EYETIST

On July 8, 2025, Kang Daniel and T-ara’s Hyomin announced on Instagram they were collaborating on a contact lens brand project as directors.^{[s] [s]}

On July 24, Daniel posted, “The project I’ve joined is a color contact lens line created by the lifestyle brand WIGGLE WIGGLE. WIGGLE WIGGLE is a brand I’ve loved and trusted for a long time. Its bold use of color, unique perspective, and playful yet thoughtful philosophy have always aligned with what I personally value—and that’s exactly why I was drawn to be part of this exciting new journey. And now, I’m so excited to finally share the name with you: It’s called EYETIST—a name that blends Eye and Artist. It’s rooted in the belief that each of us sees the world in our own unique way.”^{[s] [s]}

Hyomin and Kang Daniel were involved in the entire process of product planning and philosophy establishment, not just as simple models. In addition to the two brand directors, EYETIST planned a variety of colored contact lenses in collaboration with eight artists to secure a competitive edge by positioning itself as an artist-participatory brand. EYETIST planned launches in Korea, China, and Japan.^{[s] [s]}

Hyomin said she met Kang Daniel through the WIGGLE WIGGLE CEO’s introduction: “He had experience wearing various lenses for stage performances and had a strong fanbase, so I thought we’d have great synergy. With Daniel joining as co-creative director, we decided on the concept of collaborating with various artists to create capsule lines that reflect their individual styles.” Some artist muses EYETIST worked with include Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint’s Kim Dokja and Yoo Joonghyuk.^{[s] [s]}

Daniel and Hyomin made appearances at the pop-up store on December 18, and EYETIST announced its official launch on December 22.^{[s] [s]}