Zicheng Gu
@zichenggu.bsky.social
A Chinese🇨🇳 designer around the 🌍 currently in Seattle
meeting people and building connections lately
https://oorange.design
meeting people and building connections lately
https://oorange.design
Tools impact the produce:
Show up with an iPhone, you're thinking about sharing.
Show up with a film camera, you're thinking about saving film and you're spending more time composing.
Show up with a digital SLR, you take a whole bunch of pictures and hope something's going to turn out.
💬 Bob Baxley
Show up with an iPhone, you're thinking about sharing.
Show up with a film camera, you're thinking about saving film and you're spending more time composing.
Show up with a digital SLR, you take a whole bunch of pictures and hope something's going to turn out.
💬 Bob Baxley
July 2, 2025 at 3:17 AM
Tools impact the produce:
Show up with an iPhone, you're thinking about sharing.
Show up with a film camera, you're thinking about saving film and you're spending more time composing.
Show up with a digital SLR, you take a whole bunch of pictures and hope something's going to turn out.
💬 Bob Baxley
Show up with an iPhone, you're thinking about sharing.
Show up with a film camera, you're thinking about saving film and you're spending more time composing.
Show up with a digital SLR, you take a whole bunch of pictures and hope something's going to turn out.
💬 Bob Baxley
I've been playing with Figma Make lately and have come up with a small tool: done-pluck-41161742.figma.site
The initial idea is to decorate the letter and give typography another layer of expression. Would love to hear any feedback! And thank you for playing with it :D
The initial idea is to decorate the letter and give typography another layer of expression. Would love to hear any feedback! And thank you for playing with it :D
Letter Craft Lab
A site
done-pluck-41161742.figma.site
June 24, 2025 at 10:34 PM
I've been playing with Figma Make lately and have come up with a small tool: done-pluck-41161742.figma.site
The initial idea is to decorate the letter and give typography another layer of expression. Would love to hear any feedback! And thank you for playing with it :D
The initial idea is to decorate the letter and give typography another layer of expression. Would love to hear any feedback! And thank you for playing with it :D
Figma Draw is really good! I tried GPT4o first, but no matter what prompt I gave, it didn't generate the image that matched what I had in mind...(p2), so I decided to give Figma Draw a try, and can't believe I draw well with just my finger on the trackpad! (p3)
May 21, 2025 at 9:27 PM
Figma Draw is really good! I tried GPT4o first, but no matter what prompt I gave, it didn't generate the image that matched what I had in mind...(p2), so I decided to give Figma Draw a try, and can't believe I draw well with just my finger on the trackpad! (p3)
A random learning: long press any letter on your keyboard and it will let you pick the tone for it, a very hidden by handy feature. Is it new? how come it took me years to discover it?
Now I can type Chinese pinyin: Dà Jiā Hǎo 😆
Now I can type Chinese pinyin: Dà Jiā Hǎo 😆
May 14, 2025 at 5:35 PM
A random learning: long press any letter on your keyboard and it will let you pick the tone for it, a very hidden by handy feature. Is it new? how come it took me years to discover it?
Now I can type Chinese pinyin: Dà Jiā Hǎo 😆
Now I can type Chinese pinyin: Dà Jiā Hǎo 😆
I've been to some networking/meetup events lately, and there are 2 moments that I felt instant connection.
1. When someone asked: Can I pick your brain on...(a serious topic) and the other person shared some beach photos and her upcoming Italy trip, after answering that serious question.
1. When someone asked: Can I pick your brain on...(a serious topic) and the other person shared some beach photos and her upcoming Italy trip, after answering that serious question.
May 12, 2025 at 11:30 PM
I've been to some networking/meetup events lately, and there are 2 moments that I felt instant connection.
1. When someone asked: Can I pick your brain on...(a serious topic) and the other person shared some beach photos and her upcoming Italy trip, after answering that serious question.
1. When someone asked: Can I pick your brain on...(a serious topic) and the other person shared some beach photos and her upcoming Italy trip, after answering that serious question.
