Where does inspiration come from? To this question, Sukwoo Lee, the founder of the design studio SWNA, has a simple and clear answer: “Observe, and observe again.”
For those unfamiliar with SWNA, a good place to start would be to look up the designer of the medals for the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics. SWNA's designs can be found in products that have become a part of our daily lives, so much so that they are almost unnoticeable. 'Inspiration for Everyday Life' is an anthology of 62 projects that Lee has handpicked from the many projects he has successfully completed over the past 18 years.
The main body of the book is divided into two parts. The Projects section explains the idea, conceptualization stage, creation process, and usage of each design, and the vividly colored prints make it seem as if the products were born from scratch.
In the Process section, on the other hand, SWNA details how the way an initial idea as rough as a gemstone gets developed. Black and white images show how that gemstone is polished through sketches, mock-ups, and prototypes.
