We recently connected with Won You and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Won thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you walk us through some of the key steps that allowed you move beyond an idea and actually launch?

I remember watching a talk from Google Ventures about design sprints almost 10 years ago. The process had elements of Lean Startup and Design Thinking and really changed my perspective on how to launch product ideas. I was working as a design director at the time for Discovery Communications, within their innovation team. And my team was responsible for incubating ideas for the company. In some cases that meant identifying interesting business opportunities or spotting trends in the digital landscape that might complement the company’s core portfolio.

And a lot of the early days in that team, we made a variety of presentation decks that contained strategy and market analysis. And being a designer, I really felt that we should be putting together prototypes and showing what the idea could be, instead of asking for people to imagine it. And so when I saw Jake Knapp present the Google Design Sprint, I was in awe. The sprint presented a framework for taking an idea, making a prototype, and presenting that to users and hearing their feedback in as little as 5 days. The feedback loop meant that an idea can not only be validated but also improved that much more quickly. And in the startup landscape, speed is a competitive advantage.

Fast forward to now, and I’ve adapted that design sprint framework in my own design studio where I empower my clients by helping them transform their ideas into reality.

Won, 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 am Won J You, a seasoned design leader, creative strategist, and educator with over 20 years of experience in creating digital experiences for clients such as Porsche, The LA Times, Intel and more. As a design thinker and entrepreneur, I understand how difficult it is to bring a product idea to life. That’s why I help early-stage startups take their concept from 0 to 1. I harness the power of design sprints to accelerate the product journey from ideation to execution.

I’ve had the opportunity to work with many great clients over the years, and one thing that I’ve learned about great products is that they are never made overnight. You need to continually test and refine them. And the faster you are able to improve your product the faster you can lead the market. My ultimate mission is to empower startups with the tools, strategies, and mindset required to revolutionize industries and leave an indelible mark on the world.

For those seeking a partner or advisor on their entrepreneurial journey, my design studio specializes in creating innovative designs for websites and mobile apps.. Together, we can propel your ideas to success.

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

I come from a first-generation immigrant family, and almost everyone on my father’s side of the family came to this country and eventually started their own small business. And it inspired me to also pursue being a business owner and entrepreneur. And so I know firsthand the hustle and grind of being in business for yourself. And that’s why I’m so passionate about working with entrepreneurs who have great ideas for a digital product or service but may not know how to navigate the digital landscape when it comes to things like user experience design, web development, and product strategy.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

One of the things that drew me to design is the ability to see how people use and interact with my designs out in the world. Oftentimes, this means looking at the analytics and viewing which pages or screens they’re visiting. How much time do they spend on the product? And being able to postulate what might improve their engagement and overall enjoyment of the experience. Since design is a form of creative problem-solving, it’s gratifying to see my work solve an actual problem or need for a person, especially when you can look at the data and be able to quantify how much it’s helping them.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://wjystudios.com/ and https://www.wonjyou.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wjystudios/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wjystudios
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wonjyou/