I used Figma to make a video simply by applying After delay trigger in the prototype. It's not the most stunning, but it really solves the problem since I only have 1 day to finish it.
May 12, 2025 at 10:39 PM
I used Figma to make a video simply by applying After delay trigger in the prototype. It's not the most stunning, but it really solves the problem since I only have 1 day to finish it.
Should I reach out to someone I haven't talked to in years? The longer we wait, the more intimidating it feels. Living in imagination and overthinking wastes precious time.
Just taking action is often the best way to move forward and improve life's efficiency.
Just taking action is often the best way to move forward and improve life's efficiency.
May 8, 2025 at 2:09 PM
Should I reach out to someone I haven't talked to in years? The longer we wait, the more intimidating it feels. Living in imagination and overthinking wastes precious time.
Just taking action is often the best way to move forward and improve life's efficiency.
Just taking action is often the best way to move forward and improve life's efficiency.
I have been attending startup-related events since March in London and Seattle, and I love it. Not a time leaving an event without building meaningful connections while feeling inspired.
April 11, 2025 at 3:37 PM
I have been attending startup-related events since March in London and Seattle, and I love it. Not a time leaving an event without building meaningful connections while feeling inspired.
💬 From Docusign co-founder Court Lorenzini
1. Share advice with others can be wrong but share experiences will not.
2. The best possible way to build is built with as little capital as possible and to be profitable from day 1. Funding is just a tool not the objective.
1. Share advice with others can be wrong but share experiences will not.
2. The best possible way to build is built with as little capital as possible and to be profitable from day 1. Funding is just a tool not the objective.
April 11, 2025 at 3:31 PM
💬 From Docusign co-founder Court Lorenzini
1. Share advice with others can be wrong but share experiences will not.
2. The best possible way to build is built with as little capital as possible and to be profitable from day 1. Funding is just a tool not the objective.
1. Share advice with others can be wrong but share experiences will not.
2. The best possible way to build is built with as little capital as possible and to be profitable from day 1. Funding is just a tool not the objective.
A perfect example of misalignment - when two people discuss the same concept but mean different things. My tennis coach said I should be in a ready position as soon as I know how to respond to the ball. p1 = his "Ready," and p2 = my "Ready". I make a big improvement after the alignment is made.
April 1, 2025 at 4:59 PM
A perfect example of misalignment - when two people discuss the same concept but mean different things. My tennis coach said I should be in a ready position as soon as I know how to respond to the ball. p1 = his "Ready," and p2 = my "Ready". I make a big improvement after the alignment is made.
Next time when hiring manager asks how I make trade-offs:
🍨 I mix 3 tablespoons of ice cream with half of an avocado 🥑
That way I get a LARGE bowl of delight without overconsuming saturated fat and sugar.
Still tastes unbelievably good!
🍨 I mix 3 tablespoons of ice cream with half of an avocado 🥑
That way I get a LARGE bowl of delight without overconsuming saturated fat and sugar.
Still tastes unbelievably good!
April 1, 2025 at 11:52 AM
Next time when hiring manager asks how I make trade-offs:
🍨 I mix 3 tablespoons of ice cream with half of an avocado 🥑
That way I get a LARGE bowl of delight without overconsuming saturated fat and sugar.
Still tastes unbelievably good!
🍨 I mix 3 tablespoons of ice cream with half of an avocado 🥑
That way I get a LARGE bowl of delight without overconsuming saturated fat and sugar.
Still tastes unbelievably good!
Lately craving: simmer the milk with 1 egg, 1 date or jujube, handful of goji berry, rose petals.
This warming drink replenishes qi and blood according to Chinese wisdom.
This warming drink replenishes qi and blood according to Chinese wisdom.
March 22, 2025 at 9:51 PM
Lately craving: simmer the milk with 1 egg, 1 date or jujube, handful of goji berry, rose petals.
