Meet Wren Lee | UX designer, screenwriter, and director

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

Hi Wren, how has your perspective on work-life balance evolved over time?
In college, if you asked me about work-life balance, I would have said, “What work-life balance?” From the second I woke up to the second I fell asleep, I was doing schoolwork, volunteering, or working. Since then, though, I’ve discovered how important it is to take time for yourself. These days, I close my laptop at 5pm sharp and read. I don’t work on weekends; I write and follow my other creative pursuits. Sometimes your creative endeavors bleed into your personal time, but it’s all about mindset. For example, I’m producing a friend’s web series, and we often meet after work hours. Even though it’s after 5pm, it’s less work and more play.
More than anything, though, I think it’s important to take that time off to relax. I’ve had too many moments in college and even now where I push myself to my limits and am exhausted at the end of the day. I can’t make good work if I’m tired, so it’s important to recharge.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
As a UX designer by day, I get really excited about accessible and inclusive design. I got into UX to do good in the world, and UX designers are the ones crafting those experiences. I’m excited to use my experience in DEI and storytelling to enhance the digital products and services people use on an everyday basis. I’ve been able to apply empathy and compassion in the work I do.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting Boston and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I live in Boston, and I always joke that it’s funny I ended up here because I’m not in college, not a sports fan, and not a history fan. Even so, I’ve found the best spots to relax and eat. One of my favorite places is Trident Booksellers and Cafe. It’s an independent bookstore with a great collection of books and knickknacks. Also, their sweet potato fries are to die for.

If you love architecture or just an awesome place to work, the central Boston library has gorgeous views and such a relaxing atmosphere. Just know that you might have a hard time finding a seat on the weekend. I know from personal experience.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
There are two people who have been crucial to my writing. One is my college screenwriting professor who encouraged me to lean into personal stories. She pushed me to dig deep and use writing to explain complex ideas about love, family, and acceptance. I remember being in her office one day, and she told me to trust the process. Writing is about exploring. She gave me the confidence to be proud of the stories I tell. And more recently my therapist. She thinks writing is an excellent outlet for expressing emotions and processing information. I’ve been writing more recently, and she encourages me to write about both the deep, dark, depressing stories and the lighthearted ones too. It’s thanks to her that I was able to find a conclusion to a story I was struggling with because I wasn’t ready to accept the gray area.

Website: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1L-B0vXU1l2nxJjreGMrZNHKJodDvoEH6/view

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

Image Credits
Anna Weber