Design Leaders: Taewoo Kim of Wilsonart

This article is part of an ongoing profile series spotlighting IIDA industry members.

Meet Taewoo Kim, Ind. IIDA, senior product designer at Wilsonart

What core values are most important to you as a leader, and how do you ensure they are embedded in the company culture?

Teamwork. Every individual brings different strengths, skills, and perspectives to the table, and I believe true synergy happens when a team complements one another’s weaknesses while learning from each other’s strengths. That collaborative dynamic is what allows an organization to grow beyond the capability of any one person.

Another one is maintaining a positive team culture. In any organization, differing opinions and debates are inevitable, but I believe that when a positive mindset and constructive atmosphere are preserved, those differences can evolve into better ideas and stronger outcomes.

To put these values into practice, I encourage a culture of sharing rather than simply reporting, discussion rather than criticism, and proactive improvement rather than passive dissatisfaction. This helps create an environment where people feel empowered to contribute, collaborate, and grow together.

Head-and-shoulders portrait of a man with short black hair, neutral expression, wearing a dark V-neck sweater against a pale background.

Can you share a pivotal moment in your career?

I began my career as a designer at a global cosmetics company. Through that experience, I learned a great deal about color, form, and creating solutions through a deep understanding of consumer needs. At the same time, I also realized that mass production often places significant constraints on designers.

One pivotal moment came early in my career while developing a design concept. During the production phase, I received a request from the manufacturing team to alter the original design for the sake of easier production. Fortunately, the product was ultimately developed without compromising the original form, but that experience taught me an invaluable lesson.

I realized that for a designer to preserve design integrity and push beyond manufacturing limitations, it is essential to have a deep understanding of manufacturing processes, engineering constraints, and production realities. Innovation is not created by design alone — it happens when design and technical expertise come together.

That experience became a major turning point for me and motivated me to become not only a better designer in my own field, but also someone who continuously expands knowledge across industries.

What is the legacy you or Wilsonart hope to leave?

Unlike fast-moving fashion trends, Wilsonart products are designed to stay with people for a long time and become part of their daily lives in one way or another.

For that reason, I am more interested in exploring lifestyle patterns and broader macro trends than chasing short-term trends. By understanding larger cultural and behavioral shifts, I believe we can anticipate changes that align with lasting values rather than temporary popularity.

While short-term success and excitement are always welcome, what matters more to me is creating products with enduring value — products that, even years later, make someone pause and think, “This is truly a great product.”

That kind of timeless emotional connection is the legacy I hope to create.

What big goal have you or Wilsonart set for the next 3-5 years?

My biggest goal is to create design with purpose and intention.

As a designer, my priority is not simply to create something aesthetically pleasing, but to transform people’s abstract ideas about space into tangible reality — developing solutions that genuinely improve the way people live.

Design should go beyond visual appeal or conceptual beauty; it should solve problems and create meaningful experiences that can be expressed through products. I also plan to create designs with timeless appeal rather than temporary trend-driven popularity, ultimately building a portfolio of innovative products that continue to captivate and inspire customers over time.

What’s one big inspiration — or passion — that you think everyone should know about?

For me, the foundation of creativity is built on three essential elements: curiosity, sharp observation, and thinking beyond conventional boundaries.

Having deep expertise in materials such as solid surface, Thinscape, natural stone, quartz, and ceramics allows me to challenge limitations and turn what may seem impossible into reality. At the same time, inspiration should never come only from one’s own field. Exploring ideas from industries outside of surface materials plays a critical role in expanding my creative vision.

Thinking outside the box is often more difficult than it sounds because it can challenge what we already know and believe. That’s why I intentionally spend as much of my personal time as possible exploring disciplines beyond my professional field — to gain fresh perspectives, challenge assumptions, and continue growing creatively.

Wilsonart Senior Product Designer Taewoo Kim, Ind. IIDA, has experience across the cosmetics, quartz, and solid surface industries. Drawing on a background in product design and global corporate experience, he develops thoughtful design solutions rooted in material expertise, trend awareness, and functional beauty. His work focuses on translating insights into refined, user-centered product experiences.

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