Before beginning my internship in Seoul, I viewed leadership as something that came from taking initiative, organizing people, and helping a group accomplish its goals. Throughout college, I had opportunities to develop these skills through class projects, campus organizations, and my role as President of Open Studio. I enjoyed bringing people together, sharing ideas, and…
Author: Tahj
Beyond Design: Developing Professional Skills Through My Internship in South Korea
When I first arrived in South Korea, I expected my internship to mainly help me improve my UX/UI design skills. While that has definitely happened, I have learned much more than I originally anticipated. Throughout my time abroad, I have developed both technical and transferable skills that will benefit me long after this internship ends….
Navigating Visibility and Ambiguity
Living and working in a new country is an ongoing lesson in adaptability. It forces you to constantly recalibrate how you read social cues, how you communicate with a professional team, and how you perceive your own presence in public spaces. By week four, the initial novelty of being abroad begins to settle into a…
“Ambiguity is the Word Here”: Navigating the Blank Spaces of a Tech Startup
The Architecture of Ambiguity Every textbook case study on UX/UI design beings with an immaculate, comprehensive creative brief. In academia, you are handed clear user personas, defined constraints, and a predictable timeline. But entering the tech startup world as an intern quickly disfigures that illusion. Ambiguity isn’t just an occasional hurdle here; it is the…
Startup Life in Seoul:
My Manager Siho breaking down a quick LinkedIn logo design concept. I think because I work in a start-up that time management is a little different than most traditional jobs. After the first two weeks, my supervisor initially had trouble figuring out what tasks I could do, and what I was suited for. It took…
First Impressions of the Fintech Industry in Seoul
Figure 1. Attending STK 2026 with members of my internship team. Industry Overview: I am spending my summer working in the fintech industry in Seoul! Before beginning my internship, I viewed fintech primarily as a combination of finance and technology, focused on building digital products that help users manage money, complete transactions, or access financial…
Prelude to Seoul!
Welcome! Thanks for stopping by. As I ready myself for the biggest adventure of my 21 years of life so far, I’m using this space to document my upcoming experience living and working abroad. Before I head off to the airport, here is a quick look at who Tahj is, and where I’m headed. Meet…
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