Over the past year, I’ve had the incredible opportunity to work in a new country, with an amazing team, in the charming city of Rotterdam. Reflecting on my time here, I’m struck by how much I’ve grown both professionally and personally. My mission was simple: to learn as much as possible from my colleagues and the people here. Along the way, I also discovered a lot about myself and where I want to go next.
I definitely stepped out of my comfort zone—sometimes with a bit of hesitation, like when I first wrestled with Figma. It wasn’t love at first click, but over time, we became good friends. I gained skills I never thought I’d master, and with each new challenge, my confidence grew. I owe much of that growth to my colleagues, who not only helped me become a better designer but a better person as well. I leaned into my weaknesses, learned from my interactions, and emerged stronger on the other side.
Once I got the hang of TodayTomorrow’s dynamic (and stopped worrying about standing out as an Asian in a sea of Dutch), I was trusted to design an app for MantelzorgNL, a Dutch national association supporting informal caregivers. We created “Waar blijft mijn tijd,” an online time management tool aimed at helping caregivers manage their time, set boundaries, and prioritize self-care. This project was close to my heart, aligning with MantelzorgNL’s vision of a society that better supports caregivers by helping them balance their many responsibilities.
Now, confession time: I never saw myself as a digital enthusiast—which might sound odd for someone knee-deep in UX design. But my goal has always been to create digital applications that minimize screen time and reduce frustration, allowing users to get back to living their lives. Working on this project meant diving deep into UX research, concept development, visual styling, and prototyping. It was a wild ride, full of unexpected design challenges—like color accessibility, accommodating different text lengths, and ensuring a responsive UI. Despite its compact size, the project demanded careful attention to detail, proving that even small tasks require strategic thinking.
Transitioning the UI from Figma to a live website was another adventure, especially with a text-heavy tool. It highlighted the need for flexibility in the design phase to address unforeseen issues. Beyond MantelzorgNL, I was grateful to contribute to a variety of projects: rebranding the website for Boekenbalie, designing the travel guide site Time to Momo, developing the compliance and risk decision support platform Vartion, and even some branding work for the architecture firm Pham.
One of the highlights of my time here was immersing myself in Dutch culture. I appreciated the less hierarchical society, where everyone felt comfortable voicing their concerns. This openness fostered a creative and productive environment, teaching me the value of speaking up—even on those inevitable off days. Learning to embrace differences and respect others’ perspectives was a gift I’ll always cherish, helping me to break free from some of the cultural thinking patterns I grew up with.
My year at TodayTomorrow has been transformative. The skills, challenges, and experiences I’ve encountered will stay with me, and I’ll always treasure the time I’ve spent here.