We were lucky to catch up with Jean(Jingjing) Wang recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Jean(Jingjing), thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear about the best boss, mentor, or leader you’ve ever worked with.

I was fortunate to work with two incredible leaders at Neighbour: Saager Dilawri and Karyna Schultz. Saager is thoughtful, intelligent, and remarkably professional, while Karyna brings an energetic and magnetic presence — a complementary contrast to Saager’s approach. What stayed with me most, though, was their shared commitment to steady, intentional growth — both in the business and in their leadership.

Jean(Jingjing), love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Hi, I’m Jean Wang, currently pursuing my MFA at ArtCenter College of Design. My practice focuses on experimenting with new tools and technologies, collaborating with other creatives, and following intuition to guide design decisions. I love translating abstract concepts into scalable design systems that work seamlessly across touchpoints. To me, great design should feel effortless and personalized, while carrying a distinct and thoughtful idea. What I’m most proud of is my ability to work fluidly across media. I’m committed to applying that versatility to create work that brings humanity and depth to today’s fast-paced, automated digital environments.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

Early in grad school, I stalled projects because I thought I needed everything figured out first. But after juggling five distinct projects in one term, I hit a wall—and realized clarity comes through making, not before it. Letting go of the need for perfection freed me to focus on craft, leadership, and collaboration. I also unlearned the urge to define myself too narrowly.

We’d love to hear your thoughts on NFTs. (Note: this is for education/entertainment purposes only, readers should not construe this as advice

NFTs sparked a cultural shift by enabling creators to monetize digital work without gatekeepers—a powerful idea beyond the gold rush hype. They raised key design questions: What is authorship in an AI culture? Can digital artifacts be owned? How do we design for digital scarcity? NFTs also introduced UX and branding challenges, from marketplaces to creator identities. While the 2021 craze was fleeting, the underlying technologies will likely evolve toward more practical, utility-driven applications.

Contact Info:

• Soundcloud: https://on.soundcloud.com/Pxdf9UDUrpDYhL3j8

Image Credits

Jean(Jingjing) Wang