Taking the pulse with Lisa Kim

Lisa Kim is a Canada-based freelance graphic designer and 2026 Applied Arts Young Blood Design Award winner for Hearth, a brand identity project for an apparel company. Holding a Bachelor of Design (Honours) from OCAD University, she specializes in branding, typography, and visual storytelling. In this Q&A, she shares insight into the creative process behind the award-winning work.

What is your creative process (from idea to finished product)?

For Hearth, I started by thinking about the meaning of comfort and how a modern apparel brand could bridge urban and outdoor lifestyles. From there, I researched existing apparel brands, developed the brand identity, and explored ways to visually communicate comfort, quality, and functionality.  

What inspires you?

I was inspired by clothing that feels timeless yet simple. With Hearth, I was interested in the contrast between city life and the outdoors, and how clothing can exist comfortably and functionally in both environments. Through my research, I explored objects, and the hearth became a metaphor for creating connections through design.  

What have you learned from creating this piece? (if anything at all)

The project gave me a deeper understanding of how design choices, from the logotype to the layout, can communicate feelings and create connections between ideas, which helped shape the overall identity of Hearth.

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With Hearth, Lisa Kim distills ideas of comfort, quality, and connection into a refined brand identity. The result is a thoughtful visual system that balances conceptual clarity with strong design execution, demonstrating both strategic thinking and craftsmanship. Her work is one to watch.