About me
a designer with too many extracurricular
👋 Oh hi there!
👀 Did not expect you here, but since you landed on this page, you must be curious about who this guy is more than just the case studies on the home page.
🤔Is Dave a nice person? Is Dave easy to work with? What are Dave’s inspirations? What makes Dave a Product Designer?
Taking a stroll of this page might give a better image who I am, but you are still looking at a plain digital version of me. If you still interested in knowing more about me click the buttons below.
Who is dave
tien • shiang • tsai
Tianxiang Cai
蔡天祥
My name is Dave Cai, a Product Designer based in Seattle.
Before becoming a Product Designer, I worked in digital media production industry.
Born & raised in Beijing, China, my original Chinese name is Tianxiang Cai（蔡天祥）
Since age of 5, I picked and started to use "Dave" as my preferred name in English. I am comfortable being called either Dave or Tianxiang in my daily life.
How this journey started
The shy kid’s story
I grew up in Beijing, China. Before high school, I was incredibly introverted: I rarely spoke, shied away from social situations, and got anxious even thinking about talking to strangers. Needless to say, I wasn’t the “cool kid” back then.
But that changed during my first month of high school. In an English class, I was assigned to create a short, dubbed video using one of his favorite English-spoken TV shows. Over the next week, I discovered Final Cut Pro, a video editing software, on the school computers, and learned everything from online tutorials. I finished video got an unexpectedly positive reaction from both classmates and his teacher. That’s when I realized I had found a tool that let me express myself in ways I never could before.
Ever since, I have seen video as the perfect medium to share my voice with the world. I discovered my passion and excelled in video production and graphic design, all while branching out into fields like electronic music production and VFX compositing.
Build the tools
not just using them...
In 2020, I graduated from college during the COVID-19 pandemic and noticed how more and more human interactions were shifting online. When I saw my grandparents struggling with apps that didn’t consider elderly users use patterns, I felt compelled to find solutions that would make their life on tech easier.
I soon realized that I want to be more than just someone skilled at using existing tools. I want to create tools and experiences that others could benefit from. Much like how digital media production software once enabled me to express his identity—fostering open-mindedness and empathy.
Then, I decided to pivot into the field of UX Design. I aimed to use his diverse skill set from digital media to build technology that’s both equitable and accessible, constantly seeking intuitive solutions that challenge the status quo and deliver positive impact.
In 2022, I was admitted to the Human Centered Design & Engineering (HCDE) master’s program at the University of Washington. Beyond the spectacular views and constant rain of the Pacific Northwest, the program’s curriculum and projects broadened my perspective on product design, covering topics like user research, interaction design, accessibility, and future trends in HCI.
Design for humans
not by simply following the trend
As someone who’s tracked the ebb and flow of tech for over a decade, I’ve had the privilege of watching innovation evolve—from blue-sky concepts that never leave the drawing board, to buzzworthy releases that shine brightly (if briefly), and finally to those rare ideas that become part of our everyday lives.
I’ve been asking myself a big question: what sets “Timeless design” apart from everything else? We’re living through a period of explosive growth—especially in 2023—with large language models (LLM) and AI sprouting like wildflowers. Every major tech company seems eager to bolt AI features onto their products.
Yet, after experimenting with a handful of these AI-powered tools, I can’t help wondering: are these offerings truly aimed at solving real problems through a natural blend of AI and user needs, or are they more about pushing the latest buzzwords without proper user research?
Having dabbled in product management, I understand the business pressures behind these decisions. Still, as someone who believes a product’s first job is to serve people, I question the wisdom of chasing a trend simply because it’s hot. That doesn’t mean we should ignore what’s happening at the forefront of tech. In fact, understanding the forces driving these trends is crucial if we want to harness them in ways that genuinely improve people’s lives.
I’m always up for talking about products, design, and business. If you share these interests or have insights of your own, I’d love to connect and discuss with you.
Caring for digital humanities
From 2016 to 2020, I studied Digital Media & Design at the University of Connecticut. During that time, I worked as a freelancer for various companies and organizations, creating different types of digital content.
I found myself care deeply about the human side of modern technology—especially issues like the digital divide and human rights in underrepresented communities. Many of my works during college focused on subject such as mental health, freedom of expression, etc., and some of my work got internationally awarded and publicly acclaimed in human rights conference in Connecticut.
Having been empowered by my own experiences with technology, I am driven to give back to the community and help more people harness the power of tech for a better life.
Besides pushing pixels in Figma
You can find me..
made in Seattle with ❤️