We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Halim Lee a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Halim thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

One of the most meaningful projects I’ve worked on is Frozen Island. Live. This project was created during my time as an MFA student at the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) and is a physical publication that evolved from my earlier digital project, the Frozen Island website (https://frozenisland.live).

The publication features a set of perforated, lick-and-stick stamps on its cover, designed as small gifts from Frozen Island. These stamps function as mini-portals that transport readers to surprising moments in Google Maps. By tagging a stamp with a mobile device, viewers can virtually travel to strange and beautiful places around the world.

I’ve always loved working with print media—books, posters, and other tactile formats—but when I moved to the U.S., I struggled to adapt to new systems, such as unfamiliar paper sizes and measurements like inches. This led me to primarily focus on digital media like websites for much of my work. Frozen Island. Live was my first major project in print after I had acclimated to the systems here, and it represented a deep desire to return to my love for print media.

At RISD, there was a course structure where students could propose a personalized, one-on-one class with a professor, but it required submitting a formal application and articulating how the project would differ from other editorial design courses offered. For my proposal, I committed to converting my digital works into physical print formats.

I was fortunate to have Kathleen Sleboda as my advisor for this project. Kathleen, who co-owns the artist book distributor Draw Down Books, offered invaluable support. She guided me through the entire publishing process and helped me distribute the book internationally. Through this experience, I not only gained practical knowledge about self-publishing but also built meaningful connections with people from all over the world.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

As a multidisciplinary graphic designer, I explore new possibilities in graphic design by embracing diverse media, from print to digital. My creative journey has been deeply influenced by my childhood love of reading novels. I was drawn to stories that began with seemingly ordinary settings but gradually unfolded with unexpected twists and subtle foreshadowing, culminating in breathtaking and surprising conclusions. The joy I experienced in those moments of discovery has become a guiding force in my work.

This love for storytelling drives me to translate the narrative depth of such novels into my designs. I’m particularly fascinated by how surprising twists can elevate a story and evoke powerful emotions. However, I often found that visual elements alone weren’t always enough to fully convey these feelings. This realization inspired me to expand my creative vocabulary by integrating graphic design with other mediums, such as coding.

I hope to create designs that spark joy and inspiration while pushing the boundaries of graphic design. I love to weave humor, storytelling, and poetic computation together, and utilize this mix to advocate for the power of positivity and brightness.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

My goal is to continuously create new ideas and bring them to life through my work. I understand that when life gets busy, it can be difficult to find the time and space for creative exploration. However, I believe that repeating the same processes without trying something new can eventually lead to stagnation. That’s why I strive to make time, even in small moments, to keep pushing myself forward and growing as a creator.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

Before moving to the U.S., I worked as an in-house UX designer for several years. After work, I would create personal, more experimental projects—things I couldn’t explore within the constraints of my job. Even though I genuinely loved the act of creating, I often felt an unexpected sense of emptiness once the work was finished. I started questioning why I was making these pieces that no one else would ever see.

That experience taught me something important: to sustain creativity, there needs to be an audience. A creator or artist flourishes through connection, and sharing their work with others is a vital part of the process. When a piece doesn’t remain solely with me but is instead shared with readers or viewers, it fosters a deeper sense of purpose, motivation, and accountability in my creative process.

The most rewarding aspect of being a creator, for me, is engaging in conversations with an audience—hearing their thoughts, interpretations, and perspectives. Those interactions not only validate the work but also inspire me to keep creating and exploring. It’s through this dialogue that I find new motivation and ideas for future projects, making the creative process all the more fulfilling.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://leehalim.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alim.db
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/halim-lee-84741b239

Image Credits

Halim Lee