west & ease

Eric Li on building Scratch with AI and the case for thoughtfully crafted software

Meet Eric Li, co-founder of Versive, a self-taught designer and developer who built Scratch, a notes app in a weekend with AI...and why thoughtfully…

Apr 21 • Leslie Luo and Eric Li

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27:01

March 2026

Nirupa Konijeti of Bazaar Supper Club on returning to a life of creative pursuit centered on community

Meet Nirupa Konijeti, founder and host of Bazaar Supper Club and Bazaar Butter, a monthly supper club held in her Brooklyn apartment, where she gathers…

Mar 29 • Leslie Luo and Bazaar Butter

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Holding space for connection: designing meaningful events at any scale

A few lessons on curating creative community events so far, plus you're invited to an upcoming creative event in Brooklyn, NY.

Mar 10 • Leslie Luo

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February 2026

Your design portfolio might be working against you

The 75% framework to help you find the right balance to get your portfolio to start conversations with the right teams and companies as a product…

Feb 24 • Leslie Luo

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Happy Lunar New Year!

Wishing everyone a wonderful, prosperous, healthy, and well-read new year. Plus 1 month free of west & ease.

Feb 17 • Leslie Luo

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On safety and the work of becoming with Kimmy Wu

Meet Kimmy Wu, a New-York based licensed psychotherapist and sex therapist, writer, and founder whose work centers on community and creating safer…

Feb 10 • Leslie Luo and Kimmy Wu

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January 2026

Practicing community

Notes from a year of hosting, participating, and showing up

Jan 5 • Leslie Luo

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December 2025

Sam Ray Lee on Umami House's Jam Battle and building space for musical conversation

An audio conversation with Sam Ray Lee

Dec 23, 2025 • Leslie Luo

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33:46

August 2025

Ka Yee Chan on how a nonlinear path driven by passion matters

Meet Ka Yee Chan, a Hong Kong-born, Brooklyn-based maker and third-culture kid whose creative journey is rooted in curiosity, care, and community.

Aug 26, 2025 • Leslie Luo

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June 2025

Possibilities with Laura Sandoval

Meet Laura Sandoval, a Chilean and Peruvian designer and creative based in Brooklyn, NY.

Jun 4, 2025 • Leslie Luo

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May 2025

On building confidence and going the extra mile with Hope Idaewor

Meet Hope Idaewor: a Nigerian-born, Atlanta-raised design researcher, educator, and mentor based in Seattle, Washington.

May 5, 2025 • Leslie Luo

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March 2025

Becoming a confident facilitator

Essential tools and techniques to help you confidently guide collaborative sessions in any environment—as a designer in tech and beyond.

Mar 4, 2025 • Leslie Luo

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