A man more serious about furniture design than anyone, furniture designer Shin Sojak met us at Offhour in Hapjeong. This is his favorite place, a space where his sensibility quietly lingers and where the objects that inspire him gather. At Offhour, PAP MAGAZINE looked into his slightly different way of seeing.
The furniture born from his hands settles into all kinds of spaces with a presence that seems to write its own story. From tables and chairs to shelves and dressing tables, these pieces hold both function and a distinctive aesthetic, and a single one can shift the flow of an entire room.
He never lets a small level difference slip past unnoticed, and he pays attention to the smallest things, like the subtle tension a surface creates.
So what is the ideal piece of furniture through designer Sojak's eyes, and which designs have made his heart race? Swipe through the slides to meet the story of designer Shin Sojak.
Q. Hello! Please introduce yourself briefly.
A. Hello, I am Shin Sojak, and I design and build furniture.
Q. Where do you find inspiration when designing furniture?
A. I used to try to draw inspiration from many different places, but these days I am trying to walk my own path, following inspiration that grows out of my earlier works, like a relay. I also look at books and paintings often to find ideas.
Q. Of the projects you have done so far, is there one that was especially interesting or memorable?
A. There was one rather unusual experience. A table called 'Shinhanbakryu', which I designed by imagining freely from the 'personal statement' the client sent me. They wrote in detail about who they are, what they love, even the YouTube channels they enjoy, and I built the piece to match.
Q. Then why do you love this place (the object shop)?
A. The sensibility of the collecting here is excellent, and I am very interested in plates and cups these days. You can find a lot of vintage tableware here, which is what draws me back so often.
Q. Is there a design trend you are watching closely these days?
A. It would have to be AI. Lately I have been thinking a lot about how I could fold AI into my own design. I have not yet built furniture with it, but 3D modeling and AI are the hottest technologies of the moment, so I would love to try.
Q. When a friend says "Hey, do my room for me", do you gladly say yes, or quietly slip away?
A. Right, I get these requests a lot. But to be honest, I do not do it, not for friends. (laughs) As a gift it is possible, but once things get tangled up like a commission, with money involved, it rarely ends well.
Q. Among the 'details of furniture' people easily pass by, is there one you alone obsess over?
A. I pay a great deal of attention to 'level differences'. It is the most important part of finishing. If there is a step, the feeling at your fingertips when you touch the piece is bothersome.
Q. And what is a 'level difference' here?
A. For example, when I want the joint where a tabletop meets to read as one straight line, the point where it slips slightly out of alignment is the step. I usually fuss over this part purely for my own satisfaction.
Q. Of all the furniture that exists in this world, is there a piece that made you think "I should have made that!"?
A. One piece that has inspired me is Gerrit Rietveld's 'Zig-Zag Chair'. At one point I found myself instinctively working toward something similar. That was when I thought it would have been nice if I had been the original.
Q. Comparing your design now with your design ten years from now, what do you think will differ most?
A. My design now probably feels a little more reckless, more full of nerve, no? I keep records as I design, and even looking at works from five years ago, many of them make me think "How did I ever make this?" I suspect the nerve and passion of that time seeped into the design. In ten or twenty years, will I not feel exactly the same looking at what I make today?
Q. Is there an item you absolutely want to buy here today?
A. Last time I came I bought just one vintage glass, but glasses are better together, since they need a partner to clink with. I would like to buy this small cup, whose shape carries an unforced, natural charm. (laughs)
FAQ
Where does furniture designer Shin Sojak draw inspiration?
Shin Sojak is currently finding his own path through inspiration derived from his previous works, gaining inspiration by frequently viewing books and paintings.
Why does Shin Sojak frequently visit Off-Hour in Hapjeong?
Off-Hour has excellent curation sensibility for small objects, and Shin Sojak frequently visits because he can see many vintage tableware items like plates and glasses that interest him.
What design trends does Shin Sojak focus on?
Shin Sojak is most focused on AI recently, contemplating how to incorporate AI into his designs. He wants to attempt 3D modeling and AI technology in furniture production.
