Let’s face it: The role of a product designer extends far beyond function. It demands a keen eye for aesthetics, an understanding of brand narrative, and the ability to craft seamless, engaging user experiences.
One designer, Bryan Oh, is making his mark in New York City for reshaping how luxury and fashion brands connect with their audiences. With a robust portfolio spanning industries from tech to competitive sports, Oh’s distinct blend of analytical rigor and creative flair has led to impactful collaborations, notably with renowned names like Alfargo’s Marketplace, Drop93, and Drake’s The Armoury, among others.
Oh’s journey into design is marked by a dual mastery that sets him apart. With a background in both product and graphic design, his expertise isn’t just cumulative; it’s synergistic. This powerful combination allows him to approach every project with both structural precision and playful experimentation.
“The intersection of these two disciplines,” Oh explains, “gives me the room to experiment, explore, and infuse projects with graphic richness, while still maintaining clarity and hierarchy.”
This philosophy underpins his ability to create designs that are not only visually captivating but also intuitively navigable and deeply resonant with a brand’s core identity. Whether he’s orchestrating UI sprints to boost sales, undertaking complete app redesigns from scratch, or developing sophisticated printed marketing collateral and product catalogues, Oh’s work consistently aims to highlight distinct character while reinforcing a cohesive brand identity. His particular enjoyment for working with fashion and luxury brands is evident in his meticulous crafting of memorable experiences, elevating visual systems, and finding moments of fun within formality, all while ensuring intentional, personal, and visually engaging outcomes.
Crafting Intrigue: The Armoury, Drop93, and Drake’s Collaboration
One of Oh’s recent high-profile projects involved leading the teaser campaign for Drop93, a new retail venture by The Armoury, the esteemed Hong Kong-based menswear retailer celebrated for its elevated tailoring and masterful brand storytelling. The challenge was to generate significant buzz and intrigue around an upcoming partnership without revealing the collaborators upfront.
Oh’s strategy was ingeniously simple yet effective. “Using a series of animated visuals embedded with subtle hints and easter eggs, we strategically built anticipation while inviting the audience to speculate and engage,” he recalls. This visual-first approach transcended mere information dissemination; it became a powerful engine for curiosity and organic conversation, culminating in heightened anticipation for the eventual reveal.
Oh underscores the efficacy of this method, noting, “It’s a strategy I’ve found increasingly effective in marketing, where building momentum through mystery can be just as impactful as the reveal itself.” This project exemplifies his ability to understand market psychology and translate it into a compelling visual narrative that transforms passive viewing into active engagement.
Elevating Brands Through Seamless Digital Experiences
Oh’s overarching mission in product design is to elevate brands by ensuring that their distinctive voice and tone are seamlessly communicated through every interaction and website interface. His work is deeply rooted in the belief that a brand’s digital presence must be an authentic reflection of its guidelines and values. “Improving the way users experience brands online is a method of elevation,” Oh explains, emphasizing the importance of platforms that are intuitive, trustworthy, and ultimately drive meaningful engagement.
In fact, he meticulously designs systems that not only guide users effortlessly through complex navigation and checkout flows but also serve as crucial touchpoints for brand education and storytelling.
For Oh, every single interaction within a digital interface is an invaluable opportunity to build trust and elevate a brand. He strives to translate a brand’s foundational values into a clear, compelling, and refined digital experience that feels effortless. This holistic approach ensures that interfaces do more than just function; they leave a lasting, positive impression that fosters loyalty and encourages repeat engagement. By intrinsically aligning usability with a strong brand presence, Oh creates digital ecosystems that are not just transactional but transformational, cementing a brand’s identity in the minds of its audience long after a session concludes.
A Collaborative Process: Iteration and Insight
Oh’s design process is characterized by a commitment to clarity, collaboration, and continuous refinement. “I always begin a project by crafting a comprehensive design brief and establishing clear standards and guidelines with the client,” he explains. This initial, thorough alignment is critical, as it illuminates the core challenges at hand and ensures that the design team is focused on solving the right problems from the very outset. Rather than viewing feedback as a hurdle, Oh embraces it as an integral part of an ongoing conversation.
“Most of the work is iterative, and I treat each round as a springboard for refining and evolving the solution,” he states. This collaborative and adaptive methodology allows designs to organically grow and mature in response to real-world insights, leading to more thoughtful, effective outcomes that precisely address the client’s original brief. His iterative approach ensures that the final product is not just a solution, but the optimal solution, fine-tuned by a dynamic exchange of ideas and insights.
The Art of Storytelling in Fashion Design
When working with fashion brands, Oh operates with a deep understanding of the industry’s inherently subjective and emotive nature. “Every fashion brand has its own ethos, message, and distinct story to tell,” he observes. Here is one key to his design approach: the meticulous process of understanding the unique narrative a brand aims to evoke. He recognizes that while two brands might offer similar functional products, their visual languages and expressive tones can be vastly different – one might exude a sleek, athletic dynamism, while another might channel deep nostalgia or quiet refinement.
“These nuanced differences are what make fashion so rich as a medium for storytelling,” Oh said. For him, the crucial step is identifying the brand’s authentic tone and then strategically determining how that tone can perpetually resonate with its target audience.
Whether through crafting a compelling visual identity, designing an impactful campaign, or meticulously presenting a product, Oh’s focus remains steadfast: to help brands articulate their narratives clearly and emotionally. This intentional design fosters trust and loyalty, transforming fleeting interactions into lasting connections built on shared values and aesthetic appreciation.
Empathy in Every Pixel: Bryan Oh’s Distinctive Edge
What truly distinguishes Bryan Oh as a product designer is not just his technical prowess or creative output, but his profoundly empathetic and culturally sensitive approach, shaped by a lifetime of diverse experiences.
Much of product design involves making informed assumptions based on user behavior, patterns, and contexts, and Oh’s adaptability allows him to interpret these nuances with exceptional effectiveness. His goal is to create solutions that are not merely functional but also deeply considerate of the diverse experiences users bring with them.
“My experiences growing up and living in many different cities and countries have shaped the way I approach design with empathy, cultural sensitivity, and adaptability,” he shares. This unique background has made relating to varied perspectives second nature, directly informing how he functions as a product designer.
Great Job Abbie Wilson & the Team @ Our Culture Source link for sharing this story.
