Hi, I’m Phoebe - 于心菲 /yúxīnfēi/
A designer, researcher in cognitive science, lifelong learner, and jiujitsu enthusiast.
Here’s how I have approached user experience design — and life — in the form of jiu-jitsu metaphors.
Choose techniques
In jiu-jitsu, strength alone never brings you far. The art is in understanding your rolling partner's style, using the right techniques (sweeps, takedowns, guard-passing), and matching their energy.
With design, I always start by asking: "who are we helping?" Whether it's dashboards for product directors or portals for medical professionals, I prioritize user research and understanding. People deserve to be heard. People deserve solutions tailored to their needs.
You can't spar alone
A regular jiu-jitsu round involves 2 athletes. A regular jiu-jitsu gym (dojo) involves many more. It takes a village to keep this sport going. And the same goes in design.
Design means mingling with humans. Design means collaborating with cross-functional partners like engineers, developers, managers and creating as a team. Whether it's addressing bottlenecks, iterating design systems, or taking action on constructive critique, transparent communication comes above all.
Roll as you go
Like human chess, jiu-jitsu is a mix of strategy and improvisation. Athletes might have a "game plan" in mind, but they must also adapt to how their opponents move.
I approach UX design with flexibility. Have an ambiguous customer-facing issue? Let's explore user pain points and define the problem together. Unsure if wireframes are effective? Let's A/B test them out and iterate.
Not just designs, but life itself becomes intuitive when we adapt to change.
You found the book nook!
In life, we all have questions. These books may help answer some of yours - they certainly answered many of mine. Take your pick and I’d love to hear your thoughts :)
What is a creative life?
How does a roman king think?
Why is storytelling the best way to present?
Why are we like this?
How does a shepherd find himself?
How does psychology seep into design?