Lawrence Ly

What Program did you graduate from and when? 

Design for Health, (MDes), 2020  
 

What is your current title or role? (ie. freelance designer, art practitioner, etc.) 

Multidisciplinary Designer 

Why did you choose to attend OCAD U? 

I was thinking about attending OCAD U for many years and was originally interested in Strategic Foresight & Innovation or Inclusive Design. When Design for Health was established, it was a program that combined my interests. I applied a couple of years after the program launched because I didn’t want to be in the first cohort. My interests are in healthcare and working with older adults. I wanted to design and apply new innovative skills with a focus on environments. The program brings together design research and thinking and that was of interest to me. OCAD U is the largest Art and Design school in Canada, so I wanted to go big or go home. It was the only school I applied to. 

Please briefly describe your current job/practice. 

I am currently looking for opportunities in the healthcare space and in the meantime, I’m upgrading my skills and learning to be more in trend with digital. With the pandemic, a lot of things have moved to digital and so I’m working on aligning my skills and perspectives with what is happening in the tech space. 

How did you get started in your career?  

I graduated with a Bachelor of Design in Graphic Design from the University of Alberta. For many years, I worked in a local government agency as a Graphic Designer. I developed many skills while collaborating with colleagues who are not designers. In working with multidisciplinary teams, I always worked to support their business plans and objectives. After a few years, I wanted to try something different and upgrade my career from being a conventional designer to someone who can do strategy, research and stake my claim in the healthcare field. Coming to OCAD U for the Design for Health was a way of me resetting my career and trying something different.  
 

What were your policies regarding internships, volunteering, and paid work? 

I did a for-credit Field Placement during my program. I see the value in that because it ties what we learn in school to real-world settings. In school, we are taught theory and history and less about confronting real-world challenges – which is not always an easy transition. Internships and paid work provide an opportunity for you to learn about future working opportunities.  

I would volunteer for a good cause if I believe in it. I caution you on giving too much while volunteering. There will always someone out there who will pay you for your work. Be cognizant of what you are giving out for free. Make sure the work you do aligns with your values.  
 

What do you enjoy most about your work? What is the most challenging aspect of your work? 

I enjoy connecting with people, designers and non-designers alike. It’s always fascinating to learn from people with different backgrounds and experiences from me and connecting with them to solve various challenges that affect us all. I like pulling things together and helping people see things they may not have noticed – bringing critical lenses into projects. 

Trying to help people understand what designers on a day to day do is challenging. Many people have preconceived notions about what designers do. Some disciplines are interchangeable such as is the case with foresight and innovation. Educating non-designers about what designers do is very challenging but also rewarding when you can get other people to see your vision. Given that Design for Health is a new program, people don’t yet understand what this means and what I do.  

What skills or relationships developed at OCAD U helped you participate in your field? Is there anything you would have done differently? 

I’ve received many opportunities to work with professors. Mentorship and support from professors has helped me as I launch my career. I’ve been able to connect with people who are doing work around health for seniors, technology and aging. The possibilities are endless.  

I would’ve made more of an effort to connect with students in other programs like Strategic Foresight & Innovation and Inclusive Design at the master’s level and also some undergraduate programs. Being in a different building to undergraduates at OCAD U created a physical barrier from seeing what they were doing. I would’ve wanted to foster a more tight-knit community. 
 

What are the key responsibilities you maintain for your practice?  

I keep a very open growth mindset.  

Learning new skills, about future opportunities that help to create impact and social good in the world is vital.  

Continuing to stay in touch with people in the OCAD U community.  

Trying to connect with other designers and business people outside the OCAD U community.  

I’m always on the hunt for learning new skills and keeping up with what’s happening in the design world. I keep up with design, health and tech blogs, podcasts and news. I decided to join the RGD (Registered Graphic Designers of Canada) during the pandemic to connect with people who came with different Graphic Design backgrounds to learn and grow more. 
 

What are your personal and professional goals for the coming years? 

To survive the pandemic. To learn to take better care of myself and go at a slower, steady pace so as to avoid burn out. To improve self-care and take better care of mental health. Professionally, to find different types of work to gain more skills and try different work environments to see the direction I want to go in. To gain meaningful work in the Senior’s Healthcare space.