Pin Chun Lin

PM or UX Design? Why Not Both?

I majored in Industrial Design and loved coming up with new product ideas and building models. But after graduation, I realized 3D modeling wasn’t for me. I still had a passion for building products and found I was good at organization and planning. That led me to Product Management (PM), and to my surprise, I loved it. As a PM, I got to collaborate across teams, oversee projects, and feel the thrill of launching successful products.

At my previous company, which didn’t have a UI/UX designer, I self-learned Figma and naturally took on a hybrid role as PM and UI/UX designer. The satisfaction of designing user experiences made me wonder if I should go back to being a full-time designer.

While planning to study abroad, I pursued a Master's in Digital Design in the Netherlands. The question still lingered: designer or PM?

One day, at a networking event, I asked a product lead about my dilemma. She smiled and said, "Who says you have to choose? Why not do both?"

That was a wake-up call. Most job markets still push you to pick one, but I realized my mixed skillset wasn’t a problem—it was an advantage. Instead of choosing, I could integrate both roles.

After graduation, I aimed to land a UXUI design role but the market was tough. After months of trying, I returned to PM. Interestingly, when I applied to Miyagami, I applied for both roles and got interviews for both. In the end, I became a PM.

Looking back, it seems like my path has swung between design and PM, but really it’s been a journey of integration. I’ve learned that I don’t need to pick one path—I can combine my strengths from both.

Now, even though my title is PM, I approach design from a PM’s perspective and use design sensitivity to inform product decisions. I no longer struggle with choosing a path—I blend both, becoming a PM who understands design or a designer with a product mindset.

In the end, I’ve discovered and embraced what makes me unique—I'm not just a designer or a traditional PM. I'm someone who bridges both worlds to create better products.