Nodes of Design#120: Ikigai - The Art of Designing Your Dream Job and Purpose with Alice Au Quan

Nodes of Design

In this enlightening episode of Nodes of Design, we dive deep into the concept of Ikigai with Alice Au Quan, exploring how this Japanese philosophy can help design a purposeful and fulfilling career. Alice shares her expertise on applying Ikigai to discover the sweet spot between passion, talent, societal needs, and financial sustainability.

We tackle common misconceptions about finding career purpose and discuss how design thinking can bridge these gaps. Alice opens up about her personal journey, revealing how she has applied Ikigai principles to navigate challenges and create a meaningful work life. We also explore actionable strategies for uncovering your passions and talents, using them as a foundation to transition into a dream career.

Listeners will gain insights on incorporating Ikigai into design practices to craft products and experiences that inspire purpose. Alice also shares her perspective on how the philosophy of Ikigai evolves in a world shaped by automation and AI. Tune in for practical wisdom and inspiration to design a career aligned with your true self!

Alice Au Quan, a design executive, futurist, and quantum thinker with an outstanding track record of driving innovation. Alice champions a human-centered, design-first approach to business, believing it can shape a better future for everyone. Over the past two decades, this belief has fueled her leadership journey, helping companies leverage cutting-edge technologies—such as Generative AI, LLMs, AR and blockchain—to identify untapped opportunities, solve user needs, and accelerate growth.

She has since held design leadership roles at global companies like Google, Walmart eCommerce, and Procter & Gamble, as well as at high-growth startups in Fintech, like Ripple where she has crafted transformative user experiences. Fun fact, she even worked on MOSAIC, the first internet browser!

A creative and business leader, Alice's career spans UX, product, and brand design, consistently delivering user value and business impact, earning her multiple patents. Her leadership philosophy is rooted in inclusivity and compassion, with Ikigai and purpose-driven leadership central to her mission.

Ways to connect with Alice:

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This podcast aims to make design education accessible to all. Nodes of Design is a non-profit and self-sponsored initiative by Tejj.

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