Announcement about my Gap Year

As a Taiwanese designer with a passion for UX that dates back to my high school days, my path has been anything but conventional. Despite an unexpected detour into economics at university, my heart has always belonged to the world of design and its power to shape society.

Also, as a participant in Jamie's Gapyear Program (JGP) a unique initiative that supports young individuals in pursuing self-directed learning and personal growth outside traditional academic structures founded by Jamie Lin and Ronnie Tseng. I'm taking a year off from my studies to explore the intersection of design and open-source projects, particularly within the context of Taiwan's g0v community.

My journey with civic technology began at the age of 17 when I joined Taiwan's g0v (gov zero) community. This vibrant ecosystem of civic-minded technologists opened my eyes to the potential of ordinary people to drive meaningful social change through technology. Since then, I've been applying my design skills to address public issues, bridging the gap between complex technological solutions and the needs of everyday citizens. This experience also leads me to the opportunity to work in National Taiwan University as a design intern and contributor, with a big thanks to Max Chou

Now, as I embark on a gap year, I'm diving deeper into the intersection of design and open-source projects. My goal is to explore how design can foster positive change in open-source communities, particularly within the context of civic technology.

During this year, I plan to immerse myself in various g0v projects, gaining a deeper understanding of their design needs and challenges. Simultaneously, I'm collaborating with Superbloom a non-profit design team, to facilitate a workshop that will guide designers in contributing to open-source projects on GitHub. This initiative aims to empower more creatives to lend their skills to meaningful open-source efforts.

Beyond the workshop, I'm creating resources to help g0v and other open-source community members communicate their ideas more effectively. By streamlining the process of design contributions, I hope to make it easier for designers to engage with and enhance open-source projects.

This gap year represents more than just a break from traditional academics; it's an opportunity to create lasting impact on the civic technology landscape. By leveraging my design skills and passion for social change, I aim to strengthen the bridge between the design community and open-source initiatives, ultimately contributing to a more engaged and technologically empowered society.

As I continue this journey, I remain inspired by the power of design to transform complex ideas into accessible solutions. Through my work with g0v, Superbloom, and the broader open-source community, I hope to play a part in shaping a future where technology and design work hand in hand to address society's most pressing challenges.

Can't wait to get started