Meet Haley Oh | Graphic Designer

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

Hi Haley, how has your background shaped the person you are today?
I’m originally from South Korea and spent my formative years in the Philippines and Canada, which exposed me to diverse cultures early on. Currently, I’m pursuing my MFA in Graphic Design at ArtCenter. Before this, I earned degrees in visual communication and fashion design. I worked as an in-house graphic designer for a cosmetics company and a brand agency in Korea and interned at a design studio in Los Angeles. These experiences have given me valuable insight into the design world and expanded my creative perspective.

Living and working in different environments has shaped me into an independent, adaptable, and open-minded person. This diverse background allows me to bring a multi-dimensional approach to my work, creating thoughtful and innovative design solutions while connecting meaningfully with others.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I love designing with a minimal and sophisticated style, always adding a unique touch to make it memorable. I aim to create elevated, premium, approachable, and welcoming designs that are not intimidating.

Getting to where I am today hasn’t been easy, but it’s been incredibly rewarding. I’ve changed career paths a few times, and what I’m most proud of is how I pushed myself to grow once I discovered my true passion for graphic design. I’ve never let myself stay in my comfort zone for too long. For example, before starting graduate school at ArtCenter, I was working as a graphic designer in Korea. While I enjoyed my work, I felt like I had hit a creative ceiling and was experiencing burnout. Instead of switching jobs locally, I made the bold decision to move to the U.S. to study and learn from talented designers and mentors from around the world.

It wasn’t an easy choice—especially with the pressures and expectations of Korean society and the stability of my previous job—but it turned out to be a life-changing decision. I’m proud to say it’s helped me elevate my skills, expand my creative thinking, and find a design style I love. This journey taught me the importance of stepping outside your comfort zone and trusting yourself, even when the path feels uncertain.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
There are probably a lot of great places I haven’t discovered yet, but here’s what I plan for a week with my best friend:
We’d start with breakfast at Sqirl—their food is always fresh and unique. For something sweet, we’d grab a snack from Melo Melo, where their coconut puddings never disappoint. We’d definitely stop by Arcana, an incredible bookstore with a great selection of art and design books.

For shopping, I’d take them to ROW DTLA for cool, curated shops and a nice atmosphere, then over to Abbot Kinney for more boutique shopping and a casual Venice vibe. At night, we’d go bar hopping, starting at a cozy whisky bar—there are so many great options in LA that it’s hard to choose just one.
To balance things out, we’d make a trip to Joshua Tree for camping and to soak up the quiet beauty of nature. It’s such a nice reset from the city. It’d be a good mix of exploring, relaxing, and catching up in all my favorite spots.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’d like to give a genuine thank-you to my family, especially my mom. She’s always been incredibly supportive of my dreams and goals, doing everything she can to create an environment where I could focus on what I truly love while encouraging me to embrace a positive and ambitious mindset.

I also want to recognize the incredible instructors at ArtCenter. They’ve completely transformed how I view design, inspiring me to push boundaries and explore what design can truly be. Their encouragement to pursue the work I’m passionate about, rather than just following directions, was a significant shift for me, and I’m so grateful for their guidance and support.

Website: https://haleyoh.com

Instagram: @haleyoh.pdf

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

Image Credits
Soobin Lee