Meet Yebin Ha | Art Director and Designer / Barista

We had the good fortune of connecting with Yebin Ha and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Yebin, other than deciding to work for yourself, what else do you think played a pivotal role in your story?
One pivotal decision that contributed significantly to my growth was the leap from being a digital designer to becoming unemployed, then a barista and part-time creative. This was not what I expected my life to be, but it has taught me invaluable lessons about balance and discipline.

My definition of balance has changed over time. I’ve realized that every experience, whether it’s relationships, traveling, people-watching, running a 5k, cooking new food, or being outdoors, all create a newfound perspective that has been essential to my creativity. It’s easy to indulge yourself in the art world and only focus on activities that gratify that sense of art. However, I’ve learned that it’s important to get out of that bubble and enjoy life. Do something different. Be friends with people in professions that you don’t usually cross paths with, like nurse, accountant, computer engineer. Take up a hobby that exercises different part of your muscle.

Discipline is also essential. It engrains a sense of imagining, creating, producing, and starting a project through a series of conversations. I always want to make something look good, and that’s my overall motif. I had to learn that everything is a practice and it doesn’t have to be perfect. With discipline, you naturally get faster and better and develop a better sense of predicted results. While I’m still on my way to finding a better flow of discipline, my answer may look different from now.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
SEOM is a creative studio specializing in art direction, event curation, and digital production. ‘SEOM,’ means ‘island’ in Korean, reflects my upbringing in Indonesia, a country made up of thousands of islands in Southeast Asia. It also resonates with the sense of isolation many of us felt during the pandemic, as if we were all stuck on our own islands. I am inspired by the way island cultures deeply value community, where family, friends, and neighbors are everything. Especially in cluster of lands where resources is very limited, you only have each other to let your ecosystem of life function, My intention is to create a community that attracts like-minded individuals who appreciate the simple things in life. Events provide an excellent platform to bring people together, and I aim to elevate these gatherings through elements of nature, fashion, art, music, and sustainability. My goal is to foster intimacy and connection through thoughtful design and brand experiences. While ‘community’ has become a hot buzzword, especially since the pandemic, it can be hard to standout what my own version may look like. So, I am carving out my own path to understand what it truly means.

The idea behind SEOM started from a need to separate my personal identity from my alter ego, establishing myself as a creative agency. Running everything as a third person has made the creative process smoother, allowing me to function as a business with a strong artistic concept. When I think of islands, I think of summer memories, beautiful sunsets, running on wet and dry sand, tropical fruits, and a sense of paradise. It reminds me of vacations – temporary, but to be savored every second. Islands also evoke a childlike curiosity and carefreeness, which I channel through my agency to unleash that side of me.

My experience with Apple and Nike has equipped me well. Designing for large-scale campaigns, shows, premieres, and gatherings has trained me to understand every detail of creating marketing and social assets. Each project had unique brands, concepts, and executions under tight timelines. This thorough understanding and creative problem-solving are skills I now apply to my own agency.

The biggest challenge I’m facing right now is marketing myself, which is ironic for someone who helped other businesses and artists market themselves. In LA, there is significant number of people who are an entrepreneur and content creator, and I never saw myself as someone who would do that. Short-form content seems to be the most viral and successful way to get noticed. I’m hoping to grow more comfortable and consistent with digital content since its the most accessible and quickest way at this time.

Overall, I want SEOM to be known for its unique blend of creativity and community-centered events, all while embracing the playful, carefree spirit that islands represent.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
That’s a tough question because LA is so vast and every neighborhood has its own unique vibe. However, I’d start the week by grabbing a favorite book and laying out a beach towel at Silver Lake Meadows. It’s one of my favorite spots to relax, get some sun, and enjoy people-watching. You’ll see everyone doing their own thing, which is always entertaining.

After soaking up some sun, we’d take a stroll around the Silver Lake Reservoir and pick up some fresh fruit mix from a local fruit stand. Next, we’d head over to Sunset Boulevard to explore all the cool stores and unique shops. For an unforgettable evening, we’d go to Dan Sung Sa in Koreatown. We’d order ramen ddeokbokki and burnt rice and bean sprout soup, with soju and beer on the side – it’s like being transported to Korea instantly.

With our bellies full, we’d hit a karaoke spot to sing our hearts out and end the night on a high note. For another night out, we’d explore the bars in Highland Park, an area that reminds me of Brooklyn with its trendy vibe and stylish crowd. Some of my favorites include Gold Line Bar, Homage, Blind Barber, and Checker Hall – they all offer fantastic atmospheres and great drinks.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Seunghoi Ahn! (She is my best friend and design soulmate <3)
Previously worked as Designer in Nike, RGA, and Swift, she is an immigrant from Korea, currently based in Beaverton, Oregon. During her travels to UK, she was inspired to start her own crumble dessert business, called Love Crumble, where she directed, designed and developed her own brand — and her addicting dessert is taking off in local farmers market in Beaverton. She also owns community brand called Oregon Hiking Club, an outdoors group centered around POC. She also runs YouTube channel with over 10K followers, creating content about her design life.

Website: https://seom.studio

Instagram: https://www.instragram.com/seom___seom

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yebs

Image Credits
Photographer – Alexa Jade and Seoha Jung