We were lucky to catch up with Yeonji Pak recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Yeonji, thanks for joining us today. Any advice for creating a more inclusive workplace?

Growing up, I was the quiet, shy kid in class. That part of me stayed with me into adulthood and shaped how I showed up at work. It often felt impossible to move the needle in my career. Speaking up in meetings made my stomach tense up, connecting with others didn’t come naturally, and I often felt invisible. But because I’ve gone through that experience, I have a deeper understanding of what it’s like to be a quiet person at work. From nerve-wracking interviews to trying to be heard in fast-paced conversations, it can be a tough environment to navigate.

When I started interviewing candidates for new roles, I made a conscious effort to look beyond any initial awkwardness or nerves. I focused on what they could bring to the team and the potential I saw. In one case, I advocated for someone who was quiet but had all the skill sets we were looking for. I believed they’d be a great fit once given the chance.

In meetings, especially when I’m leading, I try to make space for people who aren’t as vocal. Sometimes I’ll ask someone directly if they have thoughts to share. Not to put them on the spot, but to gently open the door. Often, they’ve been thinking deeply and just needed the opportunity to speak.

Lately, I’ve had more opportunities to give feedback in group settings, which still makes me nervous. I feel pressure to say something valuable and not sound out of place. During one meeting, my manager and I were quietly messaging on the side, sharing what we were thinking and checking in with each other. That support made a big difference. It felt thoughtful, collaborative, and safe.

Whether you’re working in person or remotely, it’s worth remembering that someone around you might be going through a similar experience. A small gesture of support or understanding can make a big impact and help create a more inclusive space for everyone.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Hi, I’m Yeonji, a Senior Designer working in the tech industry. My work sits at the intersection of visual design, motion design, and UX. Right now, I’m on a team that supports businesses of all sizes by helping them grow through our advertising platform. We provide tools, guidance, and best practices to help them succeed.

Day to day, I design visual design libraries that other designers and agencies can use to stay consistent and efficient. I also collaborate closely with engineers to create web components for our design systems, and I work on designing web pages that include thoughtful visuals and motion. In addition, I provide art direction and design feedback to ensure everything feels cohesive and purposeful.

Outside of work, I’ve been building a habit app that blends calming visuals and delightful interactions throughout the user journey. The goal is to help people build habits in small, gentle steps that feel easy but lead to meaningful change over time.

Movement has always fascinated me. If I lived in an alternate world, I’d probably be a dancer. I’ve always been drawn to the way people move, how they carry themselves, their facial expressions, and the subtle cultural nuances behind gestures and posture. Even the smallest shift in movement can completely change how something feels.

With my background in visual and motion design, I aim to infuse brand personality and usability through thoughtful motion and interaction. Whether it’s helping a business connect with its users or making a product feel more human, I’m always thinking about how design can move people—visually, emotionally, and functionally.

Have you ever had to pivot?

The biggest pivot for me was letting go of the idea that I only wanted to make art using traditional media. For a long time, I was pretty stubborn about it. I felt like real art had to be physical, drawn or painted by hand, and that moving into digital or interactive work meant compromising that.

I trained seriously in traditional art from a young age. When I was 11, I prepped for entrance into an art middle school in Korea by drawing and painting for 12 hours a day, almost every day, for six months. It was intense. I kept honing those skills for years, working with graphite, charcoal, watercolor, and acrylic, usually drawing still life. That was my identity as an artist.

Even in college, I resisted going digital. I was still all about traditional media. But by junior year, I realized my options were narrowing. I didn’t land any internships, partly because I didn’t have a portfolio that matched what companies were looking for. My skill set was too specific. I had tunnel vision.

I saw this in a lot of my peers too. When you spend years working in a certain medium or style, it becomes part of who you are. Trying something different can feel like losing a piece of your identity. But over time, I’ve come to see it differently. Learning new tools like UX design or motion doesn’t erase your artistry. It expands it. It gives you new ways to express your ideas and connect with others.

So if there’s something new you’re curious about, I’d say go for it. You might doubt yourself at first and think you’re not naturally good at it, but most of the time, the things we’re good at are just the things we’ve had more exposure to. We are what we practice. Don’t box yourself in. Don’t hold too tightly to who you think you’re supposed to be. You’re allowed to grow.

Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

This might sound super practical, but honestly, I wish I had discovered physical therapy earlier in my art and design journey. It’s not exactly a “creative” resource, but it would have made a huge difference.

As an artist, you spend hours hunched over your work in positions that are far from ergonomic. I started practicing art from a really young age, and while that helped me build strong foundational skills, it also gave me chronic shoulder and neck pain.

If you’re just starting out, take your physical health seriously. Look up how to set up your workstation in an ergonomic way, or even better, see a physical therapist if you can. Your health should always come first. Pain shouldn’t be part of the creative process.

Contact Info:

• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yeonjipak/

Image Credits

Illustrated and designed by Yeonji Pak