Outside the grid
A few things about me
My mornings begin with a walk in nature — a quiet moment to reset, notice small details, and start the day with clarity.
After that comes coffee — simple, rich, and grounding. It’s a small ritual that helps me shift into focus before moving into design work.
I love cooking. It’s one of the ways I recharge and express creativity outside my professional life. Experimenting with flavors and sharing the results with my family reminds me that good design — like good food — is thoughtful, intentional, and made with care.
And when the day slows down, I usually end it quietly, with tea and a few pages of a book. That calm moment helps me reset and make space for new ideas.
From everyday rituals to professional practices — these small routines shape how I stay centered, curious, and inspired.
My Design Process
Clarity Before Craft
My design process always starts with understanding.
Before thinking about solutions or screens, I focus on the people involved, the context they’re operating in, and the real needs behind the product. I ask questions, listen carefully, and observe how systems are actually used. Patterns in behavior and workflow often reveal more than assumptions ever could. Clear understanding becomes the foundation for every decision that follows.
Once the problem is clear, I move into structured exploration.
I break down scenarios, map key flows, and turn ideas into early concepts and prototypes. This stage is about learning, not perfection. Testing and iteration help surface real insights early, challenge assumptions, and guide the direction before too much is locked in.
Collaboration is an essential part of how I work.
I partner closely with developers, product managers, and stakeholders to make sure solutions are practical, aligned, and grounded in real constraints. For me, design isn’t only about visual polish — it’s about how a product behaves, how clearly it communicates, and how confidently people can use it at every step.
My Professional Background
A Connected Path, Not a Linear One
I began in wide-format printing and graphic design, where I learned how visual decisions influence understanding. Working with large layouts taught me how spacing, hierarchy, and balance help people notice what matters — and how confusion appears when those elements aren’t considered.
Later, in real estate, my work became deeply people-centered.I worked with clients of different ages and levels of comfort with technology, helping them use property platforms and online tools during moments that often felt stressful or emotional.
That experience showed me something important:
digital products don’t just display information — they guide people through decisions.
When systems are clear, people feel supported.
When they aren’t, frustration quietly builds, even if no one says it out loud.
In automotive operations, I spent years inside the systems that keep everyday business running.
These tools connected technicians doing the work, office teams coordinating schedules, partners approving jobs, and customers waiting for updates on their vehicles. Being part of that environment gave me a close look at how complex tools are actually used day to day.
I saw where small gaps in information created delays, confusion, or extra effort — and how thoughtful structure and clear communication could make demanding work feel manageable.
Today, as a UX/UI designer, I bring all of these experiences together.
The visual discipline I learned early on.
The empathy I developed by working directly with people.
And the practical understanding of how complex systems affect real workflows.
My focus is on creating digital products that feel clear, reliable, and respectful of the people who depend on them — tools designed not just to function, but to genuinely support everyday work and decision-making.
Let’s Create with Clarity.
Open to opportunities where design can simplify complexity, strengthen workflows, and support efficient product experiences.
Available for collaborations and full-time UX/UI opportunities.
© 2025 Dina Lee. All rights reserved.