Stephen Ow🇸🇬
Design Engineer at Government
About Stephen Ow
Design Engineer at Government
👋🏻 Hello Design Community!
📍I'm currently a product designer based in Singapore with about 6+ years of experience! I’m focused on guiding people who are new to the design field or are considering a career change to design.
😮💨 Yes, it is stressful, confusing, and sometimes painful - I have personally gone through many rounds of various design interviews and personally wished someone could be a peer with me throughout this mess. I do believe that anyone can contribute to a community and would love to give back!
🥳 Feel free to talk to me about anything. If you have questions about wanting to enter this field, that UX Google Course… or just wondering if you need a formal education to enter design, let’s chat!
🤩 I have many introductory and basic free sessions as well as more indepth paid session. Do let me know what works best for you! If the timing does not works for you, don't be afraid to drop me a message, I’m flexible too! Do note that I'm only accepting serious mentees!
Expertise
Sessions with Stephen Ow
- Is Product/UIUX design for me? [Free!] (45 min): Tech layoffs. Uncertainty. A crowded job market. If you're asking yourself... is product or UI/UX design even a smart move right now?... or feeling lost in your career switch - you’re not alone. I’ve helped many career switchers navigate this exact phase. In this free session, I’ll be your thinking partner and a listening ear. Whether you need clarity, honest advice, or just someone who understands what you’re going through, I'll be here for you. You’ll walk away with: A clearer picture of whether design is right for you. Insights into how to stand out (yes, even with no design background!). An understanding of what product design's day to day touchpoints and activities are. A practical, encouraging next step. Yes not just talk but action! No fluff, no judgment, just a real conversations. Ready to talk? Sign up now!
- How to Craft a Portfolio? [Basic Free!] (60 min): Hi design community! I believe that each portfolio is always unique but it should be tailored to get your foot into the door for an interview! In this review session, I will help to review your portfolio and give feedback and actionable tips on what hiring/HR managers look out for when hiring designers. Do note that for first-timers, the 45-minute total session would be... 5 minutes for introductions, the next 30 minutes for some portfolio introduction + tips, last 10 minutes for Q&A. For a deeper indepth session on portfolio review, do book a paid "Portfolio Revamp & Review" session. Let's take actionable steps to improve your portfolio!
- Soft skills in design [Free for now!] (45 min): Design isn’t just about beautiful interfaces,it’s about empathy, communication, collaboration, and the ability to navigate ambiguity. In this session, we’ll dive into the soft skills that elevate your design craft and set you apart in a team. From giving and receiving feedback to building influence and managing stakeholders, let’s talk about the human side of design that’s just as crucial as your Figma file.
- Let's chat anything about design [Free!] (45 min): Let's talk about anything and everything under the sun about design! :) *If this is your first session with me, please book this time slot! What to expect: 5mins introduction 10mins your thoughts about your design/ design career 35mins my thoughts and recommendations 10mins summary/ key takeaways/ resources. I'm flexible, so let me know! What are you waiting for, sign up now!
- Portfolio Review & Revamp [Advanced] (60 min): In these mentorship, we'll review your existing portfolio and provide constructive feedback for improvement. You'll receive guidance on enhancing visual appeal, organizing content, and targeting specific audiences. This is a 3-part session: 1. Portfolio Review: Hand me your existing porfolio; and I'll give you a quick review of it. Understanding the foundations of a good portfolio; Purpose of a portfolio, being smart about use-cases, your target users, using the 3Cs, Answer-first vs Design Thinking and the skills to revamp it. 2. Picking up from what you have learned; Let's start by re-vamping a case-study together. 3. Revamping the overall portfolio with improved case-studies. Why Work With Me? I’ve mentored 100+ people globally, including many career switchers who successfully landed roles at tech companies and startups. Revamp your portfolio to make a lasting impression and increase your chances of landing dream projects or job opportunities. Let's talk to find out more! What are you waiting for? Sign up now!
- Design Career Transition Success (60 min): Transitioning to a new career path can be both exciting and challenging. In this mentorship series, I'll provide guidance and support to navigate this change with confidence through a 3 part session. 3 part session: Session 1: Introduction and identifying underlying motivations and practical tips Session 2: Following up on practical tips, portfolio creation overview and design interview introduction Session 3: Following up on updated portfolio, mini- mock interview and next steps moving forward From identifying transferable skills to setting achievable career goals, interview and portfolio tips to actual practice, you'll gain the tools and confidence needed to successfully transition into a rewarding new career and seize opportunities for growth and advancement. Why Work With Me? I’ve mentored 100+ people globally, including many career switchers who successfully landed roles at tech companies and startups. Sounds good? Sign up now! If you are interested in an indepth mock interview session, do sign up for "Conquering Design Job Interviews".
What mentees say
“Had a really great session with Stephen! He is so nice, kind, and incredibly generous with his time and knowledge. He shared very honest insights about the design industry and gave practical advice on portfolios, case studies, and how to approach real-world problem solving.”
“My session with Stephen was great, I did not engage him for a UX topic but more to understand the green tech industry, career navigations and stakeholder alignment. We had fruitful discussions and I enjoyed the dept and maturity of his perspectives Id recommend Stephen for topics beyond UX and look forward to my next session with him”
“Stephen is the most structured, knowledgeable, and insightful designer I've met. He quickly immerses himself in problems, intuitively providing well-prepared solutions. He's also a great mentor, making him someone truly interesting to work with.”