Kiasu Design Life

What’s it really like designing digital tools you can’t talk about in Singapore’s defence tech space? Sharon and Dionne take us inside their work at CSIT, the leading cybersecurity agency in MINDEF, where they build mission-critical systems that government users rely on every day. This episode dives into the creative, complex, and surprisingly human side of designing for national security.

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Our guest for today are 🙋🏻‍♀️ Dionne (LinkedIn) and 🙋🏻‍♀️ Sharon (LinkedIn) from CSIT (LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook)

CSIT's post on Odyssey (LinkedIn) - first-ever defence tech design meet-up

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Timestamp:

(00:00) Hello, hello!

(01:36) Introducing Dionne and Sharon!

(08:43) Embracing unexpected career paths

(11:06) So... what do they actually design?

(16:29) Deep dive into a brag-worthy project

(23:28) Tooling and tech with high security

(30:19) Who's cut out for CSIT + Interview tips

(33:05) Your mala dala IG questions — answered!

(40:09) Closing thoughts & shoutouts!

♥️ We're self-funding this podcast, so if you’re enjoying the episodes and want to support us, we'd be so grateful for any donations. Every little bit helps—thank you so much!

♥️ Reach out to us on Instagram, where we hold post-release discussions with our supportive listeners or email us at [email protected]

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Behind Kiasu Design Life:

Adilah - Website | LinkedIn

Hsuan - Website | LinkedIn

Ever wondered what it’s really like to make the leap from a UX bootcamp to a product design career in Singapore? Well, we’re about to find out!

Join us for a candid, no-holds-barred chat featuring both Alicia, a recent bootcamp grad and currently a Product Designer at Open Gov Products, plus our very own Adilah! Through an unfiltered conversation, Alicia and Adilah share their honest experiences, challenges, and lessons they've learned along the way.

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🙋🏻‍♀️ Our guest for today is  Alicia Chong! (Linkedin)

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Timestamp:

(00:00) Happy 2025... again!

(01:50) Why This Episode?

(05:30) Meet Alicia!

(09:33) Alicia’s Big Career Switch

(13:38) Choosing the Bootcamp Life

(18:17) Bootcamp Breakdown: How It Works

(21:36) More Theory, Less Practice?

(26:54) Bootcamp Struggles

(31:24) Aha Moment: Biggest Bootcamp Lesson

(33:25) The End of Bootcamp & Job Hunt Struggles

(45:55) Culture Shock as a Bootcamp Grad

(52:02) Advice for Future UX Bootcampers

(56:05) Our New Year's EVOLUTION!

♥️ We're self-funding this podcast, so if you’re enjoying the episodes and want to support us, we'd be so grateful for any donations. Every little bit helps—thank you so much!

♥️ Reach out to us on Instagram, where we hold post-release discussions with our supportive listeners or email us at [email protected]

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Behind Kiasu Design Life:

Adilah - Website | LinkedIn

Hsuan - Website | LinkedIn

📹 🔴 This is a recording of a talk we did for  the pilot meetup of "The Good Circle" back in November 2024 where we shared how simply being open thrusts ourselves towards starting something we both believe in. Hailing from different backgrounds and upbringings, hear how we embrace and turn our identities into self-empowerment.

The Good Circle hopes to drive greater visibility for women, with the intention to close the gap, particularly in leadership. ♥️

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Timestamp:

(00:00) Happy 2025!

(02:01) When was the last time you thought of starting something?

(04:27) #1: Recognising a need

(07:48) #2: Opening up

(10:58) #3: Coming together

(19:17) #4: Owning our identity

♥️ We're self-funding this podcast, so if you’re enjoying the episodes and want to support us, we'd be so grateful for any donations. Every little bit helps—thank you so much!

♥️ Reach out to us on Instagram, where we hold post-release discussions with our supportive listeners or email us at [email protected]

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Behind Kiasu Design Life:

Adilah - Website | LinkedIn

Hsuan - Website | LinkedIn

One undeniable and hard truth we all know about UX is that "the design process never linear".

But what other truths exist in this realm? Today, with insights from the internet and our listeners, we're diving into that very question!

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Timestamp:

(00:00) Hello!

(03:25) Topic intro

(06:02) "No respect for UX"

(10:00) "Advocating for UX"

(15:00) "Not investing in UX"

(17:46) "Design leader = QOL"

(20:00) "Overruled with gut feeling"

(28:02) "Low hanging fruits"

(30:30) "Teamwork takes time"

(32:52) "UX is not creative"

(37:52) Closing thoughts

♥️ We're self-funding this podcast, so if you’re enjoying the episodes and want to support us, we'd be so grateful for any donations. Every little bit helps—thank you so much!

