Indigo Miindo is a lighting design inspired by Korean beauty portraiture (Miindo) and the layered, flowing forms of traditional Korean dress (hanbok), architecture, and craft. The sculptural form reinterprets the curves and pleats of the hanbok into lighting, with a central opal globe supported by an internal frame that shapes layered upcycled denim panels into a graceful, pleated silhouette. The denim surface features a white-to-indigo gradient, highlighting the tonal qualities of traditional garments while giving new life to a familiar material. A braided cord references traditional Korean feminine hairstyles, allowing users to interact with the light while connecting to cultural motifs.
Indigo Miindo explores how traditional Korean forms can be reinterpreted as contemporary lighting while giving familiar materials a new life. Inspired by the painting Miindo, the layered curves and pleated silhouette reflect the elegance of the hanbok, while subtle references to ceramics and rooflines add balance and continuity to the form.
Using upcycled denim allows me to connect sustainability with the cultural narrative, transforming a familiar textile into a sculptural, tactile surface that carries new meaning. The braided cord also invites interaction, letting users engage with the light while recalling traditional motifs. This project is about translating heritage into contemporary lighting; Miindo blends history, craft, and personal expression through material and form.
A project by
Jess Park/Jess Park Studio
Jess Park is an industrial designer and educator based in New York City. After graduating with a Master of Fine Arts in Industrial Design from the Parsons School of Design, she began working in the home product industry and established her own design studio. In addition to her design work, Jess serves as a faculty member at the Pratt Institute and Wesleyan University, teaching industrial and product design. As a designer, her goal is to improve people’s quality of life through meaningful, long-lasting designs that can be passed down through generations. She prioritizes this sustainability by carefully considering the materials and processes used in her work.