A Design Mentor

By Sandy Hongsan Chen

A collection of thoughts from a product design mentor on how design is simply a part of life.... more

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FAQs about A Design Mentor:

How many episodes does A Design Mentor have?

The podcast currently has 14 episodes available.

A Design Mentor episodes:

September 03, 2025 EP 014 Getting to the Core of Value
In this episode, I get to the core of value, and the term value proposition. It’s not as a buzzword, but a promise designers make. I share how creating my own “life kit” revealed that value isn’t just about function, but the overlap of intentions.

What you’ll hear 
。What value proposition really means in design and life
。How function, need, delight, and sentiment create value
。Why every design is, at its heart, a promise

◉ What was a value you didn’t understand at first, but later came to truly appreciate?

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▦ About & Support
⁠⁠⦚ ⁠⁠Who is Sandy?⁠
⦚ ⁠Buy me a coffee⁠
⦚ ⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠
--
▥ Elsewhere
⁠⁠⦚ ⁠⁠Youtube⁠ (English Subtitles / 繁中字幕)
⁠⁠⦚ ⁠⁠Instagram⁠

--
▧ Music
⦚ ⁠⁠Epidemic Sound⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

--
▨ Stack
⁠⁠Shure MV7+ / Descript / Canva

--
◉ All content, recording and editing are by ⁠⁠Sandy Hongsan Chen⁠⁠.
...more
9min
March 31, 2025 EP 013 Users Light The Way—Seeing Design Through Their Eyes
Every user follows a journey, but unexpected roadblocks can change their path. By mapping these journeys, we can uncover frustrations, improve experiences, and create better designs. Let’s explore how user journeys shape both products and personal growth.

────────────────────

▦ About & Support
⁠⁠⦚ ⁠Who is Sandy?
⦚ Buy me a coffee
⦚ [email protected]⁠⁠⁠
--
▥ Elsewhere
⁠⁠⦚ ⁠Youtube (English Subtitles / 繁中字幕)
⁠⁠⦚ ⁠Instagram

--
▧ Music
⦚ ⁠Epidemic Sound⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

--
▨ Stack
⁠⁠Shure MV7+ / Descript / Canva

--
◉ All content, recording and editing are by ⁠⁠Sandy Hongsan Chen⁠⁠.
...more
10min
March 16, 2025 EP 012 You are NOT your user — my learning lesson
Design isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s about understanding people. In this episode, I dive into the biggest lesson I learned in design: you are NOT your user. Avoiding assumptions and embracing real-world insights can make all the difference.

◉ Can you think of the moment that changed your point of view on someone?

────────────────────

▦ About & Support
⁠⁠⦚ ⁠Who is Sandy?
⦚ Buy me a coffee
⦚ [email protected]⁠⁠⁠

--
▥ Elsewhere
⁠⁠⦚ ⁠Youtube (English Subtitles / 繁中字幕)
⁠⁠⦚ ⁠Instagram

--
▧ Music
⦚ ⁠Epidemic Sound⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

--
▨ Stack
⁠⁠Shure MV7+ / Descript / Canva

--
◉ All content, recording and editing are by ⁠⁠Sandy Hongsan Chen⁠⁠.
...more
10min
January 28, 2025 EP 011 What are (digital) products?
In this episode, I break down what digital products are in the simplest way possible, sharing how I’ve explained my work to different people over the years—including my own mom. Design can often feel complex or abstract, but at its core, it’s deeply connected to our everyday experiences.I’ll guide you through how digital products are not so different from the physical items we rely on daily. By drawing these connections, I hope to make it easier to see the role design plays in how we interact with the world, especially as technology continues to evolve.

◉ I’d love to know—what’s your favorite physical product and your favorite digital product? What makes them special to you?

────────────────────

▦ About & Support
⁠⁠⦚ ⁠Who is Sandy?
⦚ Buy me a coffee
⦚ [email protected]⁠⁠⁠

--
▥ Elsewhere
⁠⁠⦚ ⁠Youtube (English Subtitles / 繁中字幕)
⁠⁠⦚ ⁠Instagram

--
▧ Music
⦚ ⁠Epidemic Sound⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

--
▨ Stack
⁠⁠Shure MV7+ / Descript / Canva

--
◉ All content, recording and editing are by ⁠⁠Sandy Hongsan Chen⁠⁠.
...more
10min
January 06, 2025 EP 010 Pivoting is redesigning life through change
In this episode, I explore the concept of pivoting—not just in business, but as a powerful tool for personal growth. I share how my own pivoting moments, filled with uncertainty and courage, helped me reshape my life, and how witnessing others' pivots as a mentor has been equally inspiring.

What you'll hear:
⦂ Why pivoting isn’t about the destination but the process
⦂ The lessons I’ve learned from my own life transitions
⦂ How embracing change can lead to unexpected growth

◉ How do you relate to pivoting?

────────────────────

▦ About & Support
⁠⁠⦚ ⁠Who is Sandy?
⦚ Buy me a coffee
⦚ [email protected]⁠⁠⁠

--
▥ Elsewhere
⁠⁠⦚ ⁠Youtube (English Subtitles / 繁中字幕)
⁠⁠⦚ ⁠Instagram

--
▧ Music
⦚ ⁠Epidemic Sound⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

--
▨ Stack
⁠⁠Shure MV7+ / Descript / Canva

--
◉ All content, recording and editing are by ⁠⁠Sandy Hongsan Chen⁠⁠.
...more
8min
December 25, 2024 EP 009 Empathy might not be what you thought it was
In this episode, I dive into the real meaning of empathy—not just as a design buzzword, but as a life-changing practice. I share how becoming a product designer helped me understand empathy on a deeper level, shaping how I connect with work, relationships, and even myself.

