Ikigai in Motion: How Travel, Design, and Purpose Align in Our Work

I just returned from a two-week travel across South Korea, China, and Vietnam. On the surface, it was a business trip. But beneath that, it was something much deeper — a reaffirmation of why I do what I do, and how design, travel, and purpose are tightly connected.

As the founder of a design studio, I’ve come to see work not as something to balance against life, but as something to live through. Each trip, each project, each conversation adds another layer to that alignment.

Design That Lives in the Real World

Our work at DIP Studio sits at the intersection of strategy, creativity, and design. We’re often labeled a product design firm or industrial design agency, but what we really do is help founders and companies turn physical ideas into tangible products that make it into people’s hands — and lives.

On this trip, I visited an injection molding facility in Seoul, where we reviewed tooling methods for a new project. In China, I met with production partners finalizing electronics components. And in Vietnam, we toured a soft goods factory with over 1,000 employees producing outdoor gear and technical packs.

Every stop provided new insight — not just into how things are made, but how we can design better, faster, and smarter.

We Don’t Find Purpose — We Build It

People often ask when I take time off. But for me, travel like this is the reward. Getting to walk factory floors, meet sourcing partners face to face, and problem-solve across cultures — that’s what keeps this work meaningful.

I’ve stopped chasing work-life balance and started embracing alignment. It’s the mindset we bring into every project — whether we’re consulting on a new medical device design, supporting a hardware startup, or optimizing a concept for manufacturing and assembly.

From Idea to Execution: The Full Design Lifecycle

Being on the ground with our partners gives us more than just a supply chain edge — it shapes our thinking as a product design consultancy. We see what works, what breaks, and what can be improved.

It informs the way we:

Help startups prototype their first product

• Collaborate with medical equipment design companies to meet regulatory and user needs

• Develop smart electronics with clean integration between form, function, and firmware

• Guide clients through design-for-manufacturing reviews that reduce time and cost

Whether we’re acting as a full-stack product design agency or jumping in for custom electronics development, these moments on the ground sharpen every decision we make.

Travel as Part of the Design Process

This journey wasn’t about escaping work — it was about deepening it. Observing regional manufacturing styles, discovering new materials, and talking directly with engineers and operators reminded me how design isn’t just what we sketch — it’s what we ship.

If you’re building a physical product, especially in complex spaces like medical device development or electronics manufacturing, insight from the field can be the difference between a concept and a successful launch.

Shenzhen, China — Temple Visit

Visited a temple in Shenzhen during our cultural immersion. The quiet layout and architectural flow created space for focus and mental clarity — a strong contrast to the fast pace of the city.

Seoul, Korea — Injection Molding Factory

Toured an injection molding facility working on tooling for mass production. Watched how molds are machined, assembled, and tested — a reminder of how design decisions directly impact manufacturing timelines and cost.

5K, friends, and fresh ideas.

Ran with other founders in Shenzhen, China and left with more than just a runner’s high.

Thanks Mert for the invite — what a way to connect!

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam — Soft Goods Factory

Visited a soft goods factory in Vietnam with 1,000 employees producing backpacks, outdoor gear, and technical apparel. Observed stitching, cutting, and quality control across multiple production lines.

Closing Thoughts

At DIP, we’re not just a design studio — we’re a long-term partner for founders, startups, and companies who are building what’s next. Whether you need help with prototyping, manufacturing strategy, or full industrial design services, our process is built for speed, clarity, and impact.

And if you’re still finding your own rhythm in work and life, here’s what I’ve learned:

Purpose isn’t something you stumble into. It’s something you create — one decision, one relationship, and one project at a time.

Up Next:

In our next post, we’ll explore how global tariffs are shaping sourcing, pricing, and production timelines — and what that means for product teams navigating international manufacturing.

We invite you to come along with us.

Check out more behind-the-scenes on Instagram @dip.studio.design LinkedIn @dip.studio or reach out if you’re building something and want the right team beside you.