Between the Brackets: Mo Chen, Designer

Welcome to Between the Brackets [ ] where you meet the beautiful people that make Webstacks! Last month, you met our Recruiting Coordinator Nicole Zayas.

Today, we introduce you to one of our top designers on the team, Taylor Swift enthusiast, and Football fanatic Mo Chen!

About Mo

Mo! Mo! Mo! We’re happy to have you on this edition of Between the Brackets. Let’s start by telling us about yourself:

👋 I’m a current San Diegan born in China, grew up in Singapore, and moved to California in 2001. My passions include playing funky tunes on my guitar and bass, co-op gaming with my fiancée, eating all the fried chicken, and getting angry when my team doesn't perform in fantasy football.

One thing is for sure: Mo is a terrific designer! Did you have Design experience before Webstacks?

This is my very first role as a Designer working in the tech industry! I’m incredibly grateful, and still in disbelief, to be here.

Before Webstacks, I was a middle school science teacher for 10 years working with English learners in predominantly underserved communities.

It’s funny how much teaching and design go hand-in-hand. It’s all about communication and empathy to understand the needs of your student clients to help them succeed.

Would you rather use Figma Design or InVision for the rest of your life?

Figma. Easy. Figma is the first tool I learned when transitioning to design.

Not only is it free and accessible, but they also continue to make amazing quality-of-life updates and add new features that make me feel like a kid on Christmas morning.

Not to mention, the community plug-ins are killer—everything about the tool is just so good.

Design at Webstacks

Can you tell us a little bit about what you do as a Designer? Tell us about your day-to-day.

I’m currently working on projects for three clients. My day usually starts with a couple of stand-up meetings where we check in on the progress of our active sprints.

Then it’s design time! I have most of my afternoons to focus on my tasks. It’s important to note that design doesn’t happen in a vacuum though.

There’s a healthy dose of Slack messaging with our amazing developers on what design features we can pull off.

I also love collaborating with the rest of our Webstacks design team during our daily Design Critique sessions to gather their feedback and ideas.

What’s one thing you’ve learned to value more as you grow in your career at Webstacks?

I am appreciative of the open and supportive communication at Webstacks. Everyone and I mean everyone, from CEO to HR to project managers to developers, is so easy to talk to.

Anytime I have a question, I know I can reach out and get exactly what I need. I’ve learned so much just by talking to my fellow Webstackers.

What do you think is one of the most underrated skills to have as a Designer?

Receiving feedback. I believe the best way to improve as a designer is to keep an open mind and be receptive to constructive criticism. There’s a tremendous value, even from opinions I disagree with, that can be channeled towards creating better results.

What is your favorite part of your day-to-day?

I know I mentioned it earlier already, but Design Critiques are the best. Even though they are optional, I try to attend every day because it’s a great way to:

1. Hang out with the rest of the design team, such as Sr. Designer Kate Kassab.

2. Get inspired by their work.

3. Receive feedback on what you’ve been working on.

The Wrap Up

What has been your favorite experience so far at Webstacks?

This may feel like a cop-out answer but my favorite experience so far is just being at Webstacks. The work environment and culture are so drastically different from what I’ve been accustomed to in all the best ways. I enjoy the work that I do and that is something that cannot be understated.

Finally, what is a piece of advice for someone who may consider applying to Webstacks?

Do it! As a career transitioner, Webstacks is an ideal place to learn and grow. If you are the kind of person who likes fun, supportive, and talented coworkers, you’ll find them here.

It’s been an absolute blast so far and I’m excited for what the future holds as Webstacks continues to grow! Check out the Webstacks Careers page to see our open positions!

Editor's note: Webstacks is a full-stack marketing agency founded in 2020 that helps businesses accelerate growth by offering creative, marketing, development, and other services at scale. Webstacks is based in San Diego, California, with 30+ employees across the states. For business inquiries, please email hello@webstacks.com.