“Tell me about yourself”
Hello, my name is Ben Wong, I graduated from the University of California, San Diego with a degree in Digital Media.
I started my professional career in marketing and digital media production and tried to start my own Bio-tech activewear company. After that endeavor, I found a real passion in product design and have been fortunate enough to work on a project that can use my knowledge in photo and video. My current project focuses on integrating facial recognition with metadata data from photos and videos to create new and exciting experiences for our users.
“Why do you do what you do?”
There’s a lot to dig into when I’m asked that, but at the end of the day, it’s just what I like to do. I don’t work because I want a job, but rather, I find jobs that I like to work on. Yes, of course, there’s moments when I want to burn everything down and I hate my week, but usually that’s stems from trying to solve the puzzle of the project, and when I get through it, it reminds me why I love doing what I love.
“What kind of projects do you like?”
The subject of the project doesn’t necessarily matter. Yes, there’s some things that’s more obviously exciting in subject matter, but the “fun part” is trying to solve the puzzle to help make someone’s job or life easier or more fun.
“What’s your design process like?”
Not all projects are handled the same, but typically I look for these questions: “What problem are we trying to solve?” “How can we make this more efficient?” “What is the user trying to do?” “How do I make this more engaging?” The last question of “how to make it more engaging” seems to resonate with me the most. It’s the question I ask myself the most when I brainstorm, wireframe, and sketch. In the end of the day, regardless if the product is a social media app, or data analytics, people like to have fun. If we can create something fun and easy to use, people will always come back to use it. Efficient. Accessible. Fun.
“Hobbies?”
I am obsessed with coffee. I explore different regions and styles of coffee. I roast my own beans at home. I also have over 12 different gadgets and gizmos to make coffee. It’s my zen place. There’s no better way to start your day than grinding some fresh coffee and smelling the aroma as your pour hot water into the grounds and watching it bloom.
On the flip side. I am an absolute crazy person who likes to push my physical limits. I have done countless Spartan Obstacle Races including a 30 mile Ultra with over 60 obstacles in some obscure mountain in central California. I am currently training to do a triathlon and hoping to get to do an Ironman one day.
I also like walking my dog Seb. He’s a goober.
Just me supporting my wife.
He’s the one photo bombing. 🐕