Royal College of Art, Lausanne University of the Arts, Aalto University,
Central Saint Martins, Eindhoven Design Academy…
From choosing the school and major that's right for you
From entrance exams, local life, to post-graduation career management
A Guide for Designers Preparing to Take the Next Step
The ultimate guide to navigating the vast ocean of studying abroad.

Going into an unknown world like studying abroad is bound to be scary.
Change is risky and difficult to take the first step because it is something we have never experienced before.
The most helpful thing in times like these is information.
The most important thing for someone preparing to study abroad is the story of a senior who has studied abroad.
No matter how much information is available online and how strategically designed a study abroad program is, nothing can compare to the vivid testimonials of alumni who actually attended the school.
If there are people around you who have studied abroad, you can be more selective and focused when deciding where to study abroad.
You won't be wasting time filling out documents with unimportant information or searching for methods or procedures.
In short, the quality of information changes.
《Designer's Study Abroad》 is a book for design students preparing to study abroad who are seeking accurate and high-quality information.
The author leaves the easy road of being an art director at a major corporation and chooses the arduous path of studying abroad in England to pursue a bigger dream.
From language barriers to insufficient funds for studying abroad, real estate fraud, the death of a mother, and cultural differences, he overcame many difficulties and had a life-changing experience through studying abroad.
The author wanted to share these experiences and included his own experiences and knowledge in this book.
This book vividly explains the entire process of studying abroad, from fundamental questions like whether studying abroad is really necessary, to preparations like which school to choose, where to get information, what to focus on to be accepted, how to overcome difficulties that most international students face, such as language barriers and homesickness, and how to find a job abroad.

Since there is no such thing as 'leftover time' in life, dedicating an entire year or two to something is a pretty big decision at any stage of life.
So, you have to do your best and think hard.
Why on earth would I want to be in a different environment than the one I am in now?
I think that if you concretize your reasons for wanting to study abroad before you leave, it will serve as a good guideline for you to evaluate the value of studying abroad after you return.
(…) If you find it a little difficult to find your own ‘why’, it is also a good idea to analyze your current life.
What parts of my current state and life am I satisfied with and what parts are I dissatisfied with?
Are you willing to improve the parts you are dissatisfied with, even if it means accepting the inconvenience of changing the parts you are currently satisfied with?
And how can those unsatisfactory aspects be improved?

---From "Chapter 2: Things to Consider When Deciding to Study Abroad"

A more accurate and high-quality way to get information than through a study abroad agency is to contact a graduate of the school or department directly.
I also had no trouble finding people who had graduated from the department and school I wanted to attend through LinkedIn and Instagram.
Another good way to do this is to find work you like on the school's graduation exhibition website and contact the graduate.
(…) There are also ways to contact schools and professors who are not graduates.
Don't be afraid to email your school's admissions office or professors.
It would be a good idea to email your work to the professor and consult with him/her in advance to see if your style would fit with the department.
---From "Chapter 3 Preparation"

The important thing is confidence as a designer.
It shows in the choices we make about which moments to capture during the process.
Don't try to include the entire process.
We see hundreds of portfolios, and it's more important to show the key, defining moments of the design process than to show every step.

---From "Chapter 3: Asking the Professor on Your Behalf"

If you ask me what I missed most about Korea while living in England, it wasn't Korean food, air conditioning, or hair salons, but Euljiro.
Euljiro, Dongdaemun Shopping Center, Bangsan Market, Chungmuro ​​Printing Alley, Homihwabang…
The facilities and services that allowed your work to be brought to life.
Compared to the UK, Korea has relatively low labor costs, which makes it a convenient environment for people to immediately turn ideas into reality.
Additionally, 'experimentation' is possible during the work process.
This means that even if it fails, the financial impact is not that great.
They say you learn from failure, but the more you fail, the more expensive it is, so failure in Europe is much more expensive than failure in Korea.
So, failure must also be approached with caution.

---From “Chapter 5 Learning in School”

The topic of my final Inside Out lecture of my freshman year was Eileen Gray, my favorite designer and the person who inspired me to start designing furniture.
There, I met Jasper Morrison, sitting quietly, unnoticed, amidst the bustling student crowd. The RCA has produced countless artists over the years, but my favorite designer was undoubtedly Jasper Morrison.
As a representative British designer, he presents designs rooted in simplicity, functionality, and minimalism, and is one of the most influential designers in the fields of furniture and product design.
That Jasper Morrison was sitting right in front of me and listening to the lecture with me.
It was an unreal experience for me, like meeting an idol.

---From Chapter 5, “This is why I came to study abroad”

Q How do you feel after finishing your study abroad?
A After finishing my study abroad, I realized how much I had changed.
Everything surrounding work has changed, from my working methods and style to my perspective.
As I explored and learned new areas at school, I developed a strong desire to apply them to my work.
There are so many things I want to do right now.
I gained confidence through my experience there.
What sets me apart from other people is that I completely let go of myself and started working.
Rather than trying to stick to what I was doing before, I had a strong desire to let go of myself and embrace 100 percent of what the school had to offer me.
I thought I could always do things my way.
Ultimately, I think what I learned at school and what I have now have a very good working context that has been integrated.

---From "Chapter 9: Introducing My Designer Friends"