For me, the journey of Nimble Spaces was a precious learning experience, beginning with user research and eventually involving me in client negotiation and project implementation. Collaborating with teammates with engineering and business backgrounds, I was able to learn from each of them on various aspects including leadership, critical thinking, and persistence, and got inspired by their opinions from different perspectives.

As startup founders, we each wear multiple hats, and in addition to product design, my role was to keep in regular communication with our pilot location client to learn. These conversations were crucial for us to receive their feedback and think up even more ways to innovate and improve our concept in the future.  On the business side, I had to skill up in terms of social media marketing and business strategy. Besides, I also have developed my problem-solving abilities in different scenarios. Specifically, I created a volunteer program for our company and recruited 6 volunteers from the M.Arch program at UC Berkeley to support local businesses and build the parklet with us. I feel grateful for the sours and sweets that have happened to me, and I believe that going forward this kind of doubled experience, as a  designer and an entrepreneur, will help me to be a better colleague and a better innovator.