Meet Vicki Tan | Designer and Author

We had the good fortune of connecting with Vicki Tan and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Vicki, how do you think about risk?
I’m a bit of a risk-taker, but it’s worked out pretty well for me! I’ve made two big career changes—first jumping into tech, then pivoting to design. Both times, I left jobs that were comfortable and had good reasons to stay. But each time I took that leap, it led to opportunities I never could have seen coming.

Here’s what I’ve learned: career risks usually feel way scarier than they actually are. We tend to imagine all the things that could go wrong, but honestly, those disaster scenarios almost never happen. And even when things don’t work out exactly like you hoped, you still come away with new skills, connections, and insights about yourself that end up being valuable down the road.

The real game-changer for me was flipping the question. Instead of “What could I lose?” I started asking “What might I gain?” That shift completely changes how you approach decisions—suddenly you’re thinking about possibilities instead of just worrying about what could go wrong.

I think a lot of people stay stuck longer than they should because they’re afraid of making the “wrong” move. But here’s the thing—staying in a job that’s draining you or not pushing you to grow? That’s actually the bigger risk. At least when you make a move, you’re learning something. When you stay put just because you’re scared, you’re basically standing still.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My career has been beautifully meandering, honestly. In college, I fell in love with behavioral science—this fascinating window into why people think and act the way they do. But after graduation, I couldn’t find work that captured that same curiosity I’d felt in those psychology classes.

I spent years in research roles that felt meaningful but incomplete. Then during the recession, I took a leap into tech, and something just clicked. Working in design, I realized I was still drawn to the same thing: understanding how things work and solving puzzles about human nature. Suddenly I was asking questions like “How can we make complex decisions feel simpler?”

That became my sweet spot—designing experiences that work with how people naturally think and behave. Each project was this fascinating exploration of human psychology in action.

Now with “Ask This Book a Question,” I’m exploring how minds work through storytelling and interactive decision-making. What excites me is that this is just another step in my ongoing experiment of following curiosity wherever it leads.

I think there’s real value in embracing the winding path. Each seeming detour has given me perspectives I never would have gained from a straight line. You just have to trust that the loose ends will come together in ways you can’t see yet.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Food & Drinks – Pine & Crane for Taiwanese comfort food (dan dan noodles and beef rolls are essential)
– Woon for hand-pulled noodles and their amazing housemade cocktails
– Hangari Kalguksu or BCD for Korean
– Destroyer in Culver City for a visually beaut brunch

Activities
– Hike in Topanga
– The Getty with a little picnic ouside
– Walk around the Arts District
– Walk the Culver Steps and the Platform

Shopping
– Now Serving for cookbooks
– Arcana Books for artbooks
– Dover Street Market
– Tortoise General Store

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Definitely my friend Cha! We started out as colleagues at Headspace, but she quickly became my go-to person for dinners, weekend adventures, and some pretty amazing trips across different continents. What I love about Cha is how she sees people—she has this incredible way of connecting with others that actually inspired me to think more deeply about human connection myself.

She’s also the reason I decided to make my book illustrated. I originally had this vision for an illustrated pop-up book, and it was completely inspired by her playful, warm artistic style. The timing was perfect too—we both decided to leave Headspace on the exact same day to chase our creative dreams. Having someone take that leap right alongside me? That gave me so much courage I probably wouldn’t have had on my own.

You know, people always talk about finding “your person” in romantic terms, but Cha showed me that life-changing relationships come in all kinds of forms. Sometimes your chosen family is that friend who believes in you enough to jump into the unknown right beside you.

Website: https://www.vickitan.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vickiheart

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vickitan/

Twitter: https://x.com/vickiheart

Image Credits
Color photos: Allen Danze B&W mocks: Vicki Tan