Exchange Student from South Korea: Meet Seoyeong Cho

1. Could you briefly introduce yourself and tell us where and what you study?
Hello, I’m Seoyeong Cho. I study design at Ewha Womans University, majoring in Visual Communication Design with a minor in Industrial Design. I have finished my third year and have one final year left before graduation.

2. What inspired you to spend part of your studies in Germany?
I really wanted to study abroad before graduating. While considering several countries, I was drawn to Germany’s long history and strong reputation in industrial design. Many senior students who had been exchange students here also highly recommended it.

3. Why did you choose Dresden for your exchange?
For my graduate studies, I plan to join an engineering design lab focusing on human-centered usability. I wanted to study this field during my undergraduate studies first. While looking into exchange programs, I found that TU Dresden was the most ideal fit. It perfectly matched my academic interests, making my decision to come here an easy one.

4. What will you be working on during your time at our chair?
I want to focus on my main project: “Light-based interaction for unmanned tractors”. I’m particularly fascinated by the keywords of interaction and communication. As an international student, I hope to bring a unique perspective by exploring ways to communicate clearly through visual language such as pictograms.

5. What are you most looking forward to learning or experiencing here?
I am eager to experience the overall process of a German design project in school. I also want to learn how design thinking here might differ from what I’ve learned in Korea. Ultimately, I want to broaden my horizons.

6. What has surprised you most about Germany or university life here so far?
I was quite surprised by the tuition-free system and the high flexibility of the class schedules. In Korea, the educational system usually follows a fixed timetable.

7. Is there a topic within your field that you are particularly passionate about?
I’m deeply interested in developing a brand identity and showcasing various adaptations within a brand’s structure, such as packaging, products, logos and so on. It relates strongly to commercial brand design. I love design that is thoughtful and has clear reasons, using graphics to persuade others.

8. What do you enjoy doing when you are not studying or working?
I love reading, and visiting bookstores is a must on my travel itineraries. I especially cherish the moments when I discover vintage books that match my taste in secondhand shops. Since I couldn’t bring physical books from Korea, I’ve been spending my time reading e-books here in Germany.

9. Please complete the sentence: “My exchange experience will be a success if …”
My exchange experience will be a success if I can successfully complete my design project. While English communication can sometimes be a challenge, I believe in the power of visual language in the design field, which is exactly why I am here. If I can do my best to finish my assigned project, I will have gained the most valuable things from this exchange program.