Hey, I'm David Hong

Hey, I'm David Hong

David Hong Profile

I’m a seasoned product designer with over 6 years of diverse experiences in designing & shipping consumer and fintech products, crafting everything from napkin startup ideas to fully regulated fintech products.

I really enjoy doing 0-1 work, taking something that doesn’t exist and turn it into something tangible that generates real value for the customer and business (not saying I don’t enjoy optimizing, in fact, that’s what I look forward the most after 0-1, where I find creative ways to make it even better).

I like to my hands dirty from discovery to delivery, from journey mapping with stakeholders, to interview with users, to creating cool designs, to QA with developers. It gets me closer to the problem and ensures to deliver the best work.

I approach my work with a strong sense of entrepreneurial mindset. I’m always thinking speed to market, cost & investment, ROI, and deliver work of highest quality, like your funds depends on it! Designing high quality products and delivering customer value is very important to me.

My biggest strength as a designer is my ability to thrive in ambiguity and uncertainty. I’m extremely nimble when it comes to adapting to unexpected situations and finding the best approach to a problem.

    • UX Design

    • Interaction Design

    • Product Strategy

    • Design Thinking

    • Task & behavioral analysis

    • Product development

    • Business design

    • Startup

    • Deep understanding of business goals and customer problems

    • Identify certain customer behaviours that needs to be changed through design

    • Define specific customer needs with clear design goals

    • Rapid prototype, test with real users, and iterate base on feedback from stakeholders and users

    • Ensure all alignment and buy-in from all key stakeholders and meet business objectives

    • Work closely with development and QA team to ensure accuracy in visuals and experience

    • Continuous improvement based on learning

    • Novice stock trading and manage personal finance (not a professional day-trader by all means)

    • Trying to finish my books (the backlog is forever expanding)

    • Going to the gym 4 times a week (I like training)

    • Enjoy long walks with my four-legged companion

IDEO U Certified

In 2023, I earned two certificate from IDEO, an award-winning design & innovation firm (designed & consulted for Apple, Microsoft, Samsung, P&G, and many more Fortune 500 companies).

On July 18, 2024, I was nominated as a key speaker representing EQ Bank and its design team at DesignX's "Designing for Fintech" conference. The event featured product leaders from major Canadian banks and fintech companies, including Scotiabank, RBC, and Intuit. My presentation, alongside my colleague, titled "Making Fintech Products Approachable," used the Notice Savings Account as one of the primary case studies.

Designing for Fintech hosted by DesignX and Intuit

Kind words from past clients

  • Working with David was a pleasure. Throughout every iteration of the UX and UI design process, he took care to incorporate our desired design direction, user personas, and feedback into the next stage that'll help us to grow and scale.

    Mio Akasako
    VP of Design at Ash Wellness

    I led the rebranding and redesign of Ash Wellness's website, focusing on B2B growth strategies. This effort contributed to the company's expansion across all 50 states by 2023, solidifying its position as a leader in the digital healthcare industry. The redesigned website played a crucial role in attracting and retaining business clients, ultimately driving Ash Wellness's rapid growth and market penetration.

  • David made the design process so easy and fun; he listened to our preferences and requests and was able to present us with a design concept that was wholly unique, scalable for growth, and incorporated our team's personalities. We highly recommend David for all your design needs!

    Jenn Chung
    Founder of Embody

    I led Embody's brand design, product positioning, and the successful launch of their signature Retinol gummies in 2020. By 2024, Embody had expanded its product line to four offerings, garnered recognition in prestigious publications like Elle and Forbes, and extended its retail presence to major platforms such as Amazon and Faire. This strategic growth demonstrates the lasting impact of our initial branding and positioning efforts.

  • I got the chance to work with David for the launch of our hot sauce brand FlavürLust. David's sense of detail in terms of taking our suggestions and executing them to reality was such a breath of fresh air compared to past designers we've worked with.

    Wallace Wong
    Founder of Six Pack Chef & Flavurlust

    I led the development of Flavurlust's consumer product from inception to launch. This comprehensive project encompassed branding, value proposition definition, consumer strategy formulation, and market introduction. Since its debut in 2020, Flavurlust has experienced significant growth, expanding its retail presence and securing a coveted spot on Amazon Canada's platform. This success story underscores the effectiveness of our initial product design and go-to-market strategy.

  • We loved working with David. He's so talented and professional and it was truly a breeze getting our store re-designed and optimized by him. Highly recommend!

    Ericka Rodriguez
    Founder of Axiology

    I led the optimization of Axiology's e-commerce platform, resulting in significantly improved conversion rates and sales growth. By 2024, leveraging the redesigned product hierarchy, Axiology Beauty successfully expanded into new product categories complementary to their core offerings. Additionally, I helped implemented subscription bundle options, further enhancing customer retention and recurring revenue streams. This strategic expansion not only diversified their product range but also strengthened their market position in the beauty industry.