I was studying industrial design at Emily Carr University when at the beginning of each studio course, the instructors often asked us to brainstorm what we wanted to design.
I kept doing secondary and tertiary research but at some point I would hit a blocker. Without talking to people, it was hard for me to continue working on a project because there was no criteria to work towards or measure against.
Talking to people gave me clarity and direction. From then on, it was clear to me that a big part of what makes a design great is how well you understand your users. There’s really no other way around it.
I would say my top skills are to:
I like all aspects of UX but if I had to really narrow down, I really like to:
My background is quite unusual. I worked in startup companies and then shifted to public sector. Both sectors are drastically different in terms of business model and culture, but the common thread here is that I enjoy working on projects for social good and well being.
I believe that there are many ways to solve a problem and I tackle whichever way is best. Depending on the user need and vision, sometimes it requires a multi-level approach and sometimes it’s a simple process.
My portfolio reflects that philosophy in some ways. I am not a believer in following processes if they do not serve a higher purpose. The process should always be about learning and improving.
I bring value to all projects I work on in different ways as outlined in my work.
I do my best work in environments where my expertise is trusted and I have autonomy to explore.
Every project is a learning experience for me in some way, shape or form. However, if I had to pick one project with the steepest learning curve, I would say Snug Vest. It was a startup with tight budgets so going through that experience taught me how to be resourceful, pivot quickly with ongoing demands, and think outside the box.
Photograph by Lily Dai.
