https://helenaseo.com HelenaSeo Mon, 16 Oct 2017 00:46:20 +0000 https://helenaseo.com en https://helenaseo.com/Splash-Page Sun, 15 Oct 2017 18:57:54 +0000 HelenaSeo https://helenaseo.com/Splash-Page Hello. My name is Helena Seo. I am a design leader, team builder and product strategist. Currently I am leading the Product Design team at DoorDash. I play the roles such as: <img width="1200" height="1200" width_o="1200" height_o="1200" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/6615277138f65d6b92612815b8fd39bd5dc42fe3e8f88a13e6ae4af24ccdf08c/noun_1026441_circle.png" data-mid="5244052" border="0" data-scale="20" data-no-zoom src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/6615277138f65d6b92612815b8fd39bd5dc42fe3e8f88a13e6ae4af24ccdf08c/noun_1026441_circle.png" />OrchestraterOverseeing and strategizing the direction of the e2e product experience, working closely with cross-functional leaders. <img width="1200" height="1200" width_o="1200" height_o="1200" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/4133dec179bbba261b64de0f8e1193fec7c1a72ff084bbcde3e6fe9a361c276d/noun_878518_circle.png" data-mid="5248245" border="0" data-scale="20" data-no-zoom src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/4133dec179bbba261b64de0f8e1193fec7c1a72ff084bbcde3e6fe9a361c276d/noun_878518_circle.png" />IgniterRepresenting the design team’s vision to the company. I love igniting new ideas through engaging storytelling. <img width="1200" height="1200" width_o="1200" height_o="1200" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/0f1e107db8ea89f158a1f797a6986ecaac7056f6314cbd46621b59a5fe4b3570/noun_1141056_circle.png" data-mid="5248271" border="0" data-scale="19" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/0f1e107db8ea89f158a1f797a6986ecaac7056f6314cbd46621b59a5fe4b3570/noun_1141056_circle.png" />Champion for CustomersEvangelizing the best UX practice. I facilitate design thinking workshops for cross-functional teams to help build customer empathy. <img width="1200" height="1200" width_o="1200" height_o="1200" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/840d24e3aba7f37fa92258fd028199fb6895d5ff7ad9c2b9efa45600783cc9ea/noun_1022290_circle.png" data-mid="5244054" border="0" data-scale="19" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/840d24e3aba7f37fa92258fd028199fb6895d5ff7ad9c2b9efa45600783cc9ea/noun_1022290_circle.png" />Team BuilderDeveloping an extremely high-performing and collaborative team. I enjoy designing an org.&nbsp; My Stories @ Medium <img width="2888" height="1180" width_o="2888" height_o="1180" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/d29f7e9e237bf9815a31711e2a6a2edca31dde7eb4552c745db633e4e5f049fe/1_HxnQvYu02UhP71wKQ_PUAg.png" data-mid="77124770" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/d29f7e9e237bf9815a31711e2a6a2edca31dde7eb4552c745db633e4e5f049fe/1_HxnQvYu02UhP71wKQ_PUAg.png" /> Jan 6, 2020&nbsp; |&nbsp; 6 min read Becoming a leader as a first-generation immigrantAlthough we’re living in an era in which many companies advocate for diversity and inclusion, I am often still the only female director in the room in the tech industry.&nbsp;Even more often, I find myself to be the only first-generation immigrant who learned English as a second language. Read More <img width="1792" height="822" width_o="1792" height_o="822" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/b6f0f3a5c1b11105c1623cb882b6b827b3e74ae056480f988128a742f3192673/Screen-Shot-2019-09-09-at-10.01.43-PM.png" data-mid="50248477" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/b6f0f3a5c1b11105c1623cb882b6b827b3e74ae056480f988128a742f3192673/Screen-Shot-2019-09-09-at-10.01.43-PM.png" /> Sep 3, 2019&nbsp; |&nbsp; 7 min read “Designing” a career ladder for Product DesignSince I joined DoorDash back in January of this year, my utmost priority has been to build up the design team. Hiring is one critical part of the effort to support the company’s exponential growth, but equally important is the team’s career development. Read More <img width="1500" height="540" width_o="1500" height_o="540" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/735205feff9145ecbee0ed288a1a03ec4b31692746cdd26b7aeb0786bfb511c5/thumbnail.jpg" data-mid="28969053" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/735205feff9145ecbee0ed288a1a03ec4b31692746cdd26b7aeb0786bfb511c5/thumbnail.jpg" /> Nov 12, 2018&nbsp; |&nbsp; 9 min read 10 tips for interviewing