In this instalment we meet Kai En Ong, Head of Design.
How do you explain what you do for a living to a child?
Help people do magical things. (Not sure how old this child would be 馃槈)
I would go on to say that I lead two teams in our User Experience & Design department: the folks working on 大象传媒 News, and the Systems + Service Design team. I set direction for the Creative Directors in my area, build partnerships with our colleagues across the Design + Engineering Division to ensure our strategies are human-centric and bring value to users and audiences. As part of the UX&D Leadership team I support and evolve our design practice, working with the other Heads of Design and our Chief Design Officer.
鈥hen I'd wonder: where did that kid go, and if they'd tracked down any ice-cream.
Name one favourite thing and one challenging thing about your role?
My favourite is when you support and lead a team to do something that they've not done before, and are nervous about. It's a real buzz when it all comes together and everyone is pleased with a great result. (I watched quite a bit of The as a child.)
Challenges come when things which are out of our control cause problems. Of course we try to anticipate and plan for these, but it can be disheartening if they mess things up (oh hello Coronavirus!).
What was your journey before coming to the 大象传媒?
I went to school before we really had Internet, so the job I'm doing now didn't exist. Don't ever let that put you off!
I enjoyed art and design, and unlike other subjects, it was the one I stuck at even though I struggled through some parts. Although I spent some of my teenaged years writing an indie-music fanzine called "Bobbins", writing was never a career I considered. I took a pretty direct path into digital design, working at a mix of agencies and in-house design teams. I learned on the job, and that's made me appreciate that you never stop learning, especially in this industry where technology, trends, ideas, and user needs and behaviours are constantly moving.
If you could explore any other profession, what would it be and why?
Maybe something in town planning.
When I was at school, the other subject I found interesting was geography - both the human and the physical sides. Something that brings people, design, and physical infrastructure together on a huge scale - how cities grow, how transport networks are established and evolved, and how they work (or don't) for people, feels like a different and thrilling design challenge.
If you could travel back in time and give yourself one piece of career advice, what would it be?
Never let anyone tell you that you shouldn't try something! But listen to advice from those who have experience. Learn how to develop your own judgement. As you go through your career, reflect and learn from experiences, both good and bad. Be aware of your situation and others who are part of it, and consider the differing and conflicting perspectives involved. Be brave, be compassionate.
And when you have to buy your first suit (when I was based in Lloyds of London), don't cheap-out as you'll regret it.
What's on your playlist right now?
At the moment I'm listening to 13 Minutes to the Moon. I try to keep up with the wealth of good podcasts out there (from Systems design, to Diversity and Inclusion at work), which are a great way to dip your toe into many different subjects. I can't work and listen to talking at the same time, so I've got a huge backlog to catch up on. Music can be anything from Tom Waits, to Underworld.
What do you do to switch off from work?
When I was little, my mum taught me to sew and knit. I learned how to knit socks over 10 years ago, and I usually have some kind of crafting project on the go. I get a great sense of satisfaction when wearing something I made myself.
As a grown-up, I taught myself to swim - which I used to hate when I was little, but I really enjoy these days. I don't do any sort of competition, it helps switch my brain into a different mode of thinking and feeling. Really missing swimming in lockdown though!
In a world where anything is possible, what is the single most exciting thing you would do with technology?
I'd make sure the good benefits of technology are universally accessible, whatever age, ability, or lifestyle you lead. Oh, and teleportation. Well, you did say anything is possible 馃槈
What drives or inspires you?
Working at the 大象传媒, our mission and public purposes are inspirational. As a member of User Experience & Design, the folks around me are great motivators to continue to strive to support, evolve, and lead this amazing team.
