How does a Product Designer on the Corca team work?
This is an interview conducted to inform the public about what the Corca Product Team does.
Seonyeong Kim (HR Manager) asked, and Giseong Song (Product Designer) answered.
- What is the atmosphere and development culture of the Corca Product Team?
- What does a product designer do and what concerns do they have?
- What does the product designer dream of for Corca?
Q. Please introduce yourself!
Hello, my name is Ki-seong Song and I work as a Product Designer at Corca. I am mainly responsible for overall BX (Brand Experience) design and UX (User Experience) design.
Q. Please tell us about what you do at Corca!
I am mainly in charge of UX design, and I also support product design, interface design, BX design, logo, and graphic design related to the company's brand.
The design field is very diverse, but I am very interested in many fields and have accumulated a variety of experiences by working at various startups. Thanks to this, I had many opportunities to try out various designs such as logos, brands, webs, and interfaces, and was able to naturally acquire the practical experience that is essential for startups.
These experiences have made me who I am today, and I think they have laid the foundation for me to be able to flexibly perform a variety of design tasks at Corca!
Q. What capabilities or mindset do you think is needed to do a good job as a Product Designer at Corca?
I think that designers who work not only at Corca but also at startups need to have a variety of design experiences and the confidence to take on challenges regardless of genre. Because startups are small, there are not many designers, and they often take on multiple roles at the same time. Therefore, it is important to have an open mind that is not limited to a specific field and can flexibly handle a variety of tasks.
Additionally, there may be a lack of information about the product or goal in the beginning, but even within that, an attitude of finding direction through trial and error is needed while maximizing one's capabilities. I think it is important to understand the history of the project over time and clearly set the design direction based on this.
Q. When do you feel the fun and reward of work? Conversely, when is work difficult and difficult?
The design itself is a good fit for me, so I don't have a specific moment when I feel fun and rewarded. In particular, as an in-house designer, I enjoy designing our company's products and brands and experiencing trial and error during the product development process. Although many drafts are thrown away, the process of checking responses, learning, and repeatedly revising to improve completeness is very fun and rewarding. I feel the greatest sense of accomplishment when I feel that better and better results are coming out of that process.
On the contrary, I think the fun of work decreases in an environment where you have to work according to a set plan in a completely waterfall manner. The process of communicating with people, changing design direction, and constantly revising and improving is more interesting and meaningful to me.
I have a challenging nature, so I enjoy directly participating in design rather than serving as a director. In Korea, people often transition to managers or leave practical work as they gain experience, but I would like to continue designing directly in the field. This is because I gain great satisfaction when I feel that the results are improving through repetitive processes.
In fact, I didn't start out with design to make money; it started out as a hobby and then turned into a job, so the fact that it doesn't feel like work is a big advantage. Of course I'm tired when I'm busy, but thanks to doing something I like, I feel like I can focus on work for longer without falling into mannerism.
Making a career out of something you love is something that many people dream of. I really envy Kisung who works with such passion and affection!
Q. What are the topics the team talks about most often these days?
I am currently in charge of two products, Moonlight and Corca LLM, and each team covers slightly different topics.
The Moonlight team has a lot of discussions centered on user data and indicators. The Moonlight team measures product performance numerically and sets the direction for product development based on that data. I often analyze user feedback and sales data and think about ways to improve product perfection through this. In particular, we meet directly with customers to share opinions and continue to discuss ways to improve to create good indicators.
The Corca LLM team is currently mainly talking about branding and promotional strategies. We focus on setting the direction of the product and establishing the brand image. We are devising strategies appropriate for the initial stage and considering how to effectively convey brand value.
Q. What was the most impressive scene or episode while working at Corca?
The most impressive moment was the workshop that took place last summer. It was an experience of moving to a new company-wide location, working and staying there together, and that in itself was really refreshing and memorable. Changing the location was refreshing, and better ideas came to mind in the new space. At the same time, I think it was a great help in healing and building teamwork with my teammates.
It was especially special to have the entire company move together and experience this. It was a valuable time where I could get closer to my team members. I hope there will be another opportunity like this in the future, and I thought it would be great if the company grows further and one day I can go on work trips overseas😊
It feels like time flies so fast that already half a year has passed since the workshop I went to last summer! Like Ki-seong said, I hope the company can grow further and create even more great work opportunities in the future!
Q. What do you think are the strengths of the current Corca team?
I think the biggest strength of the Corca team is each individual’s sincerity and responsibility. It's really impressive to see everyone on the team feel a high sense of responsibility for their work and do their best.
Also, everyone is great in terms of personality, so we get along without any problems, and I really like the atmosphere of respect and collaboration with each other. I believe that Corca's strong will to dedicate itself to the team and product is also one of Corca's greatest strengths. I think this is a team that naturally creates a good atmosphere.
Q. Kisung, what does Corca look like a year from now?
I expect that Corca, one year from now, will be fully on Moonlight's target sales track and well past the break-even point. We hope that the success of Moonlight will have a positive impact on the entire team and that other products will grow together and generate more sales.
In particular, I believe that we will be able to become a more prosperous company next year based on this year's meaningful growth by steadily securing customers. I'm also looking forward to seeing the number of team members increase and we can move toward bigger goals together.
Q. What kind of influence do you want to have at Corca in the future?
I have a strong desire to contribute more to the team rather than influence. Actually, when I first joined Korca, I was worried that there would be communication difficulties due to the age and generation gap, but fortunately, I feel like I am adapting well without any major problems.
I think that the current design-related products are not completely stable, so I would like to play a role that can help the team not only in design but also in other areas. I would like to upgrade my capabilities so that I can provide greater value to the team, not just in product design but also in directing and management roles.
Q. Who do you expect to join the Corca Product Team as a colleague?
I think we need someone who has a good understanding of all products and can actively participate by distributing their time efficiently. Also, I think it would be a great help if there was someone who could provide meaningful advice without losing sight of the team's flow.
Also, if you are someone who has an open mind, personality, and can communicate horizontally with team members, I think you will fit well with the atmosphere of Corca.
Q. Is there anything you would like to say to prospective applicants to Korca as a Product Designer?
If you are interested in AI, I think your experience at Corca will be more meaningful. Since we are planning and designing AI-centered services, if you have interest and understanding of AI, you will be able to create greater synergy in communication and work processes.
Additionally, due to the nature of a startup, designers who are not limited to one role but can flexibly handle a variety of tasks as a multi-player are especially welcome.
This was an interview with Corca’s fashionista, Kisung! I was really impressed by the deep affection and passion Kisung showed for his work. It was really cool to see him communicate with the team in a trendy and youthful way that belied his age! We hope that you will continue to play a strong role at Corca! Thank you for agreeing to the interview😊
Updated 2025.1.24