If you want to take on real problems, you need to get out of your comfort zone. Not by hopping from city to city or attending trendy conferences, but by spending time in places that aren’t made for you.

Sit with people society often overlooks. In our gated communities and apartment towers, gig workers — the folks who bring our food or assemble our furniture — are told to use service elevators, just so they don’t “interrupt” the residents. Their uniforms are seen as eyesores, their presence tolerated only while they’re on the job. Yet, these are the same people companies love to brag about “empowering” through technology, all while keeping them at arm’s length.

Working at the intersection of design and development taught me more about empathy, systems, and teamwork than any design classroom ever could. What began as a simple internship project turned into a full-scale collaboration — one that shaped how I approach design today: not as pixels on a screen, but as bridges between people, disciplines, and mindsets.
Before this project, I had already dipped my toes into product development through a student-led startup. We were a small team — designers, developers, and one shared dream. That’s where I first understood how differently developers think: logic-driven, efficient, and allergic to anything that isn’t systemized.

In a digital products-oriented society, ensuring accessibility for all users — including those who are illiterate or unfamiliar with technology — is essential. Inclusive design aims to create user interfaces that are simple, functional, and accessible to a diverse audience.