Top 5 K-Dramas to Watch as a Design Aspirant for Inspiration

A good design idea rarely comes out of nowhere. It may stem from a building that one passes by every day, a street where one sees a certain combination of colours, the shape of an object in one’s hand, a costume in a movie or even a problem that no one has thought of solving otherwise.

Thus, for a design aspirant, the source of inspiration is not limited to sketchbooks, design studios or entrance-exam preparation. Films and web series can also give a glimpse of how designers think, experiment, solve problems and transform an idea into something that people can see and experience.

If you are preparing for a design entrance exam or considering a career in fashion design, interior design, graphic design, product design, UI/UX or other creative fields, then these five k-dramas are worth adding to your watchlist. They showcase beautiful works but also offer different perspectives of looking at the creative process.

1. In Your Radiant Season — For Fashion Design.

In Your Radiant Season is a drama that captures viewers inside the world of a high end fashion house. Lee Sung-kyung stars as Song Ha-ran, the head designer of the team of Nana Atelier, which is composed of her sister (the younger one) as junior designer.

For a fashion design aspirant, the distinction is important: design is not simply decoration here; it is the characters’ profession. The drama provides an insight into creative teams, the fashion-house structure and the stress of creating ideas that fulfill industry standards.

See how it is different when it comes to personal style and designing for a brand. That is important when creativity turns into a job.

2. I Will Prescribe You Love —For a Career in Fashion

The next release, I Will Prescribe You Love, starring Jin Se-yeon, has a character, Gong Joo-ah, who is no longer studying medicine but instead takes up fashion design. Eventually, she works her way up in Taehan Group’s fashion division. 

If students are wondering what it’s like to be a fashion designer, the drama sheds light on this. A fashion industry that isn’t just about pretty clothes is presented as a career choice with teams, companies and job choices. It is particularly applicable to the students who are considering the future of their career as fashion.

3. Search: WWW — For UI/UX and Digital Design

Sometimes the design you have in your head isn’t something you can physically touch. In some cases, it’s the interface you use on a daily basis.

Search: WWW explores the Korean landscape of web portals in competition, mapping how user interface, colour palette, layout, algorithms, and branding are impacting millions of people who use the web.

It’s an interesting watch for aspiring UI/UX designer or graphic designer because it proves how even the smallest design moves can have great implications. A layout is not just about appearance; it can alter the way people locate, comprehend, and utilize information.

4. Dali and the Cocky Prince — For Art, Curation and Branding

When art meets business, what happens?

 That’s one of the questions at the core of Dali and the Cocky Prince is that. Kim Dal-li is left with an art museum in a financial pickle, and it’s a balancing act between exhibitions and artistic vision, donors, viewers and the financial requirements of being a viable institution.

The drama gives an interesting glimpse into the conflict between creativity and commerciality for an intending artist, curator, art manager or creative professional.

In addition, it shows that art presentation is a creative activity itself. The curation of an exhibit, the design of the space, the company’s branding efforts, and how the audience interacts with the company can all impact the experience of a work prior to their interaction with the artwork.

5. Monthly Magazine Home — For Interior Design and Architecture

Monthly Magazine Home is particularly suited for those who have an interest in interior design, architecture or spatial design. The story is about a woman who was employed at a lifestyle mag that photo-edited properties into stories to be aspired to. Each episode focuses on a different type of space – from clean and simple flats, to traditional Korean houses.

The distinction between living in a space, and presenting a space, is what makes it interesting for the design aspirant. The magazine turns a house into a carefully crafted visual narrative, a home is functional, personal and imperfect in real life.

This is a key interior design tip for those who are keen to learn about interior design – Design is not all about appearance. It’s also about the ways people experience, take photos of and make sense of it.

Watch These K-Dramas Like a Designer

Don’t simply ask whether you like what you see. Ask why it works. What makes a specific thing “easy to use”? How does an outfit convey authority? Why does an exhibition cohere? Why does one room appear to be spacious and another appear to be cramped? Those questions can help develop a skill that every design aspirant must possess: observation.

You need not copy anything you see. Rather, gather ideas, draw some of the fascinating details and observe how the use of colour, proportion, typography, material and space affect mood.

Remember, a designer cannot create, if he or she does not learn to look first. So, watch such dramas, and series and sharpen your perspective to build a better career in design.