Say Hello to Christine Chun, Product Designer

What do you do?

I’m a product designer on the Shopper Growth team where I work on everything related to the acquisition and retention of Instacart shoppers. Some of the projects I’ve worked on have been Instant Cashout, shopper referrals program, and shopper onboarding.

How did you get into design?

After graduating from college with a chem degree, I realized I wanted to do something more creative with bigger impact. My unrelenting need for a creative outlet resulted in writing blog posts and making YouTube videos (@chunbuns) on beauty and lifestyle. Soon after graduating, I pivoted into beauty retail marketing where I was introduced to UX design and blown away by how it so thoroughly encompassed my passions: problem-solving and storytelling. I decided to enroll in a design boot camp as a starting point to build my portfolio, and shortly after, landed my first full-time Product Design job.

What makes everything worth it?

Knowing that my designs are being used to help someone do their job. I love that underneath the aesthetics, there’s the practical and functional nature of product design, which can provide value to both users and the business. I love that, at the end of the day, I’m contributing to solutions for our community of dedicated shoppers who need them.

What’s the greatest piece of career advice you’ve ever received?

Not every battle is worth fighting. You have to pick your battles wisely and know what your ultimate goal and vision are. This advice has gotten me through some really tough times in my career.

What advice would you give to a designer just starting out?

The question “why?” is your best friend! Why did I choose this color? Why this layout? Why this design element over another? Asking the why’s will improve your ability to defend and explain your design decisions. Getting my work critiqued by other designers helped me to think critically as a designer.

Where do you find inspiration?

I love browsing through illustrations on Instagram and Pinterest! Seeing what other people can create with their hands is ultimately so inspiring when creating my own work. I also find inspiration through travel and the opportunity to immerse myself in different cultures.

Working on various projects at Instacart, which one was the most challenging and exciting for you?

Instant Cashout was the most challenging and fun project I worked at Instacart. It’s a feature that allows shoppers to get their money instantly, instead of waiting for their weekly paycheck. T. Being able to access earnings more quickly means that shoppers can now pay any unexpected bills or save up for a family gathering; it was meaningful to be a part of helping them do that.

Where did you grow up and what made it special?

I grew up in South Korea and LA, moving back and forth pretty often. I’m grateful for how it helped me widen my perspective of the world through the lens of two different countries and cultures. And of course, I got the best of both worlds when it came to food! Living in Korea was particularly special because I felt connected to my roots.

What was the first thing you ever designed?

A skincare PR kit for influencers.

What is something you’re most proud of in your life/career?

I’m most proud of the way that I’m willing to work things out despite how difficult they may be, whether it was making that career change or dealing with difficult work/personal relationships.

What’s your favorite thing to order on Instacart? OR What role does food play a part in your life?

Martinelli’s Sparkling apple cider. I order 10 bottles per month. I can’t get enough!

What favorite SF secret spot can you reveal?

Magic Flute is the best brunch spot in SF with no lines during the weekend. It has a gorgeous patio where you can devour their amazing french toast and omelets.

Come build with Christine.

If you’re excited about defining the future of a one trillion dollar industry, building an ad-serving network for groceries, scaling the world’s most extensive grocery catalog, perfecting a real-time on-demand logistics chain, all while simultaneously designing the future of food for millions of people, you should take a look at the available opportunities or reach out to someone from the team.

Instacart

Instacart is the leading grocery technology company in North America, partnering with more than 1,400 national, regional, and local retail banners to deliver from more than 80,000 stores across more than 14,000 cities in North America. To read more Instacart posts, you can browse the company blog or search by keyword using the search bar at the top of the page.