Bean Namgung (he/him)

About me

I was born/grew up in: Born in Seoul, South Korea. Raised in: North Vancouver, BC

I now live in: Burnaby, BC

I completed my training/education at:  Bachelor of Global Business and Digital Arts, University of Waterloo, Web Developer Diploma, BrainStation.

What I do at work

I build new user interfaces and dynamic websites. These promote launches or marketing campaigns. When I am assigned a new project, I go through three development phases. These are build, test and maintain. The build phase starts when designers hand their designs to the Development Team. The team lead will then separate each component of the design and assign it to us. I try to follow what the designers want, based on the mock-up. Then I connect with the designers to do any adjustments, tweaks, or even refactor. Communication between designers and developers can be different in  different companies. But when dealing with high profile companies, details are important.

The build phase takes up most of my time. It is the time when we investigate and experiment ideas for website animations. We also gauge the time we have to integrate a component.

After the build is done, the project is sent to the quality assurance team for testing. I will tackle quality assurance issues as they come up. Overall, this is one of the more relaxing phases for developers.

Finally, we make all the changes we can before launching. Then, we continuously keep an eye out for bug reports. This way we can maintain the quality of the site. For me, every project has been a learning opportunity. Being able to adapt and learn quickly is a great asset.

My career path is

In high school I wanted to take graphic design. This is why I completed the Global Business and Digital Arts program. When I was in high school, coding wasn't taught. I was curious about computer science, so I took classes when I was in university. I loved it! When I learned about front end development, I realized I could combine my interests.

But I also wanted more education in development. To get this I enrolled in a Web Development Bootcamp at BrainStation. That intensive experience made me realize I could actually have a career in development. During my job search, I tailored my portfolio and resumé around my dual design and coding experience. This helped me stand out among other applicants. It worked, and that's how I got to where I am today.

I am motivated by

The best part of my job is that it's never repetitive. Even though not knowing things can be stressful, solving a problem always feels like a reward. Front end development is also a perfect combination for someone who loves art and math. Diving deeper, I get to understand the mathematics of computing, like Bezier curves, polygons and animation.

How I affect peoples’ lives

My work helps make sure that people have a good experience when they navigate the sites I helped build.

Outside of work I

In university I picked up and pursued hip hop and k-pop dancing. Dance has been a part of me ever since.

My advice to others

Even if you think it might not be relevant, you can always find a way to connect what you’re best at, to your career.