The Rising Designers: Dahyun Hwang

BrandsWalk Creative |
In the second chapter of our series, The Rising Creatives, we shift our lens from digital systems to the atmospheric world of Dahyun Hwang. A Korean graphic designer and art director now carving her path in Berlin, Dahyun’s work is less about the 'final result' and more about the quiet, meditative process that precedes it. From a childhood fascination with fashion history to navigating the cultural 'tension' of life in Germany, she views design as a bridge between languages and lifestyles. In this conversation, Dahyun explores how cycling and Pilates fuel her focus, why she values the 'beautifully ugly' finds of flea markets, and the reason she prioritizes her creative signature above all else.

Q1. Tell us about yourself!

For those in our audience who may be discovering you for the first time, how would you introduce yourself? You can answer however you’d like — one word, one sentence, an image, or even a little sketch!

Hi, I’m Dahyun, a Korean graphic designer and art director based in Berlin.

Instagram: @da_hyonni

Q2. What does a real day in your creative life look like? Any daily rituals?

I try to train my focus, almost like meditation. Whether it’s doing Pilates or cycling, I try to stay fully focused in the moment. When I stop overthinking and really pay attention to my body and surroundings, stress fades away and new ideas appear naturally.

Instagram: @da_hyonni

Q3. If someone could remember just ONE thing about your work, what would you want it to be?

I’d love people to remember it simply as “Dahyun’s work.” It might not sound like the biggest compliment to some people, but to me it means that my touch is present in everything I create, that people can sense what I’m trying to convey and recognize my identity as a creator.

Q4. What’s one exciting goal you’re chasing this year?

Honestly, I have too many things I want to achieve, which is sometimes a problem. One of them is practicing and learning languages. It might sound a bit unexpected, but I actually think language is a huge learning tool for designers. It carries different cultures, lifestyles, and ways of thinking. Through learning a language, you can experience an entirely different world. When I started learning German, I was really amazed by how much it expanded my perspective.

Q5. When you’re not creating, what lights you up?💡 Any passions, hobbies, or secret obsessions?

Recently I’ve been working out more, especially Pilates and cycling. I also love cooking and going to flea markets to look through all the beautiful or sometimes very ugly old things.

Q6. Let’s rewind to little-you — how did your upbringing shape the designer you are today? Was there a “this is it!” moment that sparked your creative path?

When I was eight, I read a book about fashion history and fashion designers, and I became completely fascinated with the idea of becoming a fashion designer. That dream stayed with me until I was about 18. Eventually, I decided to study visual communication. At the time, I thought I could work as a graphic designer or art director in the fashion industry. And that’s kind of what I’m doing now, haha

Instagram: @da_hyonni

Q7. How do different creative mediums play into your work? Do they challenge you, inspire you, or completely change your process?

Different mediums push me to think differently. Each one has its own rules and limitations, and those constraints often lead to unexpected ideas. I enjoy playing with the tension between mediums, like sometimes connecting them, and sometimes deliberately separating them.

Q8. You’ve been featured in several magazines and also host a podcast — how did that journey begin? And what message are you most passionate about sharing with the world right now?

I’m actually more interested in talking about the process than the final result. The real story is everything around it, the inspirations, the questions, and the thoughts and emotions behind the work.

Work from Dahyun Hwang Instagram: @da_hyonni

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