About
Hello!
I'm Youngwoong So
I didn’t take the straight path into UX — I took the long, messy, sideways route. And I’m glad I did.
My design journey is built on curiosity, discomfort, and an obsession with how people actually behave. I’ve worked across disciplines, stumbled through dead ends, scrapped a dozen good ideas, and learned to fall forward — all of which shaped me into the kind of designer who’s not afraid to work fast, get dirty, and stay humble.
My motto? "Work dirty, work quick."
To me, that means thinking clearly without clinging to perfection, testing before assumptions solidify, and designing without ego. It’s how I avoid bias, stay agile, and build products that serve people — not personas. My best work happens when I'm deeply embedded in the problem space, asking annoying questions, and iterating with relentless honesty.
Outside the studio, you'll probably find me upside-down on a set of gymnastic rings or trying to scale a plastic rock face while falling around. Calisthenics and its extension, climbing, keep me grounded — physically and mentally. They teach me patience, resilience, and the joy of problem-solving with my body. (Turns out controlling your body and product design aren’t all that different.)
I also spend a lot of time with my girlfriend — who, willingly or not, ends up as my first test subject for everything I design. Whether it’s a low-fi prototype or a micro-interaction, she gets the first peek and the rawest feedback. She keeps me honest — and laughing.