Professor
LEE, GIL OCK
Assistant Professor, Industrial Design
gilock.lee@hongik.ac.krProfessor Gilock Lee is teaching product design in the Department of Industrial Design at Hongik University. She has extensive professional experience in product design development, design planning and strategy and brand identity development through her work with leading international companies, including Electrolux USA, Samsung Electronics, Motorola USA, and Amorepacific Group.
In recent years, his research has expanded through industry–academia collaborations and research projects with a wide range of corporate and public-sector partners, including Hyundai Motor Company, Rainbow Robotics, Amorepacific, Samsung Life Insurance, the National Rehabilitation Center, and the National Fire Agency. Her current research focuses on AIoT Smart Product & Experience Design, AI-powered Design Process, Physical AI-enabled Product & Experience Design. Drawing on her achievements in internationally recognized design awards such as IDEA, Red Dot, iF, DBEW, and Spark, she continues to bridge academic research and professional design practice.
MAJOR
Product Design, Design Planning & Strategy, Design Branding
BIOGRAPHY
2017
Ph D. Hongik University, Industrial Design
2007
MD. Illinois Institute of Technology, Institute of Design, Human-centered Product Design
2005
BFA. Hongik University, Industrial Design, Graduated with the Highest Honors
2004
Exchange Student. Kingston University, Product & Furniture Design, Cultural Ministry Scholar
Hongik University, Industrial Design, Assistant Professor
2022~ Present
Advisory Board Member, Public Design Promotion Committee, Seoul Metropolitan Government
2023~Present
Evaluation Committee Member, Gyeonggi Institute of Economic Science and Promotion (Design Development Support Program)
2017-21
Amorepacific Innisfree Brand Product Design Team Lead
2009-17
Samsung Electronics, Senior Designer & Design Strategist
39326
Electrolux Major Appliances, North Carolina USA, Product Designer
2006
Motorola Consumer eXperience Design, Chicago USA, Design Internship
2003
Samsung Electronics, Design Internship
2017
Ph D. Hongik University, Industrial Design
2007
MD. Illinois Institute of Technology, Institute of Design, Human-centered Product Design
2005
BFA. Hongik University, Industrial Design, Graduated with the Highest Honors
2004
Exchange Student. Kingston University, Product & Furniture Design, Cultural Ministry Scholar
2021~Present
Hongik University, Industrial Design, Assistant Professor
2022~
Board Member, Korea Industrial Designers Association
PIN UP Design Award Jury
Public Design Advisor, Gangbuk-gu Office, Seoul, Korea
Journal Reviewer, Korean Society of Basic Design & Art
2023~
Evaluation Committee Member, Gyeonggi Institute of Economic Science and Promotion (Design Development Support Program)
2025
KIDP Good Design Award Jury
2025
Seoul Design Foundation DDP the Next Jury
2024
Jury Member, Korea Design Exhibition (KIDP)
2023
Deputy Director of the Center for Talent Development in Campus Town Business at Hongik University
2017-21
Amorepacific Innisfree Brand Product Design Team Lead
2009-17
Samsung Electronics, Senior Designer & Design Strategist
39326
Electrolux Major Appliances, North Carolina USA, Product Designer
2006
Motorola Consumer eXperience Design, Chicago USA, Design Internship
2003
Samsung Electronics, Design Internship
AWARDS
2026
DBEW International Design Award: Honorable Mention
2025
Firefighters' Day Commendation from the Governor of Gyeonggi Province (‘24 National Fire Agency PBL Project)
2025
IDEA Design Award(3 awards)
2025
Red Dot Design Award(2 Best of the Best, 3 Winners)
2024
Seoul Design 2024 Corporate & Young Designer Exhibition - Best Team Award 2nd Place
2024
IF Design Award, Spark International Design Award GOLD
2023
Spark International Design Award Bronze