♥️ Reach out to us on Instagram, where we hold post-release discussions with our supportive listeners or email us at [email protected]

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Behind Kiasu Design Life:

Adilah - Website | LinkedIn

Hsuan - Website | LinkedIn

Heard of design thinking for kids? That's right - kids as young as 10 years old are learning coding, researching, brainstorming and even pitching in primary schools!

Get ready to meet Team GummyCare, the young innovators on a mission to advocate for healthy eating! 🥕🥦 How did they come up with their awesome idea and will they take over our jobs? 😱

Let’s get inspired by the next generation of big thinkers!

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Our guests are Mrs. Tan Qili (Teacher), and Team GummyCare consists of Amelia, Karyn, Luke, Ying Xuan and Rui Jie from Ai Tong Primary School. 

This episode is in support of the People of Design Campaign by DesignSingapore Council. 

Image courtesy of the DesignSingapore Council.

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Timestamp:

(00:00) Welcome Team GummyCare!

(06:25) How Ai Tong Pri. Sch. brings design thinking to kids

(13:00) How did Team GummyCare came out with their great idea?

(16:54) Ingenious ways to quickly validate their ideas

(18:54) Final showcase, prototype & meeting the minister!

(29:05) How Ai Tong Pri. Sch. students are encouraged to "design-think"

(33:50) Students' learnings, memorable stories, and teacher's takeaway

(36:40) Students very realistic dream when they grow up

♥️ We're self-funding this podcast, so if you’re enjoying the episodes and want to support us, we'd be so grateful for any donations. Every little bit helps—thank you so much!

♥️ Reach out to us on Instagram, where we hold post-release discussions with our supportive listeners or email us at [email protected]

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Behind Kiasu Design Life:

Adilah - Website | LinkedIn

Hsuan - Website | LinkedIn

Imagine this: lion dance meets active ageing!

Singapore is one of the fastest ageing nations in the world, and staying active is key. But what if we take that a step further? That's what Hao Jie and Edmund from NextOfKin Creatives did by combining the vibrant rhythms of lion dance with the concept of active ageing. Listen in and get ready to redefine what staying fit and fabulous means in your golden years!

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Our guests are Hao Jie and Edmund. This episode is in support of the People of Design Campaign by DesignSingapore Council.

Check out NextofKin Creatives, and their latest initiative Public Design School.

Do you know there's a cafe in Singapore run by senior citizens called SASCO@Khatib?

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Timestamp:

(00:00) Hello!

(03:54) About Silver Pride Lion Troupe

(06:46) How did this project start?

(10:06) Immersing and brainstorming at a senior-ran cafe 

(14:45) Edmund & Hao Jie's role: Micro vs Macro

(20:51) What's their design process and challenges?

(34:05) A day in a life of a senior in Silver Pride Lion Troupe 

(40:10) Advice to designing for senior-care

(43:40) Memorable moments 

(48:36) Learnings from designing this programme

(51:26) What's next for the Silver Pride Lion Troupe programme?

(55:12) What's next for NextOfKin Creatives?

♥️ We're self-funding this podcast, so if you’re enjoying the episodes and want to support us, we'd be so grateful for any donations. Every little bit helps—thank you so much!

♥️ Reach out to us on Instagram, where we hold post-release discussions with our supportive listeners or email us at [email protected]

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Behind Kiasu Design Life:

Adilah - Website | LinkedIn

Hsuan - Website | LinkedIn

Remember back in 2021 when we used to ask each other, “Have you been vaccinated?” Fast forward to 2024, and now the greeting is, “Have you found a job yet?”

This year might feel like a rollercoaster of hope and rejection for many of us.In Part 2 of Kopi Chat, we dive into the real talk about job hunting after a layoff and tackle some tough topics like salary cuts!

Grab your coffee and join us for a candid conversation about the highs and lows of the job search journey. ☕✨
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Timestamp:

(00:00) Hello!

(02:55) Shitty job market + more layoffs...

(03:20) Observation of Singapore's design job market

(08:15) Desperation energy

(10:20) More contracts vs perm roles?

(11:34) Getting rejected :")

(17:15) Framework for your "dream job"

(18:10) Lower salary and taking a cut

(25:40) Embracing "failures" than "wins"

(28:50) How to accurately suss out a company culture?

