For BA in User Experience and Game Design graduate Jerrold Wong, good design has always been about more than just aesthetics. It is about clarity, impact, and creating experiences that truly make people’s lives easier. This philosophy shapes the way he approaches every problem as an associate product designer at fintech company Aspire, whether he is refining core product flows or contributing to long-term design choices that support thousands of businesses.
Aspire is a Singapore-based fintech company that simplifies services like payments, cards, and expense tracking for businesses on a single platform. Jerrold has always had an interest in the fintech industry and chanced upon Aspire during his job search. Reading about their mission to simplify complex financial operations through intuitive digital solutions and clean designs resonated strongly with him, eventually solidifying his decision to join Aspire.
In his current role, Jerrold’s responsibilities span the entire product design lifecycle. His day-to-day work includes contributing to quarterly product initiatives, maintaining Aspire’s Net Promoter Score (NPS) systems — a metric that measures customer loyalty and satisfaction — and supporting user research and design system efforts. It’s a multifaceted role that requires balancing creativity with strategic thinking. But at the end of the day, every task ties back to the same core goal of his work: improving the experience for real users.
One of the aspects that Jerrold enjoys most about his work is tackling difficult or ambiguous design problems. He explains that he sometimes receives briefs that may not be clear or where real issues are not immediately obvious. In such instances, a skill that he learned from his DigiPen days proves particularly valuable: the ability to analyze and break down complex problems into manageable parts. “In such cases, I apply this skill by identifying the potential root causes and addressing them through design iterations, always with the user’s central problem in mind,” Jerrold says. This systematic approach to problem-solving — which is a core principle emphasized throughout DigiPen (Singapore)’s project-focused curriculum — has become fundamental to how Jerrold approaches every task and project.
Working in fintech has also taught Jerrold that product design extends far beyond just aesthetics. “Most people misunderstand and think of product design as just the visual or experiential aspects of a product, but it also involves aligning with business objectives and regulatory constraints,” he explains. “In fintech especially, understanding business goals, legal compliance, and user needs together is crucial to building sustainable solutions.”
Despite finding deep satisfaction in his role, the work is not without its challenges. Working on long-term projects that have evolving requirements and architecture can be difficult to navigate. In order to stay grounded, Jerrold says collaboration and communication are key. “I work closely with my product managers and other designers for feedback and clarity,” he says. “Above all, maintaining clear and consistent communication helps prevent misalignments and keeps progress steady.” This is an aspect of Jerrold’s work that he values deeply — exchanging feedback, enhancing ideas, and learning from each other with every design iteration.
For anyone considering a similar career path, Jerrold offers some advice rooted in his own experiences so far. The first is having the will and interest to press ahead since product design often involves complexity and ambiguity. When in doubt, do not hesitate to reach out to mentors or peers for guidance and advice. Last but most importantly, remember who you are designing for. “Always advocate for your users — they’re at the heart of every great design.”