Jeokdangham
Jeokdangham is the central philosophy and aesthetic of Studio Underbar. It sits opposite too much, and a little apart from enough. We take away no more than needed, and add no more than needed. It is looser than sufficiency, left a little undone on purpose. The room in between is for people to fill. We make designs that feel familiar the first time you see them, with strong colour but nothing to dislike. The Japanese wabi-sabi is written in English simply as wabisabi. We hope jeokdangham is written the same way: not as enough, but as jeokdangham. With that in mind, we make and run spaces that are just measured enough.
PLANNING
We treat planning, putting the core of a brand into the design, as the most important work. If the plan or the business model is thin, we begin with planning before design. We name the brand, build the logo, and design the business model together. When it helps, we choose the location and the property with the client. We believe design without a plan does not last.
SPACE
We design whatever is needed, but what we do best is space design and construction. We hold function and beauty at once. We aim for design that deepens and grows more beautiful with time. We have a distinct character, but we do not fix ourselves to a single style.
GRAPHIC
We started as a graphic design studio, and that is why we are good at graphics. From logos to signage, from menus to name tags, we design every detail. We think graphics are what connect space and branding. Because we handle space and graphics together, integrated design is possible.
