Doug Choi

CREATIVE DIRECTOR, HAPPY MEDIUM
DES MOINES IA

Doug is Happy Medium’s Creative Director and is passionate about creating, modifying, and translating brands that straddle the digital and traditional divide. He constantly challenges himself to find impactful solutions for clients of all shapes and sizes. Doug holds a Master of Arts with a concentration in graphic design from Iowa State University and a Bachelor of Arts in film and media studies from the University of Rochester.

THE FUTURE OF GRAPHIC DESIGN?

I’m really excited about the incoming wave of designers because design programs shifted from being skills-based to teaching more collaboration and problem-solving. I’m honestly really jealous of what students are learning today because it’s so much of what I’ve had to piece together for myself in circumstances that don’t offer the same safety as school does. Non-formal design education is also really maturing well for people who can’t do or don’t want to do the school thing. This is all really a roundabout way of saying that the design field is going to be very competitive in the future.

WHERE WERE YOU BORN AND WHERE DO YOU LIVE NOW?

Columbia, MO / Mostly grew up in Ames IA/ Des Moines, IA

DID YOU GO TO DESIGN SCHOOL?

I got my Masters at Iowa State University while hiding from the recession. It was desperate, impulsive, and probably one of my better decisions.

FAVORITE BOOK?

My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh.

FAVORITE MOVIE?

Parasite was really just a perfect movie.

FAVORITE FINE ARTIST?

I recently visited one of Yayoi Kusama’s exhibits when I was visiting Atlanta. I’d seen one of her infinity rooms many years ago and it was nice to find my way back to a place that I’ve had such vivid memories of for so long.

About Gordon Kaye