Introduce yourself (include your name, your business/what your do for living)
Hi! My name is Zhonglin Feng. I am a freelance UX designer.
What’s your background?
I got my Master Degree in HCI (Human-computer Interaction) from DePaul. Before that, my background is Network Engineering and International Finance.
How did you get started as UX designer?
It is very simple. Six years ago, I started my undergraduate in Network Engineering in Tianjin, China. Through the 4-year study, the most frustrating thing for me is that the system, the software, the interfaces I used in school is very hard to interact with. I spend lots of time learning the system itself rather than the courses. So I searched online and found some UX related things and HCI program. From then, I had the idea that I want to bring the design thinking to the technology world.
What inspired you as a creative woman?
I can always get my inspiration by talking with my husband when we have dinner. In leisure time, I traveled a lot to see different cultures and people. And I also talked with other designers in the meetups to exchange ideas and learning. Besides that I have a couple of the typical websites to hit – Pinterest, Dribble, Medium and Google Images.
What was your first job ever? Any funny or memorable story?
It was a sales assistance in the super market in China. I talked to different people: old, young, men and women. It was also a very hard work, stand for the whole day and totally different with the school life. At the end I used the salary to buy a mobile phone that I was interested in for a long time. It is the first time I buy something using the money I earned by myself.
If you can build a million dollar company, what would it be?
If I have that chance, I want to build a consulting company that specializes improving the experience of university and government websites.
Walk us through your day as a UX designer
I usually start my work from 9am. Beginning with checking the emails while having my breakfast. Then I start the “real “work: sometimes I do design, sometimes I do research. Sometime do it myself, sometimes together with my colleagues. Then wrap up my works for the day. Before I get off work, I prefer to have 1 or 2 hours to learn new stuffs, usually they are online courses.
What has been the highlight of your career thus far?
I am still at the very beginning of my career. The most important thing I want to highlight is that I am doing what I really like for everyday.
Where or what do you think you will be/do in the next 5 years?
As a designer I want learn how to “sell” my design rather than just creating good design.
Share a quote/advice that you’d like to tell the 25 year-old you
Work hard, play harder.