“I’m always learning new things, exercising new skills, and thinking through interesting challenges:” Amy Luo on Leveling Up at Lattice
Amy Luo is a Senior Product Designer at Lattice, where she’s worked for over a year. Here, we talk to her about her journey to Product Design (it involves dogs), her favorite Slack channel at work, and how she has grown professionally since joining Lattice.
How did you get started in Product Design?
Growing up, I was always the “artsy kid” and loved drawing (and dogs – I drew a lot of dogs). As I got older, I started spending time on the internet and dreamed about making my own website. Since I liked dogs so much, I was very into virtual pets, like Neopets and the Petz PC games. A family friend gave me a copy of Photoshop and I taught myself HTML to design and code up websites for my virtual pets.
I eventually got a degree in Visual Communications and found myself drawn to product design and user experience because the crossover between art and psychology was so interesting to me.
What drew you to Lattice?
On a surface level, I just liked the design. Being a designer and having used other workplace tools in the HR space that have poor user experiences and unpolished UI, Lattice really stood out as a product that had a high level of craftsmanship and thoughtful intent behind it.
On a deeper level, I related with Lattice’s mission and values – that work shouldn’t have to be a pain, especially when we spend so much of our time in a work setting day-to-day.
What’s your favorite part of working here?
I know everyone says this, but working with a group of genuinely kind and intelligent people is an absolute joy. Beyond the people, I also love the growth-mindedness of the culture. I’ve seen noticeable personal and professional growth in myself in the time I’ve worked at Lattice, more than I’ve experienced in previous roles. I feel like I’m always learning new things, exercising new skills, and thinking through interesting challenges, so I never feel stagnant or bored.
What ERGs are you a member of?
LOUD (Latticians Organizing for Unity and Diversity) and Lattice Ladies!
Favorite Lattice Slack Channel and why?
#soc-emoji-enthusiasts! I am very passionate about Slack emojis and am continuously adding to my personal collection. I love seeing all the new/fun/weird emojis people add.
What’s something you’re passionate about outside of your job?
Besides Slack emojis? I really like stories, so I enjoy reading books and watching TV shows in my spare time. I’ve fallen behind on my reading since I haven’t commuted in the last year, but my newfound obsession with Korean dramas has helped fill the extensive time I spend at home during the pandemic.
How do you think Lattice has helped you grow in your career?
Having a consistent and positive feedback loop between me and my coworkers has helped me overcome some of the imposter syndrome and uncertainty I’ve struggled with in the past. As I progressed in my career, I sometimes felt stuck and didn't know what to do next to become a better designer or a more effective leader. Having clear feedback and growth areas, as well as support and coaching from my manager, has helped me navigate through the ambiguity.
Best day at work?
The Design team did a virtual offsite last December to reflect back on the year together and look ahead to plan for 2021. It was fun and cathartic to revisit all the things that had happened, celebrate our wins, and commiserate together on shared struggles. We also played games in between working sessions and learned how to make cheese as a team activity to end the day.
My cheese turned out sooooo good, by the way.
Cheez Its or Goldfish?
Goldfish because they’re shaped like little fish – so cute! But in terms of cheese crackers, I prefer Ritz Bits with cheese.
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