ENFP 1/16 – Sanghyeok Lee

Many projects have different approaches from start to finish. Basically, to realize a project, I need a brief about the project, time to develop and select the idea, and thoroughly prepared plans to be ready by deadlines. As a ‘designer’, these are the processes that I have developed through many projects. However, I need to keep certain parts of the plans open because there are always possibilities of being wrong, making mistakes, or facing unpredictable situations. I am well aware of the uncertain process, but unfortunately, it is the most difficult moment to accept and proceed. “Is it maybe because I don’t like the word ‘compromise’? Or am I too stubborn?” I find myself in big trouble when I encounter these unexpected situations.

This spring, I had an intern from Korea. She had recently graduated from university and told me very interesting things about Korea that I hadn’t heard before. I was intrigued by one particular story about MBTI. Many young Korean people talk about their MBTI in their first meeting as a way to connect and compare with others. I found it very strange. I couldn’t imagine how this old 16-personality type test could be a conversation starter.
Then, I searched for my MBTI result, which I had taken some time ago but had completely forgotten about. My MBTI is ENFP, which stands for Extrovert, iNtuition, Feeling, and Perceiving. It was very surprising because none of these factors match how I approach my projects! As I explained earlier, many of my projects require intense introspection and well-planned schedules.

So, I got a funny idea to strictly follow my MBTI in this project. I decided to express myself more as an extrovert, layering my intuition and feelings throughout the day. I started with wheels, literally building upon previous layers. This way of working required an immense amount of extra materials and time. The process became a form, and I encountered many decisive moments. I needed my aesthetic sense, techniques, and determination in every step. It was an incomparably meaningful experience through a completely new process for me. ENFP (1/16) is described as ‘The Imaginative Motivator’. I truly hope to be remembered as a motivator for your imagination in the space.

Instead of praising the natural contours of the wood slab, I decided to create a clear shape by introducing straight lines, which not only prevents the wood slab from bending over time but also provides a defined geometric appearance that contrasts with the organic grain pattern. I was astonished by the large number of well-organized structures for drying and displaying at the wood slab company, finding it a stark contrast to tradition, where wood slabs are typically appreciated in their natural form; here, they were displayed in a beautifully linear and orderly fashion, emphasizing precision and structure over raw organism.