This warming drink replenishes qi and blood according to Chinese wisdom.
This warming drink replenishes qi and blood according to Chinese wisdom.
Sometimes you have to make the mistake to understand the solution. 💡
A 16px icon and a 16px icon in a 24px frame look identical at first, but those "unnecessary" padding helps create consistent touch and hover areas, which is very necessary.
A 16px icon and a 16px icon in a 24px frame look identical at first, but those "unnecessary" padding helps create consistent touch and hover areas, which is very necessary.
March 22, 2025 at 12:10 AM
Sometimes you have to make the mistake to understand the solution. 💡
A 16px icon and a 16px icon in a 24px frame look identical at first, but those "unnecessary" padding helps create consistent touch and hover areas, which is very necessary.
A 16px icon and a 16px icon in a 24px frame look identical at first, but those "unnecessary" padding helps create consistent touch and hover areas, which is very necessary.
I like this quote from 💬 Nad Chishtie
March 9, 2025 at 5:56 PM
I like this quote from 💬 Nad Chishtie
Most of the websites look familiar, but they touch no emotions and leave no memories. Digital magnetism is not magic or a recipe; it is what you achieve when you have authenticity, charisma, energy, and beauty.
💬 Mirek Nisenbaum
💬 Mirek Nisenbaum
March 7, 2025 at 11:13 PM
Most of the websites look familiar, but they touch no emotions and leave no memories. Digital magnetism is not magic or a recipe; it is what you achieve when you have authenticity, charisma, energy, and beauty.
💬 Mirek Nisenbaum
💬 Mirek Nisenbaum
Compared to lengthy videos explaining design principles verbally, I found these bite-sized tutorials showing step-by-step visual changes incredibly helpful. Seeing the transformation unfold makes a huge difference in understanding effective visual design practices.
www.linkedin.com/in/zanderwhi...
www.linkedin.com/in/zanderwhi...
LinkedIn Login, Sign in | LinkedIn
Login to LinkedIn to keep in touch with people you know, share ideas, and build your career.
www.linkedin.com
March 5, 2025 at 10:27 AM
Compared to lengthy videos explaining design principles verbally, I found these bite-sized tutorials showing step-by-step visual changes incredibly helpful. Seeing the transformation unfold makes a huge difference in understanding effective visual design practices.
www.linkedin.com/in/zanderwhi...
www.linkedin.com/in/zanderwhi...
👀 Is there a community specifically for founding designers or solo designers? As someone navigating this role myself, I feel the challenges of working without design peers.
If such a community doesn't exist, would others in similar positions be interested in building one?
If such a community doesn't exist, would others in similar positions be interested in building one?
March 2, 2025 at 9:30 PM
👀 Is there a community specifically for founding designers or solo designers? As someone navigating this role myself, I feel the challenges of working without design peers.
If such a community doesn't exist, would others in similar positions be interested in building one?
If such a community doesn't exist, would others in similar positions be interested in building one?
In the era of AI, Taste (What to Do) > Skill (How to Do)
💬 Scott Belsky
💬 Scott Belsky
February 26, 2025 at 8:52 PM
In the era of AI, Taste (What to Do) > Skill (How to Do)
💬 Scott Belsky
💬 Scott Belsky
If I can only share one takeaway from Julie Zhuo's speech: How to win friends and influence decisions:
💡 Document decisions, predictions, and reasoning. Then set calendar reminders to revisit the outcomes at 1, 3, and 6 months.
💡 Document decisions, predictions, and reasoning. Then set calendar reminders to revisit the outcomes at 1, 3, and 6 months.
February 26, 2025 at 6:22 PM
If I can only share one takeaway from Julie Zhuo's speech: How to win friends and influence decisions:
💡 Document decisions, predictions, and reasoning. Then set calendar reminders to revisit the outcomes at 1, 3, and 6 months.
💡 Document decisions, predictions, and reasoning. Then set calendar reminders to revisit the outcomes at 1, 3, and 6 months.
