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Jihern Baek

Head of Design at Utopia Labs

Jihern Baek is a product designer based in San Francisco with a diverse background in the tech industry.5 He previously held the position of Head of Design at Utopia Labs34, but his current role appears to be at Squint.1

Professional Experience

Baek has worked with several notable companies and organizations throughout his career:

  • Squint: Currently designing at this company1
  • Utopia Labs: Former Head of Design3
  • CCA: Previous experience1
  • Blend: Previous experience1
  • Inneract Project: Previous experience1
  • Moringa: Previous experience1

Education

Jihern Baek attended the University of California1, though the specific campus is not mentioned in the provided information.

Interests and Skills

Baek describes himself as interested in:

  • Systems
  • Social justice
  • Popeyes (the fast-food chain)
  • Sleeping in5

As a product designer, Baek has been involved in various design-related roles and has experience in recruiting for design positions. For instance, he once shared a job posting for a Senior Product Designer position at Utopia Labs.2

Professional Updates

Baek has shared updates about his career on LinkedIn, including:

  • A layoff from Thumbtack in March 20203
  • A positive career development in May 20204
  • Involvement with the Moringa Fellowship in June 20206

Jihern Baek's LinkedIn profile can be found under the username "jihernbaek".12

Highlights

Oct 18 · linkedin

Head of something at <insert startup>

Dec 8 · linkedin

Excited to share that we're looking for a Senior Product Designer at Utopia Labs: https://lnkd.in/gNdUT_ka.

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👉 Who are we, and why is our work important?

We're a Series A startup building operational tooling that helps Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAOs) manage their finances. We believe this work is meaningful because DAOs are exploring how we might leverage blockchain technologies to improve global human coordination; enable decentralized and equitable decision-making; and fund public services and goods. The space is still nascent, but I believe we are part of a new technological exploration that has the potential to unlock enduring ideas regarding sociopolitical reform.

👉 What are we looking for in a new hire?

We're a young company in a young space. Given that, we're particularly excited about individuals that have the capacity to navigate layers of ambiguity; intuit what hats need to exist and then wear them; and evolve with a team that's figuring itself out.

👉 What will growth look like for a new hire?

Though opportunities will evolve quickly within a dynamic organization, I feel confident sharing these:

  1. You'll help establish the next iteration of design as an early participant in Web3.
  2. You'll participate in high-level visioning and strategy for the company, and drive product development end-to-end.
  3. You'll help formalize the design practice at Utopia Labs by defining internal standards, practices, and rituals.

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If we've piqued any interest, we'd love to chat with you. I'd also love to connect with any talented BIPOC, LGBTQ folks, women or gender nonconforming individuals, and people with disabilities—my DMs are always open!

Related Questions

What are some notable projects Jihern Baek has worked on at Utopia Labs?
How did Jihern Baek transition from Squint to Utopia Labs?
What are Jihern Baek's main design philosophies?
What inspired Jihern Baek to pursue a career in design?
How has Jihern Baek's work impacted social justice initiatives?
Jihern Baek
Jihern Baek, photo 1
Jihern Baek, photo 2
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Location

San Francisco, California, United States