3D modeling and graphic design. The title “ROOF” emerges from a cityscape of concrete blocks, with vibrant greenery symbolizing sustainability and growth. This project integrates environmental advocacy and design, encouraging communities to transform urban spaces by “turning concrete into canopy.” A QR code links viewers to additional educational resources, connecting physical design with interactive learning.
Illustration Poster: Screw It!
This project showcases a vector-based technical illustration of the Blue Ridge Rechargeable Screwdriver, created using Adobe Illustrator. It features a disassembled view of internal components, a technical line drawing for clarity, and a fully rendered product visualization emphasizing textures and lighting. An infographic layout integrates typography and annotations to effectively communicate key features. Demonstrating precision in technical illustration and visual communication, this design is optimized for manuals, advertisements, and marketing materials.