2021
IF Design Award(2 awards)
2020
IF Design Award
2019
Amorepacific ABC Award-Sustainable Design Management
2013
CES Design & Engineering Innovation Award(2 awards)
2012
IDEA Design Award GOLD, IF Design Award
2006
Next Generation Design Leader [Korean Institute of Design promotion]
2006
Motorola-sponsored Project: Excellence for Outstanding Performance
2004
Ministry of Culture, Scholarship
2003
Samsung Future Home Appliances Competition: Grand Prize
2002
Design Essay competition: Excellent Prize [Gyung-Hyang Newspaper]
2025
IDEA Design Award(3 awards)
2025
Red Dot Design Award(2 Best of the Best, 3 Winners)
2024
Seoul Design 2024 Corporate & Young Designer Exhibition - Best Team Award 2nd Place
2024
IF Design Award, Spark International Design Award GOLD
2023
Spark International Design Award Bronze
2021
IF Design Award(2 awards)
2020
IF Design Award
2019
Amorepacific ABC Award-Sustainable Design Management
2013
CES Design & Engineering Innovation Award(2 awards)
2012
IDEA Design Award GOLD, IF Design Award
2006
Next Generation Design Leader [Korean Institute of Design promotion]
2006
Motorola-sponsored Project: Excellence for Outstanding Performance
2004
Ministry of Culture, Scholarship
2003
Samsung Future Home Appliances Competition: Grand Prize
2002
Design Essay competition: Excellent Prize [Gyung-Hyang Newspaper]
WORKS
2025-27
[Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy] Design Industry Technology Development Project: Development of Generative AI-Based Design Interpretation and Evaluation
2024-27
[National Research Foundation of Korea] Design Research Project:Development of Generative AI-Based Product Design Methodology
2026
[Hyundai Motor Company] Physical AI-driven Robot & Experience Design Project
2026
[Amorepacific] New Beauty Design Project
2025
[Seoul Design 2025] Design Industry-Academia Collaboration (w/Rainbow Robotics) DDP Exhibition
2025
[Ministry of Health and Welfare: National Rehabilitation Center] Inclusive Design Project for Individuals with Disabilities and the Elderly
2025
[Torriden] The Next Torriden Design Project
2025
ADA Student Workshop-Mentor Professor for International Student Design Workshop
2025
[Rainbow Robotics] Humanoid Home Design Industry-Academia Collaboration Project
2025
BYN Black Yak [Nau Brand] Fashion x Product convergence PBL Industry-Academia Project
2025
Samsung Life[lifenology Lab] Wellness Design Exhibition
2024
Samsung Life[Lifenology Lab] Industry-Academia Wellness Design Project
2024
[Seoul Design 2024] Industry-Academia Project(w/BKID) DDP Exhibition
2024
[Korea National Fire Department Industry-Academia Collaboration] Upcycling Design Project for Firefighting Equipment
2024
[Zurich Design Week 2024] Fashion x Product Convergence PBL Project Exhibition
2024
[Seoul & Design Foundation] Corporate & Young Designers Cooperation Project
2023
Starion Next Generation Refrigerator Product Design Project
2023
[Seoul Design 2023] ESG Industry-Academia Project(w/d'Origin) Exhibition
2023
[Seoul & Design Foundation] Corporate & Young Designers Cooperation Project
2022
Amorepacific COSRX Brand Industry-Academia Project
2017-21
Directed product design and BX design development for Amorepacific's Innisfree brand
2009-17
Worked on Samsung Electronics' home appliance lineup, advanced design projects, and research/strategy. Samsung Internal Design Lecturer, Samsung Design Management Center(2015-17)
39326
Worked on Electrolux North America appliance lineup and advanced design projects
2006
Motorola Mobile Phone Advanced Design Project, CMFP Design Research Project
2005
SK Telecom Mobile Phone Design Project
Samsung Electronics Advanced Home Appliance Design Project
37712
Samsung Electronics Advanced Home Appliance Design Project (Samsung YPM)
2025-27
[Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy] Design Industry Technology Development Project: Development of Generative AI-Based Design Interpretation and Evaluation
