Professional Statements & CV

Soyeon Lee is an animator, interactive media artist, and creative developer working at the intersection of storytelling, immersive media, and human-centered digital experiences. She is currently an MFA candidate in Digital Media & Design at the University of Connecticut, specializing in animation, interactive 3D web design, motion graphics, and emerging media technologies. She received her BFA in Film & Animation from Hongik University in South Korea, graduating among the top students in her class. Inspired by Korean literature, animation, and cultural storytelling, Soyeon explores themes of memory, identity, history, and human experience through digital media. A significant influence on her artistic journey was Korean animation director Ahn Jae-hoon, whose animated adaptations of Korean literature revealed to her the emotional and cultural power of animation as a storytelling medium. Since then, Soyeon has become increasingly interested in how digital narratives can encourage audiences to reflect on overlooked histories, social issues, and emotional experiences. Her artistic practice has gradually expanded from traditional animation into immersive and interactive media, integrating technologies such as interactive 3D web development, UX/UI design, motion graphics, and AI-assisted creative workflows. Her current thesis project, The Garden of Liberation (2025), is an immersive interactive website developed with React, Three.js, and React Three Fiber that explores hidden colonial histories embedded in Korean native plant names through digital storytelling and user interaction. Alongside her thesis work, she has also collaborated on a healthcare UX project focused on emotionally supportive digital experiences for breast cancer patients, further deepening her interest in Human-Computer Interaction and human-centered design. As both an artist and educator, Soyeon values interdisciplinary learning, mentorship, and creative exploration. Prior to studying in the United States, she mentored Chinese international students in South Korea in 3D modeling using Maya. Currently, as a graduate assistant at the University of Connecticut, she supports undergraduate students across animation, motion graphics, interaction design, and multimedia production courses, helping students navigate both conceptual and technical challenges in digital media practice. Soyeon has participated in international creative and academic communities through experiences such as serving as a Student Volunteer at SIGGRAPH 2025 and SIGGRAPH Asia 2020, volunteering at the Busan International Film Festival, and working as a design intern and research assistant at Toonsquare. Her animated short film Namaste (2022), which explores self-growth and acceptance through yoga, was distributed through a Korean independent animation distributor. Through her creative practice, Soyeon aims to bridge storytelling, interaction, technology, and human experience while developing immersive digital works that foster reflection, empathy, and meaningful engagement with culture and memory.