What I learned

This project played a key role in shaping my design philosophy.
We collaborated with Kotobuki Corp, a Japan-based company specializing in public benches and playgrounds. Until their visit, our communication was primarily through weekly Zoom meetings, where the Evolve team and I shared sketches and ideas to guide the project’s direction.

When the Kotobuki team arrived in Portland for a week, we worked closely to refine and develop the designs further. Since our official translator was unavailable, I stepped in as the primary translator between the two companies—on top of my role as a designer(It’s my native tongue!). This unexpected role gave me a deeper understanding of their thought processes and allowed me to engage with them beyond just technical discussions.
Not everything the Japanese designers said was meant to be translated—some conversations were casual or just them thinking out loud. In those moments, as I engaged with them beyond just translating, I realized how naturally my design instincts blend Japanese and Western approaches.

The Western "Yes-and" mindset fosters creativity and builds on ideas, while the Japanese "Yes-but" approach prioritizes practicality, foresees potential issues, and finds solutions early. This balance became even clearer as I navigated both roles—designer and translator—interpreting not just words but also intent, culture, and process.

By the end of the week, the Kotobuki team left our office with finalized concepts ready for manufacturing. Lastly, I left with a reinforced understanding of how my cultural exposure and technical skills uniquely shape my approach to design.