designersAbout a year ago, I published an article, “10 interview tips I share with my designer candidates.” Spurred by the overwhelmingly positive feedback, I decided to share more interviewing tips. This time it’s for the people on the other side of the table — the people conducting the interviews. Read More <img width="2000" height="720" width_o="2000" height_o="720" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/89875d823b22460106c2a59bed12ee110ce94cf1c367033d558af5b894b843ff/1_Sl4jqfULnGTnbaK_dwuD6Q.jpg" data-mid="26774524" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/89875d823b22460106c2a59bed12ee110ce94cf1c367033d558af5b894b843ff/1_Sl4jqfULnGTnbaK_dwuD6Q.jpg" /> Jun 28, 2018&nbsp; |&nbsp; 8 min read How to design a well-designed offsite UX Design at Groupon is an organizationally-centralized but geographically-distributed team. There’s one time of year when everyone in the team — designers, researchers and content strategists — come together for our annual spring offsite. Read More <img width="2000" height="720" width_o="2000" height_o="720" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/37a7806dede7472f81d4d9cee68fb4c2e65700136d98246dd2170f78b2fd950d/1_-utXjXAJUJ1KxSSHvpBQ1A.png" data-mid="26774538" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/37a7806dede7472f81d4d9cee68fb4c2e65700136d98246dd2170f78b2fd950d/1_-utXjXAJUJ1KxSSHvpBQ1A.png" /> Feb 21, 2018&nbsp; |&nbsp; 7 min readThree ways to empower design teamHaving been in a few different organizations in my career, one common issue that I constantly hear is “Design team doesn’t have a seat at the table. We don’t feel empowered in the org.” Read More <img width="2000" height="720" width_o="2000" height_o="720" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/43422daf8f958c07e4e817ed38dcefbc7de5fe5f8063d2283f39991bc3574a11/1_8nEg27KCxK1AVuz8Tz4SfA.jpg" data-mid="26774540" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/43422daf8f958c07e4e817ed38dcefbc7de5fe5f8063d2283f39991bc3574a11/1_8nEg27KCxK1AVuz8Tz4SfA.jpg" /> Oct 6, 2017&nbsp; |&nbsp; 5 min read 10 interview tips I share with my designer candidatesAs a design leader at Groupon, the important part of my job is bringing in the best candidates for UX design, research and content strategy. I have seen a couple hundreds of candidate presentations, and hired 30+ people in my team over the last 5 years in Groupon. Read More Contact me for the recent case study examples. https://helenaseo.com/Profile Mon, 16 Oct 2017 00:46:20 +0000 HelenaSeo https://helenaseo.com/Profile Helena Seo Summary I am a Design Leader who is dedicated to fostering creative collaboration and innovative design solutions. With a strong commitment to goal-setting, I am also skilled at building high-performing teams that excel in exceeding expectations with strong craft and customer-centricity. Throughout my 20+ years of experience in user experience and brand design, I have consistently demonstrated my ability to inspire and motivate individuals towards achieving their full potential. I believe in the power of effective communication, collaboration, and hard work, and I am dedicated to making a meaningful impact in everything that I do. Experience 1/2019–Present Head of Design, DoorDashI lead Design at DoorDash. DoorDash connects people with the best in their cities by empowering local businesses and in turn, generating new ways for people to earn, work and live. It started by facilitating door-to-door delivery, but the business is growing exponentially and the possibility is limitless. I support a talent team of ~130 people in all UX functions, including Product Design, Design Infrastructure, Research, Content Strategy, and Operations. My role entails team operations, people management, product strategy, and design vision. I am well-known for advocating the cupcake product philosophy at DoorDash, which encourages the team to prioritize delivering a delightful and complete UX, even when working within a small scope to learn quickly.