What you'll hear:
⦂ How design research transformed my view of empathy
⦂ Real-life examples of empathy in action
⦂ How empathy improves work, collaboration, and personal growth

◉ How do you relate to empathy?

────────────────────

▦ About & Support
⁠⁠⦚ ⁠Who is Sandy?
⦚ Buy me a coffee
⦚ [email protected]⁠⁠⁠

--
▥ Elsewhere
⁠⁠⦚ ⁠Youtube (English Subtitles / 繁中字幕)
⁠⁠⦚ ⁠Instagram

--
▧ Music
⦚ ⁠Epidemic Sound⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

--
▨ Stack
⁠⁠Shure MV7+ / Descript / Canva

--
◉ All content, recording and editing are by ⁠⁠Sandy Hongsan Chen⁠⁠.
...more
9min
December 18, 2024 EP 008 What if failure was the key to success?
In this episode, I reflect on how my understanding of success and failure has evolved over the years—shaped by personal loss, career shifts, and meaningful projects. I share a deeply personal story about losing my sister, how it changed my values, and how it redefined what success means to me.

What you'll hear:
⦂ Why success isn’t one-size-fits-all
⦂ How failure can be a powerful teacher
⦂ The role of meaningful work in personal growth

◉ What’s your most recent failure, and what did you learn from it?

────────────────────

▦ About & Support
⁠⁠⦚ ⁠Who is Sandy?
⦚ Buy me a coffee
⦚ [email protected]⁠⁠⁠

--
▥ Elsewhere
⁠⁠⦚ ⁠Youtube (English Subtitles / 繁中字幕)
⁠⁠⦚ ⁠Instagram

--
▧ Music
⦚ ⁠Epidemic Sound⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

--
▨ Stack
⁠⁠Shure MV7+ / Descript / Canva

--
◉ All content, recording and editing are by ⁠⁠Sandy Hongsan Chen⁠⁠.
...more
10min
December 08, 2024 EP 007 How staying curious fuels creativity and growth
In this episode, I dive into the role of curiosity in shaping our personal growth, creativity, and even our careers. How do we stay open and willing to learn as we move through life? Why does curiosity matter so much, especially in creative work?

I share personal stories—like designing for sports I barely knew—and reflections on how curiosity has helped me adapt to new cultures, explore art forms like Kintsugi, and build meaningful connections with the world.

◉ How do you stay curious?

────────────────────

▦ About & Support
⁠⁠⦚ ⁠Who is Sandy?
⦚ Buy me a coffee
⦚ [email protected]⁠⁠⁠

--
▥ Elsewhere
⁠⁠⦚ ⁠Youtube (English Subtitles / 繁中字幕)
⁠⁠⦚ ⁠Instagram

--
▧ Music
⦚ ⁠Epidemic Sound⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

--
▨ Stack
⁠⁠Shure MV7+ / Descript / Canva

--
◉ All content, recording and editing are by ⁠⁠Sandy Hongsan Chen⁠⁠.
...more
8min
December 01, 2024 EP 006 Your life shapes your taste and vision
When does taste come up in your life? Is it when you're asked to share your point of view? In this episode, I explore the evolving nature of personal and collective taste, both in creative environments and in life.I discuss how our backgrounds, experiences, and environments shape what we find beautiful, fitting, or harmonious. I also reflect on how personal taste isn’t static—it grows as we grow. In creative teams, blending diverse tastes can lead to extraordinary outcomes, if we’re open to learning from each other.

◉ How did you shape your personal taste?

────────────────────

▦ About & Support
⁠⁠⦚ ⁠Who is Sandy?
⦚ Buy me a coffee
⦚ [email protected]⁠⁠⁠

--
▥ Elsewhere
⁠⁠⦚ ⁠Youtube (English Subtitles / 繁中字幕)
⁠⁠⦚ ⁠Instagram

--
▧ Music
⦚ ⁠Epidemic Sound⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

--
▨ Stack
⁠⁠Shure MV7+ / Descript / Canva

--
◉ All content, recording and editing are by ⁠⁠Sandy Hongsan Chen⁠⁠.
...more
9min
November 23, 2024 EP 005 How is creativity related to craft?
Have you ever wondered what creativity actually means? In this episode, I explore the true essence of creativity beyond the traditional definitions tied to art and design. I share how my own struggles with “feeling creative” early in my career shaped my understanding of creativity as an ability we all possess—not a magical talent reserved for a few.Through personal stories, I discuss the role of exposure, experience, and craftsmanship in nurturing creativity. It’s not about being the best; it’s about surpassing your past self.

◉ What are you currently working on to improve your craft?

────────────────────

▦ About & Support
⁠⁠⦚ ⁠Who is Sandy?
⦚ Buy me a coffee
⦚ [email protected]⁠⁠⁠

--
▥ Elsewhere
⁠⁠⦚ ⁠Youtube (English Subtitles / 繁中字幕)
⁠⁠⦚ ⁠Instagram

--
▧ Music
⦚ ⁠Epidemic Sound⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

--
▨ Stack
⁠⁠Shure MV7+ / Descript / Canva

--
◉ All content, recording and editing are by ⁠⁠Sandy Hongsan Chen⁠⁠.
...more
10min

FAQs about A Design Mentor:

How many episodes does A Design Mentor have?

The podcast currently has 14 episodes available.