James shared insights from his design career experience with students in the professional development course at Kwantlen Polytechnic University.
On February 25, 2026, our art director, James Byun, spoke to students at Kwantlen Polytechnic University’s (KPU) Wilson School of Design about his design and user experience (UX) career path. He covered:
- How his skills evolved from early-stage designer to creative leadership—moving from heavy focus on technical execution to providing strategic value beyond doing the work.
- The interplay between design and development in UX work: “The big secret is communication. Learn to speak the same language, put aside egos, provide context, don’t assume people can read what you’re thinking.”
- His best tips for landing that first job: “Connect the dots as to why you’re a good fit. Be confident in yourself, stand on the value you bring, but don’t be arrogant.”
- What he wishes someone had told him when he was starting out: “Understand your ‘why.’ Why do you design? Why do you want to do this as a career? It’s hard to get a job, but understanding your why helps you to keep going, especially with how much the landscape is changing.”
The front-end development for interactive students finish their program with a professional development course—preparing them to join the workforce while completing their capstone projects.
Sharing our experiences is one of the ways OXD supports the next generation of local design and development professionals.