I'd like to give a shout-out to my own curiosity and passion for learning. Thanks to these qualities, I've not only had the privilege of working as an iOS engineer at great companies but also had the chance to meet with several Apple's engineer managers on multiple occasions. While my heart leans more toward design, my journey has taught me that having a solid foundation in engineering has been a valuable asset. It's like having a secret sauce that enhances the flavor of my design work!
Some secret sauce that enhances my design process:
Holistic Understanding & Balanced Prioritization:
I have a strong understanding of project technicalities, prioritizing efficiency from an engineer's perspective while also emphasizing user needs as a designer. This balance allows me to create comprehensive solutions and practical designs, all within realistic timeframes.
Efficient Problem-Solving: I can identify and address potential technical challenges early in the design process, reducing delays and time-consuming rework.
Streamlined Prototyping: I can create more realistic prototypes, as I understand the technical constraints and possibilities, resulting in more accurate user testing and feedback.
Cost Reduction: Engineers often appreciate the importance of cost-effective design solutions, and a designer with engineering knowledge can contribute to more budget-friendly designs.
Better Decision-Making: I can make informed design decisions by considering both the user's perspective and the technical implications, resulting in well-balanced solutions.
Career Advancement: Having skills in both design and engineering enables me to open up a wider range of career opportunities and make a professional more versatile in various roles.
Enhanced Communication: I can bridge the gap between designers and engineers, facilitating smoother communication and collaboration within cross-functional teams.
Multidisciplinary Approach: As a professional who understands both design and engineering, I can offer a multidisciplinary approach to problem-solving, leading to more robust and innovative solutions.
Innovative Solutions: Combining design and engineering expertise can lead to innovative and efficient product designs that push the boundaries of what's possible.
Speedy MVP Development: A designer with engineering skills excels at swiftly creating and iterating on minimum viable products (MVPs). This aligns with the business urgency to initiate projects quickly while ensuring that user-centric design remains at the forefront.
User-Centric Design: Engineers-turned-designers prioritize user experience while considering the technical aspects, resulting in user-friendly and functional products.
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How do I start the journey?
From my experience leading user experience improvement at WD and developing beauty websites, I have developed a passion for understanding underlying technology and gaining software development skills.
I started by learning HTML and CSS, JavaScript, and Adobe Experience Manager on the job to understand web layout constraints and boundaries. However, this was not enough for me. The final product can differ from a designer's vision due to varying technical constraints.
I wanted to combine my UX design sense with my software development skills to build apps that could solve real-life problems with intuitive design. In 2020, the Covid-19 pandemic provided me with an opportunity to pursue my programming dream while visiting my grandparents in Taiwan and working remotely.
I was accepted into the most competitive coding boot camp in Taiwan, selected in the top 10% from over 300 applicants. Over the course of 6 months, I embarked on a journey with fellow enthusiasts and mentors, starting from basic programming and progressing to advanced core concepts in iOS app development. In just five weeks, I developed my personal project, PurrfectPix, an Instagram-like app for pet lovers, from scratch to product launch on the App Store.
My UX experience was instrumental during the app development process, allowing me to pay close attention to feature details that other developers might overlook but that are critical for UX design. This reinforces my desire to merge an engineering mindset for designing the system under constraints with user-first design thinking to remove barriers to using the product.
Take a look at the intro video for my personal app, PurrfectPix
Other front end/ dev skills:
An Android development app for sandwich clubs.
I was selected as a recipient of the "Grow with Google" program. Through this program, I learned how to use common Android UI components to user interface, handle user input and Android lifecycle events, and display collections of data to users using RecyclerView. Additionally, I learned how to use APIs to connect to, store, and retrieve data.
A BBC News webpage created using only HTML and CSS
Knowing how websites are built using HTML and CSS, how to publish a website online, and the technical constraints has helped me become a full-fledged designer who can use HTML and CSS to impress clients.
