Interview with Piyaphon Inthavong

Piyaphon Inthavong ("PI") interviewed on Saturday, 31 May.

Could you please tell us about your experience as a designer, artist, architect or creator?

PI : I have spent the past ten years in design, with the past six years focused on product design. I am currently the Design Lead at Snappymob, where I guide multi-disciplinary teams on projects for clients such as JBI, AEON, GoHub, ITTO, Atlas and more. My foundation comes from a UI/UX degree at Taylor’s University, supported by continuous self-study and real-world projects that began in my hometown, freelance, and international clients, working directly with the CEO of Printify and others businesses.

How did you become a designer?

PI : Drawing was my childhood refuge, but design felt distant until I saw a MacBook in 2012. Apple’s attention to detail showed me design’s power to shape feeling and function. I volunteered for local businesses, then pursued formal study, and continuously learned from industry mentors like Chris Do and Don Norman to broaden my view. That mix of community work, education and passion set me on this path.

What are your priorities, technique and style when designing?

PI : My work is grounded in design thinking. I always start by understanding user needs, business goals, and technical limits before opening any design tools. This helps ensure every decision is purposeful. Throughout the design process, I rely on rapid iteration, which involves sketching ideas, testing early with users, and refining as I go. This helps me learn users pain points and needs quickly and build better solutions. Visually, I focus on clarity, applying UX and heuristics principles to ensure the highest level of usability for my design solution. Most importantly, I listen to users feedback and staying adaptive according to project’s needs and limitations.