2024-27
[National Research Foundation of Korea] Design Research Project:Development of Generative AI-Based Product Design Methodology
2025
[Seoul Design 2025] Design Industry-Academia Collaboration (w/Rainbow Robotics) DDP Exhibition
2025
[Ministry of Health and Welfare: National Rehabilitation Center] Fashion x Product Convergence PBL Design Project
2025
[Torriden] The Next Torriden Design Project
2025
ADA(Asia Designers Assembly) Student Workshop-Mentor Professor for International Student Design Workshop
2025
[Rainbow Robotics] Humanoid Home Design Industry-Academia Collaboration Project
2025
BYN Black Yak [Nau Brand] Fashion x Product convergence PBL Industry-Academia Project
2025
Samsung Life[lifenology Lab] Wellness Design Exhibition
2024
[Korea National Fire Department Industry-Academia Collaboration] Fashion x Product Convergence PBL Project
2024
Samsung Life[Lifenology Lab] Industry-Academia Wellness Design Project
2024
[Seoul Design 2024] Industry-Academia Project(w/BKID) DDP Exhibition
2024
[Zurich Design Week 2024] Fashion x Product Convergence PBL Project Exhibition
2024
[Seoul & Design Foundation] Corporate & Young Designers Cooperation Project
2023
Starion Next Generation Refrigerator Product Design Project
2023
[Seoul Design 2023] ESG Industry-Academia Project(w/d'Origin) Exhibition
2023
[Seoul & Design Foundation] Corporate & Young Designers Cooperation Project
2022
Amorepacific COSRX Brand Industry-Academia Project
2017-21
Directed product design and BX design development for Amorepacific's Innisfree brand
2009-17
Worked on Samsung Electronics' home appliance lineup, advanced design projects, and research/strategy. Samsung Internal Design Lecturer, Samsung Design Management Center(2015-17)
39326
Worked on Electrolux North America appliance lineup and advanced design projects
2006
Motorola Mobile Phone Advanced Design Project, CMFP Design Research Project
2005
SK Telecom Mobile Phone Design Project
Samsung Electronics Advanced Home Appliance Design Project
37712
Samsung Electronics Advanced Home Appliance Design Project (Samsung YPM)
PUBLICATIONS
2026
Generative AI Across the Double Diamond: Adoption Patterns and Educational Implications for Industrial Design. The Conference Proceedings of NordDesign 2026, Tampere, Finland
2026
A Study on Design Directions for Adaptive Smart Furniture for Home Office Environments, Korean Society of Basic Design & Art, 27(1), p785-803
2026
Comparative Analysis of LMM-Based Models and Human Experts in Design Evaluation: Focusing on the Aesthetics of Product Design, The Conference Proceedings of HCI Korea 2026
2025
A Study on the Design Development Direction of Filtering Facepiece Respirators for Construction Workers, . Industrial design (ID), Vol 19(4), p145-164
2025
A Comparative Study of Design Ideation between Generative AI and Product Designers:Focusing on Creativity, Innovation, and Empathy. Archive of Design Research, Archives of Design Research, Vol 38(2)
2025
A Study on the Design of Smart Pet Aviation Kennels:Focusing on the Chinese Market. Industrial design (ID), Vol 19(1), p.47-68
2024
Study on Pen-Type Insulin Syringe Design Direction Based on User Experience Analysis : Focusing on Type 2 Diabetes Patients. Industrial design (ID), 18(2) , 1-23, 2024
A Study on the Development of Toner Pad Container Structure Design Based on User Research. Bulletin of Korean Society of Basic Design & Art, 25(1), 43-56, 2024
2023
Smart Home Lighting Design Scenario Proposed for Sustainable Lifestyle: Focusing on Single-person Households in Korea. Industrial design (ID), 17(4), 55-72, 2023
A Study on the Consumer Perception of Portable Massager Design Properties in the Chinese Market. Industrial design (ID), 17(3), 33-42, 2023
