We were lucky to catch up with Cassie Chen recently and have shared our conversation below.

Cassie, appreciate you joining us today. Was there an experience or lesson you learned at a previous job that’s benefited your career afterwards?

My previous job was as a UIUX Designer at a travel e-commerce platform in Taiwan, and it was a pivotal point in my career. Essentially, I transitioned from being a Graphic Designer to a UIUX Designer. But what really stood out was the period from 2021 to 2023, when the COVID struck the world and I was right in the center of it, working in the travel industry.

User travel habits went through significant changes due to the pandemic, and figuring out how to keep up with those changes and develop products that met the new demands became the daily challenge for our product team.

I worked on various products in different environments like the Growth team, User Experience (UED) team, and international collaborations. As someone who previously worked as a Graphic Designer, my attention shifted from aesthetics and visual harmony to ensuring that designs aligned with the company’s objectives and user’s needs. This shift from relying on intuition to adopting a more analytical approach was the most significant change I encountered during this career transition.

As a Designer, I evolved from merely providing aesthetic services to being involved in every step of the product lifecycle—from problem discovery, hypothesis formulation, and data monitoring to user usability testing. The sense of accomplishment and multidimensional growth from being part of the entire product journey is what I treasure most.

Cassie, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’m Cassie, also known as Liang Ying, a UIUX designer based in Los Angeles. My journey into this field wasn’t straightforward; it took years of exploration and inspiration from technological advancements to lead me here. Let me share my story briefly, hoping it resonates with those considering a career change.

Over the past decade, I’ve delved into various aspects of design—from animation to graphic design, eventually transitioning to UIUX in 2019. This move wasn’t without its challenges; despite lacking relevant experience, I took a leap of faith and secured a UIUX role at a travel e-commerce platform. Going through this career change brought its own set of challenges and learning moments, which I’ll talk about in more detail later on.

Despite uncertainties, I embraced the opportunity for growth. In 2024, I made another bold move—relocating from Taiwan to the United States, marking a new chapter in my career. This journey has been about seizing opportunities and pushing boundaries, and I’m grateful for every step forward.

Have you ever had to pivot?

In 2019, while working as a Graphic Designer in the advertising agency, I stumbled upon Alibaba Group’s AI Graphics, a tool developed for China’s biggest e-commerce event, Double Eleven. This AI could generate thousands of graphics in seconds with just a few keywords and styles. It made me realize that my job might soon be automated. I began to think about how to broaden my skills and adaptability.

I explored areas where I could leverage my strengths and found “User Experience Design.” I started self-learning UIUX, diving into online tutorials, videos, and books. But I knew practical experience was key. Transitioning wasn’t easy—from a comfortable role with accumulated experience to a new field required a lot of effort. Convincing employers I could be a UIUX Designer was like being a fresh graduate job hunting.

During this transition, I spent a lot of time building my portfolio. Alongside my Graphic Design work, I showcased UIUX projects through side projects. Although not commercial, they reflected my ambition in UX design. I emphasized my soft skills too—how I persuaded clients and solved problems during my Graphic Design work. These experiences became my assets in the new workplace.

When it came to choosing offers, I turned down tempting Visual Design roles for a Junior UIUX Designer position. Leaving my previous job was about switching tracks—a tough journey, but one I had to make. It’s been a thrilling challenge for someone with seven years of work experience. Looking back, I’m glad for the decision and grateful for the opportunity. In three years, I’ve progressed from a UI designer to a Product Designer, thanks to the abundant challenges in the fast-paced e-commerce industry. We always asked: Would this feature boost company profits? Would it encourage users to place orders? E-commerce is a field where one can grow rapidly and sharpen skills. Perhaps, alongside my determined choices, a bit of luck played a part too.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

Transitioning from Graphic Designer to Product Designer brought both differences and similarities. Broadly, problem-solving can be approached from emotional and rational angles. However, I’ve always believed a designer’s value and mission lies in persuading audiences/users through their work. How can we make others empathize with our creations? How can we convince users of a product’s value and improve their experiences? Influencing others through our work is a designer’s crucial responsibility.

For me, the source of enduring passion and drive in design isn’t just the output itself but seeing genuine user feedback or data-driven insights. It’s incredibly validating and tells me I’m on the right track! Knowing I can silently help people brings immense satisfaction, reinforcing my belief that I’m on the right path and spurring me to keep moving forward.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.liangyingchen.com
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/liangyingchen/