By skyforbes 
Hi everyone! Today I’m excited to share a conversation with Monica Jeon, currently a Product Designer at Meta. Before joining Meta’s GenAI team, Monica shaped the desktop experience at TikTok as part of the User Growth team. In this interview, we dive into her career journey — from roles at TikTok, C3.ai, and more — and explore how she’s grown as a designer by staying curious, adaptable, and open to the unknown. Let’s dive in!
From Cognitive Studies to Product Design
Monica didn’t take the most conventional path into product design — but her journey reflects a deep curiosity about how people think and experience the world visually.
“I always loved making things — drawing, GIFs, posters, anything visual,” she told me. “At the same time, I was fascinated by how people learn and interact.” That dual passion led her to major in Cognitive Studies and Studio Art in college. When she discovered HCI and product design, it immediately clicked: “It was a perfect blend of science and art — solving real problems through visual storytelling, guided by a deep understanding of human cognition.”
After graduation, Monica pursued a more structured foundation in UX through Georgia Tech’s MS-HCI program, quickly transitioning into design internships — including one at Facebook, where she helped bring Messenger into Oculus by designing new VR-specific communication components that integrated both the Messenger and Oculus design systems. At the time, she had no idea she’d rejoin the company years later — this time, as a designer on Meta’s GenAI team.
Building Range: From Enterprise Tools to Social Platforms
In just a few years, Monica has designed across a wide range of product domains — from design systems at Meta to enterprise tools at C3.ai to consumer experiences at TikTok.
After completing her master’s, Monica kick-started her career at C3.ai, working on a no-code data analytics platform. Unlike her earlier internship at Meta, she dove deep into complex enterprise workflows, collaborating closely with data scientists and engineers. “It really taught me how to think in systems, manage ambiguity, and advocate for users in highly technical spaces,” she explained.
Curious about her shift from C3.ai to TikTok, I asked how she made the leap — from enterprise-focused tools to the fast-moving world of consumer social media. For Monica, it was both a deliberate and exploratory choice.
“I really enjoyed designing for enterprise, but I’m also an avid social media user. I love Instagram, I love TikTok — I wanted to see what designing in that space would be like.”
To prepare for the transition, she worked on side projects related to social media, sharpening her skills and visual storytelling instincts. Reflecting on her journey, she shared: “Being open-minded and flexible helped me grow. You don’t have to tie your identity to one domain. Trying new things made me a more well-rounded designer.”
At TikTok, she took on a new challenge: designing experiences across web, tablet, and VR platforms. “It’s a completely different side of the design world,” she said. Her work focused on improving the desktop and tablet experiences, areas that had received less attention compared to mobile.
“When I joined, the web team was still relatively new. That gave me ownership and space to help define what TikTok could feel like on a larger screen.” She redesigned homepage feeds, updated creator profiles, and introduced features tailored for keyboard-and-mouse interactions. “Most people associate TikTok with mobile, so we’re constantly thinking about how to adapt that same sense of fun, discovery, and engagement in a way that feels native to desktop behaviors.”
Daily Life @ TikTok
Monica’s days at TikTok were dynamic and ever-evolving — a balance of deep work, cross-functional collaboration, and constant iteration. One of her core responsibilities was creating platform-specific design guidelines for desktop and tablet. “Teams launching new features on web or table would reference the specs I created to ensure a consistent experience across devices.” she explained. “So a lot of my time goes into communication — ensuring alignment across teams and platforms.”
Despite the fast pace, Monica loved the variety. “Two days are never the same,” she said. “What I really loved about working at TikTok was collaborating with cross-functional partners from all over the world. It pushed me to design with a global mindset — considering different cultural contexts, time zones, and platform behaviors — which made me a more thoughtful and adaptable designer.”
Embracing Flexibility and Finding Her Superpower
If there’s one lesson Monica has taken with her through each chapter of her career, it’s the value of staying open and flexible. “What’s really worked for me is being flexible. Being okay with ambiguity. Having an open mind.”
That flexibility doesn’t mean floating without focus — it’s grounded in Monica’s ability to synthesize ideas and align teams.
“I love connecting the dots. Turning research into action. Making sure everyone feels heard in the process — PMs, engineers, other designers.”
She sees design not as a linear process, but a back-and-forth loop between reframing problems and iterating on solutions. “You have to keep asking: are we solving the right thing? Do we really understand what users need?”
Finding Joy Outside of Work: Reconnecting with the Little Moments
Outside of work, Monica has been slowing down and embracing the small joys in life.
“I know it sounds cliché,” she laughed, “but I’ve really been learning to enjoy the simple things — things I didn’t prioritize when I was in school.”
Taking care of her mental and physical health has become a major focus. She’s gotten into yoga and meditation, and she starts her mornings with a homemade matcha latte — a small ritual that brings calm to her day. “That kind of self-care just wasn’t on my radar during the HCI program,” she reflected.
Monica’s also been carving out time to read for pleasure, explore side projects, and spend meaningful time with loved ones. “It’s not just about chasing the next big milestone,” she said. “Reconnecting with yourself outside of work is really important — and these little moments bring me a lot of joy.”
Looking Back, Moving Forward
When I asked Monica what kind of TikTok she’d send to her past self, her answer was heartfelt.
“I just want to show her that she doesn’t have to be so anxious. When I was in HCI, I felt like I had to figure everything out right away. It was tough — I didn’t know what was coming next. But now, five years later, I’m living a life that’s even better than what I imagined back then.”
Her message to her younger self? “It’s okay not to have all the answers. Just enjoy the process, trust yourself, and have fun along the way.”
For early-career designers, Monica offers the same advice: be okay with not having all the answers. Real design work is full of ambiguity — and that’s normal. “What matters is how you move forward — how you communicate, ask for help, and take small steps with what you do know.” She also encourages letting go of perfectionism: “There’s no such thing as a perfect project. The design process is a guide, not a rulebook. Learn to move with it.”
Monica’s journey shows that great design isn’t about having everything figured out — it’s about embracing uncertainty, staying curious, and growing through each challenge. As she begins her next chapter at Meta, we’re excited to see how she continues to shape thoughtful, impactful experiences — and we’ll be cheering her on every step of the way.