David Hoang, a seasoned design leader and investor, has built a reputation for his thoughtful and pragmatic approach to design, technology, and career development. His writings, primarily housed on his personal website, offer a wealth of knowledge for anyone looking to navigate the complexities of the tech industry. While his insights are often detailed in long-form essays, his article titles themselves serve as powerful, standalone learnings.
On Career and Leadership
Hoang's philosophy on career growth is one of proactive and intentional action. He emphasizes the importance of mentorship, continuous learning, and strategic career moves.
- Craft a leadership portfolio. This is a key piece of advice for those transitioning into management, suggesting a deliberate approach to showcasing leadership skills.
- Your Career Hype Doc. Hoang champions the idea of maintaining a personal document that tracks your accomplishments.[1]
- The Importance of Peer Mentors. He highlights that mentorship isn't just a top-down relationship and that peers can be your most valuable guides.[1]
- Email updates to career advisors. This simple habit is a powerful tool for maintaining your network and seeking guidance.
- Choosing a company. Hoang suggests a thoughtful and deliberate process when deciding where to work, a critical and often overlooked skill.
- The fog of war of company onboarding. He acknowledges the challenges of starting a new role and the need for a strategic approach to the first 90 days.
- The calling of IC's to management. Hoang has explored the transition from individual contributor to manager, a common career crossroads.[1]
- What weekly farmer's market trips remind me about leading teams. He draws leadership lessons from everyday experiences, emphasizing the human element of management.[1]
- "It's a reminder to let people know what they mean to you." A poignant reflection on the importance of acknowledging the people who have supported your career.
- A career reboot is sometimes necessary. Hoang's writing suggests that a deliberate 'reset' can be a powerful tool for long-term growth.
- Operator Mode. A state of focused execution that he has written about.
- Invest in your network. The practice of sending bi-annual updates to mentors underscores his belief in nurturing professional relationships.
- Don't just look for a job, look for a mission. This is an implied learning from his focus on choosing the right company.[2]
- Leadership is about tending to your team. A metaphor he has used to describe the nurturing aspect of management.
- Your career is a product you are building. This mindset encourages a more strategic and user-centered approach to your professional life.
On Design and Craft
A strong advocate for the importance of craft, Hoang believes that taste and a deep understanding of the tools are what separate good from great design.
- The obsession over craft. He argues that a relentless focus on quality is a key differentiator in a crowded market.
- The role of taste (and what it means). Hoang has delved into the elusive but critical concept of 'taste' in design.
- Understanding iconic design. A theme in his writing is the deconstruction of what makes a design timeless.[1]
- "Sometimes to create, one must first destroy." A quote from the movie Prometheus that Hoang features on his website, suggesting a willingness to rethink and rebuild.
- Design Engineering. He writes about the blurring lines between design and engineering and the rise of the 'design engineer' role.[3]
- Building your designs. Hoang encourages designers to understand the technical aspects of what they are creating.
- IDDE: The infusion of design and dev tools. He has written about the increasing integration of design and development tools.
- Don't Build The Homer. A reference to the famously over-designed car from The Simpsons, warning against feature creep and a lack of focus.[1]
- A farewell love letter to Quartz Composer. His writing demonstrates a deep appreciation for the tools of the trade and their evolution.[1]
- Designing Native Prototypes With Xcode and Swift. Hoang is a proponent of designers getting closer to the metal and using the same tools as engineers.[1]
- The iPhone Launched My Career. A personal reflection on how technology platforms can define a career trajectory.[1]
- Tending your ideas is an obligation. This suggests that ideas are not enough; they require care and cultivation.[1]
- Jodorowsky's Product Roadmap. He draws inspiration from unexpected places, like the famously unmade film Dune, to inform his thinking on product strategy.
- Undiscovered power gestures. An exploration of the subtle and often overlooked aspects of user interface design.[1]
- Visual programming is a powerful tool. His interest in tools like Swift and Quartz Composer points to a belief in the power of visual and interactive design tools.[1]
On Technology and the Future
Hoang is a keen observer of technological trends, from the rise of AI to the changing landscape of software development.
- "Waiting for AI's pull-to-refresh moment." A succinct and insightful observation on the current state of AI and its user experience.
- Tech is going through a factory reset moment. His writing indicates a belief that the industry is at a pivotal point of change.
- A new MVC is emerging. He is forward-looking in his analysis of software architecture.
- The four types of software in the future. Hoang has a clear vision for how software will evolve and specialize.
- "I chat with AI like any human… constantly talk to them about movies." This personal anecdote reveals a comfort and familiarity with emerging AI technologies.
- OK to disconnect: The death of my iPod classic after 14 years. A reflection on the lifecycle of technology and the importance of disconnecting from it.[1]
- The Space Race is Over. He uses this Billy Bragg song as a metaphor for a loss of collective ambition and a call for renewed purpose in innovation.
- "We need more collective ambition to bring us together, not dividing through our ideologies." A call to action for the tech industry to focus on solving big, unifying problems.
- Design's Seat at the (Cap) Table. Hoang has written in-depth about the importance of design's role in the business and investment side of technology.
- Investing and building tools that revolutionize the internet. This is his stated mission and the focus of his current work.
- The future of the internet is a key area of his focus. As an investor and builder, he is actively shaping what's next.[3]
- The intersection of design and venture capital is a powerful one. His career path demonstrates a belief in the value of design thinking in investment decisions.
- The tools we use shape the way we think. This is a recurring theme in his writing on design and development tools.
- Embrace the new, but don't forget the old. His fondness for his iPod classic shows a respect for enduring technology in a fast-moving world.[1]
- Technology should be a force for unity. His reflection on Top Gun: Maverick and its unifying appeal is a call for tech to play a similar role.
On Life and Learning
Hoang's reflections often extend beyond the world of tech, offering broader life lessons.
- "40 things I learned in 40 years." His willingness to publicly share his life lessons is a testament to his commitment to mentorship and learning.
- Pay attention to the world outside of tech. His references to film, music, and art show a belief in the power of a multidisciplinary perspective.[4]
- Embrace your age and experience. His writing on being middle-aged in a startup world suggests a confidence in the value of wisdom and experience.
- "Keep making." A simple, powerful encouragement to creatives, inspired by Ridley Scott.
- Curiosity is a superpower. The breadth of his interests and his constant exploration of new ideas is a testament to the power of a curious mind.
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