Who is Isabel?
I am a UX / UI designer who was born in China, raised in Canada, and seasoned in the US and the UK.
In another life, I spent more than a decade as a fashion designer because I wanted to use beauty to “make the world a better place”. However, when I eventually discovered UX design. I realized that UX design allowed me to do just that by focusing on the user instead of the product.
I have a profound appreciation of beauty, functionality and evidence-based designs. I believe that “God is in the detail” and that being a good designer means being a lifetime learner.
I overshare on @isabelqzchen & raid my mom’s closet @closetdmama.
I had another life…
As a fashion designer, I have led design teams in both New York and London to create products for international markets
The fashion design process is very similar to that of UX design.
There are lots of moving pieces so it was crucial to have a comprehensible project plan and communicate clearly with cross-functional teams.
The visual design was 10% of the job; problem-solving and staying organized is the other 90%.
The language of fashion design is storytelling through mood boards, sketches, fabric and colour.
I loved working with artisans who have spent decades perfecting their craft and keeping traditions alive.
When I’m not dealing with surviving…
I paint, I sketch and I try to keep my toddler alive.
Growing up in my grandpa’s studio, painting really calms me and reminds me of home.
Since I do mostly landscapes, the challenge is to use colour dynamics and layouts to convey emotions.
I love to travel but I hate flying…
You will never meet another person who hates the process of travelling more.
I keep a little notebook with me to write down what a place feels and smells like. I tend to remember things better if I sketched them and I’m lucky enough to have a partner who does the same.
