CREATIVE SPOTLIGHT: JENNY

For the month of October, I had the honor to chat with UX Designer Jenny Lee.

How would you define UX design? Jenny: I think UX design is defining and solving problems through a user’s perspective with design. What inspires your creativity? Jenny: daily products. If I look at something or while using something, if I get the intention of the designer of the product it makes me really excited to be a user for it. I love to wonder, “why did they design it this way?” 

How does one be creative? Jenny: Just be observative to things around you. 

What are some sites you like to browse for moodboards, inspo etc.? Jenny: Pinterest, design Instagram accounts, and any kind of design work. What commercial or brands do you think has one of the best UI/UX designs? Jenny: Tesla! What is your thought process behind designing something (as a UX designer)? 

Jenny: I think design should always have reasons so I start with “why”- why am I designing this, how should I design this and again “why” - why should I design it like this? 

How do you think others should think about UX design? 

Jenny: I want people to consider UX when designing products.

What is one tip you would tell someone who is interested in UX design? Jenny: The center of UX design is knowing people and users, so without knowing users, it would be totally meaningless. Learning about people is really important and that’s how UX starts. For example, knowing human factors or when people see stuff, knowing cognitive psychology and behavioral habits can be useful. What are some struggles you face as a UX designer and how do you overcome those? Jenny: Overall, it’s hard to design products without any backed up data or rationale given beforehand. Do you have a favorite artist or designer/ UX designer? (doesn’t have to be at Cheil) Jenny: I used to like this artist in Korea and he’s a design professor at KAIST. He designs sustainable products that can be used in third world countries to save people’s lives. I think UX is a way to solve fundamental problems with design, that's why I wanted to be an UX designer. How do you get out of a design slump? Jenny: I try to design different stuff - whether it’s graphic design or UX, I just go back and forth and switch between the two. Favorite design program to use? Jenny: Figma and Adobe Illustrator. Thoughts on AI in the design industry? Jenny: AI can definitely assist but I don’t think it can replace people.  Favorite AI tool to use? Jenny: Chat GPT

Do you think people need to go to art school or technical school to be a good UX designer? Jenny: Partially yes – if it’s art and something more creative (like Fine Art etc.) then I think you don’t have to but if you are really wanting to do UX design you need to know about humans, business, and technology. There’s a lot to learn regarding UX design so that's why people get their masters for UX. I think it’s more beneficial to go, but it’s not an absolute must. 

How do you want copy to work with UX design?

Jenny: Both the UX designer and UX writer/copywriter should work for the same goal so they can understand what they’re doing and what each other are doing.

Closing thoughts:

Jenny: Thank you for your interest in UX designers!