Hey, I'm Jonathan, a product and identity designer from Singapore. If you're here, you're likely curious about my design journey, so let me share a bit of it with you.

My path into design began in childhood, driven by a relentless curiosity. I was the kid perpetually asking "Why do fish swim? Why does the sun rise?" I vividly remember that my parents even bought me a DVD series called "10,000 Whys" to feed my endless questions.

This curiosity was about more than understanding the world; it was about seeing its beauty. As a child, I captured this beauty through drawing. While making things look attractive was definitely enjoyable, I soon realised design is much more profound.

As I grew older, my creative passion found a surprising outlet—an online business called miniJon, making miniature food accessories. Though not aiming to be a businessman, this venture taught me about profitability and marketing—skills that later proved invaluable.

As a member of Gen Z, I grew alongside and witnessed the rise of social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat. These platforms fascinated me, not just for their capabilities but for the intricate designs that made them engaging. This fascination drove me to learn about the internet and technology, even though terms like user experience and user interface design were new to me.

Moving into polytechnic, I studied game design and development, utilising my drawing skills and gaining prestige in game specialisation. This field gave me a diverse skill set, including fine arts, graphic design, 3D modelling, animation, and even programming (though I didn't enjoy it). These multidisciplinary skills became essential in transcending design disciplines and adding value to my projects.

A transformative experience came during an exchange trip to the United States. Visiting tech giants like Autodesk, Unity, Blizzard, and Google, I attended a masterclass on UX design. It was here that my interest in designing user experiences truly peaked. While I enjoyed games, creating impactful digital experiences became my true passion. I realised that design goes far beyond aesthetics.

After graduation, fate aligned with my aspirations. During my National Service, I served as the NSF Platoon Sergeant in the Command Systems Company of 17 C4I Battalion. This role deepened my knowledge of computer systems and networking. Poor interfaces and user experiences strengthened my resolve to excel in experience design. I even created my first Telegram bot to automate administrative tasks, freeing up time for major exercises.

After turning operationally-ready (ORD), I joined a new venture as their founding product designer. This role was a baptism by fire, learning experience and interface design on the go. Despite the stress, I gained invaluable knowledge about collaborating with software engineers, driving business strategy, and managing the digital product lifecycle.

Following my startup experience, I moved to a digital marketing agency. Here, I honed my web design and development skills, creating impactful solutions across various industries. Seeing designs that embodied a brand’s essence and drove business success gave me immense satisfaction.

Reflecting on my journey, I believe great design captivates, connects, and communicates purposefully. It should be humanistic and transcendent, adding value to our human experience. My mission is to bridge design with business, creating value that enriches both commerce and culture.