This is an opportunity for prospective students to connect withcurrent students of Kookmin University. 'Ask Kookmin People Anything' is published in a series. Prospective students running toward their goals may have some worries or questions, so 'Kookmin People'is here to help. First of all, we would like to introduce our "Q&A for prospective students" section that was created by Min-Jung Sun, who is a visual design major.

Q. I am a student who wants to enter the School of Art andstudy visual design. I am wondering how I can manage my gradesforthe SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test).

A. Actually, the answer is varied. Whether or not a student is going to major in arts or other subjects, he/she will need to do his/her best in studying at school. As art major students, wedo not have as much time to study as other students because we go to art academy after school. You should spend about half an hour every day in studying for SAT. If you get stuck at something while you are studying, you should ask your teacher who is the authority on the subject. The ration between the practical skills and the school grade is about 6:4. So you had better keep up with both of them because your school grade still takes a big portion.


Q. I started painting late. Is it still possible to get accepted?

A. There are only one or two people who are actually talented in middle school or high school. I think you do not need to worry even if you started painting in grade 12.Try your best from the beginning and after the SAT, concentrate a special lecture at that time; you will then have the chance to upgrade your skill quickly. So don't worry andprogress step by step.


Q. How can I do 'Idea and Expression'?

A. The subject depends on the university. My testhere at Kookmin wassimple. They gave me an abstract subject like 'express happiness', however in our school's case we had to set up circumstances in detail compared to other school's subjects. When I had a test, my subject was the "situation of someone who is locked in an uninhabited island, trying to escape." They expected me to express the figure of the person escaping the island riding something that resembled a bicycle and a part of a fan. Expression is very important, but the most important thing is having a good idea.And then your picture has to match the subject. The point is that your picture is supposed to have all the conditions they require. If the condition is realistic you should draw something thatcan be realistic. One of my friends who took the same test with me drew a picture of a person flying in the sky with a kickboard and she ended up failing because flying in the sky with a kickboard was not realistic. Whatever the test is about, knowing how it is graded is very important.


Q. I want to be a graphic designer. I am wondering about the curriculum in Visual Design.

A. The first year students will most likely to learn basic things such as perspectives, modeling, color contrast, etc. You will also learn simple figures, basics of design, ways of arrangement, effective showing and so on. You may learn how to use basic tools for editing images and photoswith computer. There are Photoshop illustrations, flash (concept of move), basics of photo, history of photo, print and so on. It will be more intensein the second year. Graphic elements, letters, and figures are combined, sothat might make it more interesting. We learn these basicsfrom following developed processes from the past. And we also learn drawing illustrations and making animation. We can make charactersmanually, and then it will be developed into a painting or photo.


Q. What are some parts of Visual Design?

A. Visual Design has many connections with many other things, from flat pictures, illustration of magazines and editing to the advertisement of moving 3D media. Actually, our many media major students also do a double major withVisual Design because it is useful for them to know how to advertisewith a visual design. How to connect between marketing and effective visual design is important as well.


Thanks for '07 alumni Visual Design major, Min-Jung Sun for answeringmany tricky questions. I hope we all see each otherat school as juniors and seniors. I am looking forward to meeting you of you who will try your best to achieve your goals. See you next time with 'Ask Kookmin People Anything'.