The current chapter in my career.
2023 - currently
Felix Lau's user avatar on Candor
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3 Takes

Teammates might misunderstand me as...

Not invested.

I am – I can run parallel threads at once in my head.
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The nomadic lifestyle doesn't impact his productivity AT ALL.
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It's directness, not coldness.
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3
I really admire teammates who… cover image
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2 Takes

I really admire teammates who are…

Straight forward, honest, and very hard-working.
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self-motivated, curious, kind, and confident in their craft.
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1
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2 Takes

Best way to get me excited about something

Give me the largest, most ambiguous problem to solve
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Share the big picture and vision
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3
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2 Takes

One thing that might surprise you about me…

He can be very creative and generative if you push him.
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I sometimes unknowingly repeat what you say thinking it's my own thought.
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3
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John Faulkner-Willcocks

Teammates say when Felix is stressed, they might…

Be quite short, abrupt, and impatient to move forwards.

Ask him what's up, offer to help, hop in Figma and help share the problem.

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Felix Lau

😬😧🥴 Recently went outside my comfort zone…

Contract renegotiations

It's the same as learning how to ask for a raise, except depending on the client they might see you as even more expendable and undeserving of any more than what was initially agreed upon – even if it was years ago

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Felix Lau

Proud moment

Candor profiles are now full, beautiful, honest and informative!!

Having the right flow that encourages everyone to fill their profile fully has been months in the making. So happy to see people doing that organically now.

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Felix Lau

A fun fact about me is…

I used to play a lot (10,000 lifetime hours probably) of video games

I see a lot of parallels in product design and so many patterns in the games I've played. Even Candor right now is heavily informed by deck-building rogue lites etc

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Felix Lau

Something that drives me crazy 😵‍💫 🤬

Pointless sync meetings that break up my productivity blocks

If it could've just been an email, some slack messages, comments on figma or shortcut, or it could've just waited til our next pre-scheduled meeting... why do sync? It takes about 1 hour to get into whatever I'm doing and to break that up is very disruptive!

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Felix Lau

My Achilles Heel is…

Procrastination

It's the hardest for me to just get started, so often I really do just put something to paper as quickly as possible. Otherwise I'll just never get around to it!

2
Things I want to learn cover image
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Felix Lau

Things I'd love to learn

Spanish, Rive, Woodworking

I've been travelling to mostly Spanish speaking countries and forcing myself to use it. Rive will bring my animation background into my product design practice. Woodworking because it's the analog thing I want to do!

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2 Takes

I learn best by…

blocking time to do it1
doing it1
hearing someone explain it1
writing it down1
taking a course1
1
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2 Takes

I work best as a…

Functional executor: They love driving projects from the ground up. Doing the task gets them fired up.1
Some mix of execution and strategy. I love doing tasks and the high-level strategy conversations.1
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5 Takes

What I'm like at work

Hard Working5
Analytical4
Confident4
Creative3
Curious3
More…
4
Motivations cover image
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2 Takes

Things that deeply motivate me…

Having unique experiences ✨2
Making money💰2
Getting things done ✅2
Having a good time 🕺1
Learning as much as they can 🤓1
More…
2
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2 Takes

I'm energized at work by…

getting sh*t done.2
async2
solving problems2
jam sessions1
building stuff1
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3 Takes

I like to get feedback when its given…

in the moment2
just tell them1
idc just tell me1
with examples1
with context1
1
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Felix Lau

My workplace

Felix Lau's workplace setup

Warm weather, blue skies, being in proximity to mountains or trees, and good coffee.

3
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Felix Lau

My biggest fear

Having no meaning or being insignificant and mundaneBeing trapped, deprived/limited, or in painBeing weak, controlled, powerless

I have a strong sense of what is just and unjust. If teammates, and especially managers, "get away with" or even be supported for behaviours that I wouldn't want to see in my work culture — I instantly want to detach from and maybe even leave a workplace. Red flag behaviours: PMs talking about my work but doing a poor job of it (just let me present smh); meeting cultures dominated by just one or two voices; "better than thou" management that won't give you the time of day; taking credit for my work

3
Values cover image
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Felix Lau

My core values

AchievementAutonomyCreativityFairnessSuccess

Achievement and success has always been a core motivation for me. (Lack of) fairness in the workplace has emerged as something I react strongly to – including just treating others with kindness. Autonomy and creativity balances out achievement and fairness – when the two sides are in harmony I'm happy!

5
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Felix Lau

The best environment for me is:

time for deep work in the AMzero meetingsdeep work time slots only

The best of my designing happens when there's spaciousness and time to think and explore. Peppering meetings throughout the day prevents the deep work to happen and I just choose the easiest or most familiar patterns instead.

2
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Felix Lau

My happy place

Felix Lau's happy place

Anywhere that is always warm, generally not too rainy or dry. With excellent coffee and some way to stay physically active. Currently in Mexico City for 3 months — really thinking of home basing here !

2
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2 Takes

Me when sh*t hits the fan

2
Felix Lau when sh*t hits the fan
2
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2 Takes

My areas for growth

Mentors and develops teammates for their growth2
Creates warm, caring relationships with teammates1
Prioritizes common good over self-interest1
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2 Takes

My superpowers

Collaborates effectively with teammates2
Makes decisions promptly, even with uncertainty2
Creates warm, caring relationships with teammates1
Willing to openly have difficult conversations1
Intentional and strategic project planning1
More…
1
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Kelsey Bishop

Teammates say Felix gives great advice about

product jamsmaking things prettywhat to do in spaingreat sushi spotssounding board for ideassake
How to make my day cover image
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Felix Lau

You will make my freakin day if you…

respect my timejam with meshare a problemshare an idea
During COVID I found there was a strong market to offer what I knew about product design as a freelance service to clients.
2018 - 2023
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Alden Myers

Teammates say Felix thrived as a…

Strategist: They love managing projects. High-level strategy convos is where they show up best.

The ultimate 9, Felix brings the best of everyone's ideas into a united vision. 

I switched into a general graphic design role in marketing, then into product.
2012 - 2020
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I was completely obsessed with making things move beautifully. Until I realized that the amount of effort that goes into it is staggeringly large – and nobody can even see your 30 frames of hard work
2009 - 2012
I studied Graphic Design. I instantly fell in love with animation and motion, and that's where I focused for my last two years.
2005 - 2009
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Things I want to learn cover image
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Felix Lau

Learnings

That there was money to be made in graphic design, but it was hard

I remember that there were just a handful of 'top' jobs that everyone desired – the entire graduating class was fighting over it. That's partially why I was driven to specialize in motion design too.