(31:50) Mind-shift as a renewed employee after a layoff

♥️ We're self-funding this podcast, so if you’re enjoying the episodes and want to support us, we'd be so grateful for any donations. Every little bit helps—thank you so much!

♥️ Reach out to us on Instagram, where we hold post-release discussions with our supportive listeners or email us at [email protected]

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Behind Kiasu Design Life:

Adilah - Website | LinkedIn

Hsuan - Website | LinkedIn

Oh parenthood! It’s a whole new world that no manual can truly capture the essence and make you feel prepared. You will only experience the reality of it when you are in it. 😅

Heyo - we're back from a short break with a kopi chat. Come sit down with us in your singlets and FBTs, and your favourite kopi/teh. This episode is part 1 of 2 of our casual design life update focusing on being a parent AND a designer! (stress)

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Timestamp:

(00:00) Hello!

(04:40) Becoming a parent..once again

(06:50) Thoughts around employment and pregnant

(09:36) Experiencing life in seasons

(11:40) When should I take a break in the midst of trying?

(13:30) Being more than your job as a Designer

(18:02) Reality of being a working designer parent

(21:19) Managing design work and parent work

(23:40) Anti-parents co-workers? :(

(24:32) Stop over-explaining to colleagues

(27:33) Being tactful in sharing your design process

(28:37) Green & red flags of a family-friendly workplace

(32:00) Competitive advantage of a "designer x parent"

♥️ We're self-funding this podcast, so if you’re enjoying the episodes and want to support us, we'd be so grateful for any donations. Every little bit helps—thank you so much!

♥️ Reach out to us on Instagram, where we hold post-release discussions with our supportive listeners or email us at [email protected]

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Behind Kiasu Design Life:

Adilah - Website | LinkedIn

Hsuan - Website | LinkedIn

🎥 The video version is available on YouTube! 🎥

Now that we've wrapped up "My Robot Gets Me" in our book club, let's hear it straight from the author herself! Other than her journey into writing the book, we dived into her life as a educator of 4D Design at Cranbrook and how it's so closely parallel to our work as UX Designers!

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Our guest: Carla Diana

• Personal Website
• My Robot Gets Me book

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Timestamp:

(00:00) Meet Carla and how she got into "Robotics"

(06:05) How did Carla came out with the framework

(09:42) Carla and her experiences with digital products

(14:26) Are robotic products better now?

(18:50) How Covid affected her experience writing the book

(23:22) Her provocative Ted Talk and Twitter reactions

(26:31) Peek into her 4D Design program at Cranbrook

(32:47) The magic of design-dev collaboration in schools

(38:28) Carla's son interactions with social products

(42:28) Carla's message to those who haven't read her book!

(43:20)  What's next for Carla!

♥️ We're self-funding this podcast, so if you’re enjoying the episodes and want to support us, we'd be so grateful for any donations. Every little bit helps—thank you so much!

♥️ Reach out to us on Instagram, where we hold post-release discussions with our supportive listeners or email us at [email protected]

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Behind Kiasu Design Life:

Adilah - Website | LinkedIn

Hsuan - Website | LinkedIn

🎥 The video version is available on YouTube! 🎥

Here's another chat with a local designer and content creator - Fiona Lim! With 18.5k followers and 6 years of experience under her belt, she's here to share what it takes to build and grow your personal branding.

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Our guest: Fiona Lim

• Find her on Instagram
• Read her articles on Medium

Once again, thank you Alistair and Brief for sponsoring the space! ♥️♥️

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Timestamp:

(00:00) Meet Fiona and how she got into UX design

(06:05) Our first time doing video podcasting!

(08:05) Fiona's career

(10:17) Fiona x Adilah: Meeting fellow UX content creator 

(14:08) Becoming a UX content creator 

(19:55) How being a content creator impacts her day job?

(28:28) Interactions with other UX content creators

(32:47) Journey as a content creator (+ downsides!)

(40:05) Additional income streams!

(42:10) Fiona's plan to grow her audience

(55:05) Advice for aspiring UX content creators

(59:27) Closing thoughts

♥️ We're self-funding this podcast, so if you’re enjoying the episodes and want to support us, we'd be so grateful for any donations. Every little bit helps—thank you so much!

♥️ Reach out to us on Instagram, where we hold post-release discussions with our supportive listeners or email us at [email protected]

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Behind Kiasu Design Life:

Adilah - Website | LinkedIn

Hsuan - Website | LinkedIn