About Tina Chen
A bit about me
I'm happiest when I'm making something.
Outside of product design, I'm usually exploring some other way to make things — drawing, painting, working with clay, woodworking, or experimenting with 3D printing. I love getting to know different materials and discovering what they can do.
Sometimes I start with a clear idea; other times, I just follow an experiment and see where it takes me. For me, making things is a way to explore, learn, and see the world a little differently.
Different mediums, same mindset
Whether I'm designing a digital product, drawing an illustration, or making something out of clay, I find myself coming back to three simple beliefs.
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01
Form follows function.
Whether it's a digital experience or a physical object, good design needs to work well first. It's about finding the right balance between form and function, making thoughtful trade-offs so that beauty, usability, and purpose work together.
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02
Good design is invisible.
The best design makes complexity feel simple. Countless decisions and constraints may sit behind the scenes, but the end result should feel natural, intuitive, and effortless. The user shouldn't have to work around the complexity it took to get there.
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03
Good design has character.
Functional doesn't have to mean boring. Good design should have a point of view. It can be playful, bold, expressive, or beautiful — but it should make you feel something.
How I work
Good products come from asking the right questions, making good calls, and delivering with excellent craft.
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Think beyond the brief
I like to understand the bigger picture, challenge assumptions, and connect the dots. I look beyond the immediate experience to understand the people, the systems, and how they all fit together.
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Know what matters
Not everything deserves the same amount of attention. I bring a strong product instinct to prioritizing, making trade-offs, and steering the work toward the vision.
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Make, share, and keep improving
I heavily rely on Claude Code to bring ideas to life through prototyping. I'm not precious about my designs; I share work early and often to get feedback, validate my hypotheses, and build conviction around the right direction.
A few chapters of my journey
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2018 – 2025
Ro
Healthcare, from 0 to scale
I led design for Ro's provider platform from its early stages, evolving it to support new care offerings, business models, and increasingly complex clinical workflows. I also contributed to patient-facing experiences, including at-home diagnostics.
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2014 – 2018
Bark
Consumer & ecommerce
I designed and improved key parts of Bark's ecommerce experience, from shopping and purchase flows to onboarding and subscription management, helping drive conversion and retention across its products. I also helped shape and launch new digital products and services, expanding the brand beyond its core ecommerce business.
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2012 – 2014
Qubit
Data & personalization
I worked on a B2B analytics and personalization platform, making complex data and campaign workflows easier for customers to understand and use.
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2011 – 2012
Studio Jammo
Graphic facilitation, storytelling, scenario style illustration
I'm drawn to work that has a positive impact and is made with care. I love collaborating with people who genuinely care about what they're putting into the world, challenge each other to make it better, and know how to have fun along the way.