About Me

The man, the myth, the legend

I’m a first-generation Chinese American that believes design and technology should empower people.

I’m a first-generation Chinese American that believes design and technology should empower people.

My friends would describe me as a light-hearted person that lives to eat. Professionally, I have lived multiple lives as an architect, VFX artist, art director, product manager, and product designer. My passion is in building inclusive teams, fostering strong leaders, and designing meaningful products.

Why I Design

And draw

I love bringing people and ideas together.

Giving shape to ideas is something I’ve been doing all my life. Drawing taught me early that once an idea becomes visible, it can spark someone else’s imagination too.

These days, the subject matter has evolved from tigers to strategies, systems, and complex product ideas—but the thrill is largely the same: making something tangible enough that others can see the possibility, add to it, and come along for the adventure.

Yes that is a drawing I made when I was 8.

Giving shape to ideas is something I’ve been doing all my life. Drawing taught me early that once an idea becomes visible, it can spark someone else’s imagination too.

These days, the subject matter has evolved from tigers to strategies, systems, and complex product ideas—but the thrill is largely the same: making something tangible enough that others can see the possibility, add to it, and come along for the adventure.

Yes that is a drawing I made when I was 8.

Beyond Work

What I do besides push pixels

I love nerding out about design, and talking about it with other local designers.

Blink UX Leadership Forum

I spend a lot connecting with and mentoring students and young professionals

I participate in a few non-profit boards centered around AAPINH empowerment

I frequently volunteer as a design critic at UW

Occassionally I'll give talks on topics I care a lot about

Staying involved in the design community

A lot of what I care about outside of work is community. I mentor designers, volunteer with organizations I believe in, and occasionally speak or share what I’ve learned in hopes that it helps someone else move a little further, faster.

A lot of what I care about outside of work is community. I mentor designers, volunteer with organizations I believe in, and occasionally speak or share what I’ve learned in hopes that it helps someone else move a little further, faster.

Honors & Media

Places you might have seen me

Talks

Inclusive Products and Teams — Blink UX Leadership Exchange — 2024 • Designing Like a Hacker: How Product Design Can Prevent Cyber Attacks — Product Day — 2023 — Watch on YouTube • Designing Like a Hacker: How Product Design Can Prevent Cyber Attacks — ConveyUX — 2023 — Watch on YouTube • Transitioning from a Distributed Team Model to a Consolidated One — Design Leadership Forum — 2022 • How to Show the Value of Design — ADPlist — 2022 — Watch on YouTube • How to Show the Value of Design — ADPlist — 2021

Press

Document Builder — Smartsheet — 2021 • Faceted and Furious — Graphic Display USA — 2018 • Kirkland Urban — 425 Business, Kirkland Reporter, Architect Magazine — 2017 • Clise Properties — DJC, Urban Condo Spaces — 2016 • Hawk Tower — Biz Journal, Geek Wire, Seattle Times — 2016 • Luma — BBC News, Curbed, King5, NBC News, UrbnLivn — 2016 • Roy Street — Seattle Times — 2016 • Telluride Medical Center — Telluride Properties — 2016 • Clise Data Center — DJC — 2015 • Hyatt Regency — Fox Q13 — 2015 • Tilt 49 — Biz Journal, Skyrise Cities — 2015

Awards

Top 1% Mentor Globally — ADPlist — May 2023 • Top 1% Mentor Globally — ADPlist — Apr 2023 • 2nd Place Evaluation Speech Contest (Club) — Toast Masters — Aug 2022 • Top 1% Mentor Globally — ADPlist — Jul 2022 • Top 1% Mentor Globally — ADPlist — Jun 2022 • Top 1% Mentor Globally — ADPlist — Jan 2022 • Legal Eagle Award Winner — Smartsheet HacktheSheet — 2021 • Bronze Recognition Award — Bank of America — 2020

Exhibitions

GAUD Exhibit — Pratt Institute — 2014 • Bending the Rules — Pratt Institute — 2014 • GAUD Exhibit — Pratt Institute — 2013 • Edge Negotiations — Pratt Institute — 2011 • End of Year Show — UW — 2010

Publications

AV Technology Manager Buyer's Guide to Networked Digital Signage — 2018 • Airport Improvement Magazine — Sept 2017 • Graduate INPROCESS 19 — 2014 • Master Class — Architecture — 2013 • 3A Components — Graphic Display 2013 • Elle Decor — Living with Color — 2013 • Graduate INPROCESS 18 — 2012

Fun Facts

Random trivia about yours truly

01

Foodie

I love cooking, eating, and talking about food.

02

Nerd

I like nerding out on design, books, anime, illustration, and video games

03

Multilingual

I’m fluent in Cantonese, but have limited proficiency in Mandarin

04

Ambidextrous-ish

I’m left-handed but can only use knives with my right hand.

05

Introvert

Myers-Briggs: INFJ-A - Advocate; Enneagram: Type 8, Wing 7 - Maverick

06

Basically Famous

I once had dinner with Mos Def (Yasiin Bey)