Realizing how design can be connected between the digital and physical world was an aha moment for me. Just as protruding buttons cast shadows in real life, UI shadows help us instantly recognize clickable elements and hierarchy when things are 2D.
February 21, 2025 at 7:58 PM
Realizing how design can be connected between the digital and physical world was an aha moment for me. Just as protruding buttons cast shadows in real life, UI shadows help us instantly recognize clickable elements and hierarchy when things are 2D.
When using auto layout with strokes, always choose "Include Strokes" over "Exclude Strokes"! (a kinda hidden setting)
While they look identical, excluded strokes will cause mismatched width/height when translating to code.
#designtips #uxdesign
While they look identical, excluded strokes will cause mismatched width/height when translating to code.
#designtips #uxdesign
February 21, 2025 at 6:41 PM
When using auto layout with strokes, always choose "Include Strokes" over "Exclude Strokes"! (a kinda hidden setting)
While they look identical, excluded strokes will cause mismatched width/height when translating to code.
#designtips #uxdesign
While they look identical, excluded strokes will cause mismatched width/height when translating to code.
#designtips #uxdesign
People fabricated the emotion of anger. When you lack the patience to have a peaceful discussion, or when you want people to listen to what you have to say. You opt for anger as a shortcut to make them submit to you.
what I learned from *The Courage to Be Disliked*
what I learned from *The Courage to Be Disliked*
February 18, 2025 at 11:34 PM
People fabricated the emotion of anger. When you lack the patience to have a peaceful discussion, or when you want people to listen to what you have to say. You opt for anger as a shortcut to make them submit to you.
what I learned from *The Courage to Be Disliked*
what I learned from *The Courage to Be Disliked*
TIL from Ryo Lu:
1. system thinking enables users to build things they want with simple blocks without asking the support team to build the feature for them
2. when you build products that serve so many different use cases, you need to find the system to tie different users’ mental models
1. system thinking enables users to build things they want with simple blocks without asking the support team to build the feature for them
2. when you build products that serve so many different use cases, you need to find the system to tie different users’ mental models
February 10, 2025 at 11:00 PM
TIL from Ryo Lu:
1. system thinking enables users to build things they want with simple blocks without asking the support team to build the feature for them
2. when you build products that serve so many different use cases, you need to find the system to tie different users’ mental models
1. system thinking enables users to build things they want with simple blocks without asking the support team to build the feature for them
2. when you build products that serve so many different use cases, you need to find the system to tie different users’ mental models
🎨 Come and play with the Visitor page on my site! lnkd.in/gv-NGttA
I've created a collaborative canvas where every visitor can leave their mark. Each person adds their unique stroke to the evolving artwork before passing the brush to the next creator. Join the fun and add your signature style!
I've created a collaborative canvas where every visitor can leave their mark. Each person adds their unique stroke to the evolving artwork before passing the brush to the next creator. Join the fun and add your signature style!
February 5, 2025 at 2:57 PM
🎨 Come and play with the Visitor page on my site! lnkd.in/gv-NGttA
I've created a collaborative canvas where every visitor can leave their mark. Each person adds their unique stroke to the evolving artwork before passing the brush to the next creator. Join the fun and add your signature style!
I've created a collaborative canvas where every visitor can leave their mark. Each person adds their unique stroke to the evolving artwork before passing the brush to the next creator. Join the fun and add your signature style!
Just discovered calligraphr.com - it turns your handwriting into a custom font! 🤯 Used it for my personal site and love how it adds that personal touch. Its UI may look old-fashioned but it gets the job done perfectly! Give it a try.
#uxdesign #DesignHacks
#uxdesign #DesignHacks
February 2, 2025 at 8:01 PM
Just discovered calligraphr.com - it turns your handwriting into a custom font! 🤯 Used it for my personal site and love how it adds that personal touch. Its UI may look old-fashioned but it gets the job done perfectly! Give it a try.
#uxdesign #DesignHacks
#uxdesign #DesignHacks