DAY
Day 1
TIME
14:20 – 14:40
AREA
Brick Stage
TYPE
Talk + AMA
LANGUAGE
English
Constraints often feel like blockers, but in practice, they shape better designers and stronger decision-makers. In this session, the speaker presents three case studies showing how technical limitations, personal assumptions, and institutional barriers led to unexpected progress. By reframing problems, validating assumptions through research, and aligning ideas with organizational priorities, challenges turned into opportunities for innovation and influence. From solving “impossible” design problems to unlocking stalled initiatives through strategic storytelling, the talk highlights how constraints sharpen creativity and leadership skills. Attendees will leave with a mindset shift: growth doesn’t happen despite constraints—it happens because of them.
Lingzhi Li
Rakuten Group, Inc. | Senior Product Designer
Lingzhi is a Senior Product Designer with 6 years of experience specializing in B2B SaaS and designing for technical users. Her work spans networking, cybersecurity, and cloud computing, with a focus on simplifying complex systems.
Her career starts in the United States after earning a Master’s degree in Human–Computer Interaction and spent five years at VMware designing enterprise cybersecurity products used by thousands of customers.
In 2024, Lingzhi moved to Japan to design in a new cultural context. She currently leads design for the cloud financial suite at Rakuten Cloud, shaping AI-assisted experiences for financial operations.
Having worked across both the U.S. and Japan, Lingzhi brings a cross-cultural perspective to her design practice. She believes design is a way of thinking that extends beyond the workplace.