Yunji Yun

Hello world! First blog post! Will aim for a weekly post at the start of the week to check in and brainstorm ideas for the rest of the week. It will be a more organized version of the first semester journal!

Currently in Korea, getting a few winter break to-do items done. Did a quick photoshoot around Deokjeong, my hometown. It was really interesting to see the places I grew up in—the playground, the apartment building, the parking lot sign—through the lens of the camera. I really tried to focus on the composition of the photos more than anything, capturing the nostalgia and small-town vibe. My favorite photos are below!

It was crazy seeing what part of the neighborhood changed and what part truly stayed the same. The playground, specifically, looks exactly the same as I ran around in it when I was 8, just a little more grimy than I remember it. I’m going to use these photos and collage it to make an ad space in the magazine. Will replicate those travel ads in language and vibe but instead its my small home town.

Additionally, I started writing down a few recipes and short articles for the magazine. Mini Article 7: Breakfast at Grandma’s is based on my winter break experience, in addition to Recipes #1, #2 & #4. #2, which was initially supposed to be a recipe from mom and grandma, might get changed to a recipe by me. There wasn’t a lot of family-wide cooking this break. #1 is a recipe by my mom, a sausage stir-fry I LOVED as a kid. Got a few cooking photos and a verbal recipe from her, which I will write down soon. I think I’ll use the photos as a recipe mini article, where I talk about the process of memorializing the recipe. I thought it was so interesting that my mom doesn’t remember cooking the stir-fry for me, while I have such a vivid memory of it.

I was supposed to convince family to take a family photo, but failed. Not enough time in the two weeks I’m here, I suppose. Instead, I’ll take photos when I go to Pyeongtaek tomorrow. Since mom and grandma’s interview bits for Mini Article #1 mention Pyeongtaek, I’m sure photos couldn’t hurt. Maybe Pyeongtaek photos can replace the family photo page spots, providing as much nostalgia as former. We’ll see!

Substantive to-dos for the next few days. I have Article #7 basically written already in the journal. I would like to digitize that so I don’t forget the emotions and energy around what I wrote. Same vibe around Recipe #1 with mom, writing down the recipe step-by-step so it can be revised when I get back. Quick art board draft of all the ad spaces would be lovely too, except not having full data on my phone limits me from a lot of inspo-looking. Preliminary draft would be nice regardless!

I would also like to restructure my argument and the main articles. Since it will be a big push to write and design as soon as I get back, having the argument solid will be helpful so I can spend the time writing instead of stressing.

Well reader, it seems I have a bit of work to do. Still proud of the amount of stuff I was able to get done the last two weeks, especially the portfolio I’m slowly putting together (this website!). Will wrap up some website design stuff and go home because this cafe is quite cold. Until next time!