Research on Smart Wearable Band Design to Prevent the Lonely Deaths of the Elderly Who Live Alone in South Korea. Bulletin of Korean Society of Basic Design & Art, 24(4), 225-241, 2023
Study on Home Appliance Design Characteristics and Trends from the Convergence Perspective: Focused on the Home Appliances Industry in Korea. Industrial design (ID), 17(1), 71-83, 2023
A Study on the Consumer Perception of the Properties of Smart Speaker Products -focused on the China Market-. Bulletin of Korean Society of Basic Design & Art, 24(1), 123-136, 2023
2022
A Study on the Current Status of Design-centered Interdisciplinary Convergence Education - focused on Industrial Design Education -. Bulletin of Korean Society of Basic Design & Art, 23(2), 396-410, 2022
2021
Understanding roles of care in the design process for sustainable behaviour: commitment and responsibility in packaging reuse. The Conference Proceedings of 4th Product Lifetime And The Environment conference, Dublin, Ireland https://doi.org/10.31880/10344/10202, 2021
2020
A Study on the Collaboration Design Trends and Strategic Implications on Cosmetic Industry. Industrial design (ID), 14(2), 55-64, 2020
2018
Strategic Direction of Sustainable Package Design. Industrial design (ID), 12(3), 45-52, 2018
2016
Strategic Direction of Smart Home Appliance Design. Industrial design (ID), 10(1), 83-90, 2016
2015
Strategic Approaches of Design Identity based on Product Specificity. Archives of Design Research, 28(3), 75-87, 2015
2025
A Comparative Study of Design Ideation between Generative AI and Product Designers:Focusing on Creativity, Innovation, and Empathy. Archives of Design Research, Vol 38(2),p.485-502
2025
A Study on the Design of Smart Pet Aviation Kennels:Focusing on the Chinese Market. Industrial design (ID), Vol 19(1), p.47-68
2024
Study on Pen-Type Insulin Syringe Design Direction Based on User Experience Analysis : Focusing on Type 2 Diabetes Patients. Industrial design (ID), 18(2) , 1-23
2024
A Study on the Development of Toner Pad Container Structure Design Based on User Research. Bulletin of Korean Society of Basic Design & Art, 25(1), 43-56
2023
Smart Home Lighting Design Scenario Proposed for Sustainable Lifestyle: Focusing on Single-person Households in Korea. Industrial design (ID), 17(4), 55-72
2023
A Study on the Consumer Perception of Portable Massager Design Properties in the Chinese Market. Industrial design (ID), 17(3), 33-42
2023
Research on Smart Wearable Band Design to Prevent the Lonely Deaths of the Elderly Who Live Alone in South Korea. Bulletin of Korean Society of Basic Design & Art, 24(4), 225-241
2023
Study on Home Appliance Design Characteristics and Trends from the Convergence Perspective: Focused on the Home Appliances Industry in Korea. Industrial design (ID), 17(1), 71-83
2023
A Study on the Consumer Perception of the Properties of Smart Speaker Products -focused on the China Market-. Bulletin of Korean Society of Basic Design & Art, 24(1), 123-136
2022
A Study on the Current Status of Design-centered Interdisciplinary Convergence Education - focused on Industrial Design Education -. Bulletin of Korean Society of Basic Design & Art, 23(2), 396-410
2021
Understanding roles of care in the design process for sustainable behaviour: commitment and responsibility in packaging reuse. The Conference Proceedings of 4th Product Lifetime And The Environment conference, Dublin, Ireland https://doi.org/10.31880/10344/10202
2020
A Study on the Collaboration Design Trends and Strategic Implications on Cosmetic Industry. Industrial design (ID), 14(2), 55-64
2018
Strategic Direction of Sustainable Package Design. Industrial design (ID), 12(3), 45-52
2016
Strategic Direction of Smart Home Appliance Design. Industrial design (ID), 10(1), 83-90
2015
Strategic Approaches of Design Identity based on Product Specificity. Archives of Design Research, 28(3), 75-87