Juror Spotlight
Jonathan KimCo-FounderRare Volume
Jonathan Kim is a designer and creative director based in Austin. He is the Co-Founder of Rare Volume, a design and technology studio focused on data visualization, content automation, and immersive media. With a background that spans motion, interactive, and experience design, Jonathan brings a thoughtful and collaborative approach to his work. Over the past two decades, he has led creative projects for Google, Nike, Samsung, AT&T, X, and Meta, always aiming to create work that is both useful and visually inspired.
What was your first job?
I actually started as a dance choreographer. That background ended up helping a lot when I moved into sequential and motion design. I already had a feel for timing, rhythm, and how movement can carry emotion. So when I began working with animation, some of those principles came naturally. It gave me an early appreciation for how motion can quietly guide the way people experience visual, interactive stories.
When did you know that this career was what you wanted to do?
Back in art school, I was still figuring things out. Then I saw the original iPod commercial, the colors, the silhouettes, the music, it all came together in a way I hadn’t seen before. That moment made me realize what was possible when design and technology are used creatively. It was a turning point for me, and I was hooked.
How do you stay up-to-date with industry trends?
I try not to rely too much on the usual design websites or industry trend reports. Instead, I look to other disciplines for inspiration — fashion, historical art, architecture, textiles. Sometimes the most interesting design ideas come from completely different fields. When I bring those ideas back into my own work, it often leads to something that feels more fresh and unexpected.
What are you looking for when reviewing entries at the Davey Awards?
Design tends to swing between prioritizing function or form, depending on what’s happening in the broader world. Lately, I think we’ve been leaning heavily toward function, especially with the influence of big tech. But many of us got into design because it inspired us or made us feel something. So when I review work, I look for that balance, something that clearly serves a purpose but also carries a sense of beauty, care, and craft.
Are you ready to put your big ideas in front of the experts? Submit your projects to the jury before the Final Entry Deadline on Friday, July 25th.