theSKIN x David Ko

I got into interior design in a semi-unexpected way. I was never exposed to interior design as a career path I could take when I was growing up so I never knew it was an option. I always liked to decorate for holidays, put together tablescapes, plan events, decorate my rooms and home, but never really thought much of it. I was pretty set on pursuing a career in fashion. It wasn’t until I was job hunting after graduation when a friend, who was working at a design firm at the time, approached me, told me they were hiring, and suggested I apply as I might be good for the role. I was hired part-time and after working there for almost 3 years, I realized I had a love for design and could see myself having a career in it as well. Upon my departure, I had a short stint with another designer but at the same time was getting asked from people in my network if I was available to help them with their spaces. Once I realized that there was some interest, I decided to pursue being independent and that is how Maison Ko was born. It definitely was not easy at first and my projects were far and few between, but I had faith in myself and my work to see it through and *hopefully* build a successful business out of it.

Running an interior design business is more than just having a creative eye and sourcing furniture, there is a lot of backend work involved and also having good people skills is a must. From problem solving, client management, business development, and on top of that, coming up with fresh ideas… Interior design is very involved and ever since starting my business I’ve come to love it more and more. By starting Maison Ko, I’ve learned so much about myself, the interior design industry, and what it takes to run a company.

I remember loving to sing and dance when I was a kid, so much so that my mom put me in dance classes, to which I quit after a day. Me and my cousins would perform and put on shows, and I distinctly remember our choreography to “Hit Me Baby One More Time” when I was like 5 years old. My parents tried to get us to play instruments like the piano or violin, but that didn’t stick with me. One thing I did love was playing video games with my brother and cousin and watching anime. I think that is what led me to start drawing. We would go to church every Sunday, and I remember trying to pass the time by doodling on the morning bulletins. I think creative expression was just something I loved to do from the day I was born and my parents really allowed me to explore all these different facets and never prohibited me from trying. I think they saw that I was creative from a very young age so sort of let me spread my wings and fly.

I released Pebble, a ceramic table lighter, in collaboration with Olivia Snow Ceramics this past February. It’s made entirely of natural clay, and handmade in Los Angeles by Olivia herself. We currently have five colorways, and hope to expand more, not only in other glazes but wholesalers as well. Olivia and I have known each other since middle school and during the pandemic, we started the conversation of wanting to work on something together. We wanted it to be related to the home space, but something that felt unique and never done before in ceramic, at least a modern version. So that is when Pebble came to be. We really see Pebble as a conversation starter. Something that can live on your coffee table or powder room, that is a statement, but still functional. Whether you use it to light your candles, palo santo, or even recreationally, Pebble is something for everyone.

Oh god, where do I even begin? My skincare routine is definitely not minimal, I’ll tell you that much. But let’s start with the morning? I’ll cleanse my face and have a few different cleansers on rotation. I use skincare situationally, meaning I get a sense for what my skin needs that day, and based on that, will use different products to target whatever it is. After cleansing, I’ll tone with a hydration toner and either pat down or use a cotton pad. I’ll follow up with my serums (hyaluronic, vitamin c, eye cream, and a collagen peptide) as well as any treatments like a salicylic. I get hyperpigmentation so I like to add some creams that help combat that. I’ll finish off with my favorite Barely There moisturizer then always always always put on sunscreen.

My evening routine is a little different and I like to skin cycle…Meaning I’ll exfoliate for a few nights, then offset that with a super moisturizing routine, then I’ll start up on exfoliation again. Because my skin gets clogged easily, I always have to double cleanse. I’ll start with an oil cleanser then I’ll follow that up with a foaming cleanser. Before I apply anything on my face after cleansing, I always use my LED light therapy devices. I have two – one that has blue light and red light that can target specific areas, then another full red light mask. I’ve noticed a tremendous difference in my skin once I started this. After, I tone, then again, depending on what cycle I’m on, will either exfoliate with my compounded Tretinoin, glycolic pads, or a chemical exfoliant. I’ll end it all off with a grapeseed oil and some lip treatment.

The last thing that is non-negotiable and something I need to be better at doing every day is gua sha. I always feel so much better after doing it and need to be more consistent with it.

Barely There and Dew You.

Network and find your voice. It’s easy to find people with an eye and are very talented, but the creative industry is all about being in the right place at the right time. Doing one job you may not want to do, could open so many more doors and you sometimes need to swallow your pride and take a gig because you never know where it could lead. But ultimately what will set you apart is your voice and your perspective. So finding that and staying true to that will be your biggest asset.