Throughout the journey, I gradually realized the universal language that people speak no matter which country they grew up in.
I spent my childhood in Shenzhen (now known as the “silicon valley” in China). Moving to Northern Michigan at 15 was both a challenge and a rare experience for me. With the change and culture shock from being “thrown” into a different country, I was pushed to adapt to a different way of life.
A big part of this drastic change was the challenge of language. Having to use English and a new communication style overturned my language habits. Additionally, I had to practice daily how to listen and explain concepts in the most accessible language to my loved ones at medical and legal office visits. I struggled to adjust and learn the way that people speak at school, sometimes getting made fun of and ostracized.
However, it was the hardships that made my feelings more acute, made me cherish and be extra grateful for the people who had lifted me up through their kindness. Throughout the journey, I gradually realized the universal language that people speak no matter which country they grew up in - love and empathy.
It was through connections, sharing, love, and support, that these lifting forces gave me confidence and taught me to persevere. I want to live in a world where there is co-creation - based in communities, where every person has a place to contribute. With the cumulation, each person is no longer an individual but part of a larger collective.
I enjoyed connecting the dots and finding the patterns through seemingly discrete subjects, which led me to research and design. To be able to craft a meaningful question, design and implement the methodology, and see the results contributing to improving people's lives is an incredibly fulfilling process. This also includes training myself to sense what's ignored, limited, and what can be broken to allow room for transformation, to hold courage, and to imagine outside of the structures.
I constantly compare the world of UX to a form of language. No matter what role it would be - interaction designer, experience architect, UX designer, design engineer, experience/UX researcher, it is storytelling that has the power of translating the intertwined tech functionalities or research results in a form that is understandable to every person. It is the interface that welcomes every potential interact-ee to a research or a piece of technology. It is about centering and basing on what the people already have with them, introducing and co-creating experience between them, and a tool that will be useful. And it is my passion to research, translate, design, and build the bridge between tech and society.