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; 12/2012–1/2019 Director of Consumer Experience Design, Groupon, Inc. • Building delightful and seamless cross-platform consumer experience throughout the end-to-end commerce flow from discovery and transaction/redemption to customer life-cycle engagement. Groupon mobile app made to the top 25 most-used app in the US in Q2 2016. It has won the first place for the best commerce app for two years (2015-2016) in a row, and earned consistent 4.8+ star rating in the app stores. • Working in close liaison with Product, Engineering and Marketing organizations as a part of senior leadership to strategize Groupon’s overall product vision and drive the seamless execution. • Directing/managing a talented team of 20+ members (Sr Managers and ICs) in multidisciplinary functions including Design, UX Research, and UX Content Strategy. Responsible for the day-to-day team operation including championing the user-centric design process, conducting regular design reviews, managing budget, recruiting/hiring, etc.&nbsp; • Conducting a bar-raiser role whose job is to provide an objective perspective to raise the bar in cross-functional interview and hiring process. It’s a privileged position for a selected group through rigorous nomination and screening procedure in Groupon.06/2016–Present Board of Advisors, Neuron UX Providing design guidance regularly on user experience and product business strategy to Neuron, who specializes in mobile web, military, medical and automotive domains. 06/2011–10/2012 Creative Director, Citrix Systems, Inc. • Directed and managed the in-house Creative Services team consisting Art Directors, Senior Designers, Video Producers and Project Managers in bi-coastal locations. • Led all marketing/branding design touch points in Citrix, ranging from citrix.com web initiatives, sales collateral, conferences and events, and internal communications. • Provide senior leadership across cross-functional teams in Corporate Marketing. • Received Strategic Data Thinking Award from a quarterly All-Hands.02/2010–06/2011 Lead Designer, eBay, Inc. • Directed creative design and strategy for key accounts including homepage, category landing pages, Daily Deals, advertising, merchandising and holiday campaigns worldwide. • Built/mentored internal design teams as well as manage external agencies. • Managed projects from start to finish in full-product cycles. • Received Peer Award of its first time.09/2001–02/2010 Founder &amp; Creative Director, Helena Seo Design • Operate an award-winning design studio specializing in branding development, marketing collateral, and corporate and consumer websites and mobile apps. • Work for a wide spectrum of client pool - from small start-ups to Fortune 500 companies, and from retailers and finance institutions to high-tech firms. • Responsible for all aspects of business operations from start to finish - from negotiating budget, managing schedule, recruiting the cross-functional team, concepting and visual design to execution. • Play a role as a strategic branding/design partner in client’s success of business. Select Clients include: Starbucks, Target, Intel, GM, Nokia, Helio, Kajeet, Easy Bloom, Minted, Ineke Perfume, Label Kings, Shutters Hotel, Hallmark, Birch Fine Paper, Ascend Pharmaceuticals, Stella &amp; Dot, Stanford University, Facehoop, Zenfolio, Zinio, and Vivendi Development. 2002–2004 Senior Designer, Mortensen Design • Designed corporate identities, collateral, and websites for numerous financial institutions and high-tech companies. • Led the project from conception to completion.• Interacted with clients, printers, external artists and copywriters. 2001–2002 Designer, Celery Design Collaborative Created corporate identities, websites, and marketing collateral for the clients in environmental organizations, educational institutions and PR industry. Expertise Leadership, Team Building, Management,User Experience, Product Design/Strategy,Design System, UI Design, Visual Design,Design Strategy, Design Thinking, Executive Presentation, Design Workshop Education1999–2002&nbsp; BFA in Graphic Design/Multimedia with Honor California College of The Arts, San Francisco, CA 1995–1999 &nbsp;BA in Fashion Design &amp; Merchandising with HonorEwha University, Seoul, Korea Awards How MagazinePrint MagazineAddy Awards Create Award, GoldCreativityCPC Packaging, Editor’s ChoiceThe Great Design ShowWest Coast Show Publications Step Inside Design MagazineLogo Lounge Vol. 2, 5, 81000 More Graphic Elements1000 Packaging Designs1000 Retail GraphicsFingerprint Vol. 2Really Good Packaging ExplainedReally Good Logos ExplainedDesign Matters: PackagingBig Book of Self-PromoBig Book of Business CardsBest of Brochure Design V. 10 Best of Business Card Design V. 8 Letterhead and Logo Design 9 American Corporate Identity Reference Available upon request