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Felix Lee
Co-founder & CEO of ADPList, Design Leader
Felix Lee is the Co-founder and CEO of ADPList, a global platform dedicated to democratizing access to mentorship. Under his leadership, ADPList has expanded significantly, operating in over 140 countries and fostering a community where mentorship is accessible to all, regardless of social privilege.24
Background and Career
Felix Lee grew up in Singapore and faced challenges related to social privilege, which inspired him to create ADPList. He recognized that access to influential networks often depends on one's background, leading him to establish a platform that connects mentors and mentees worldwide. His vision is to break down barriers in mentorship and provide opportunities for individuals from diverse backgrounds to learn from each other.23
Before founding ADPList in 2021, Felix co-founded Packdat, a travel planning platform that was later acquired by Passpod. He also held significant roles in design and product strategy at startups like Gotrade and Passpod, where he made notable contributions to product design and branding.134 His experience includes working with various global startups, raising over $30 million in funding within two years.1
Education and Recognition
Felix graduated as the valedictorian from Singapore Polytechnic with a diploma in Engineering with Business. He has received various accolades, including nominations for the Shorty Awards for community engagement.34 He is also recognized in the Forbes 30 Under 30 list for his contributions to the industry.6
Felix continues to advocate for a free and open mentorship community, emphasizing the importance of sharing knowledge and supporting one another in personal and professional growth.5
Highlights
Am I the only one who thinks that design generalists will be the future of design?
90% of design leaders claim AI will change design forever.
A few unsolicited design predictions for 2025:
- Generalists will outshine specialists.
As the complexity of product design decreases with AI, the demand for generalists—designers with a broad skill set across various disciplines—will rise. While specialists bring depth in specific areas, generalists can navigate multiple aspects of design, from UX to branding to front-end development.
- Generative design will speed up ideation.
Generative design will become mainstream in product development, enabling designers to quickly explore multiple innovative options by using AI-driven tools with set parameters. This will speed up the ideation phase and result in more creative outcomes.
- Data-informed design becomes MUST-HAVE.
Data analytics will become more common in design as designers seek to better understand user behavior. By relying on user engagement metrics, they can create designs that are not only visually appealing but also more effective.
- Sustainability becomes a core design principle.
As environmental concerns rise, product designers will prioritize sustainability by 2025. They will utilize tools to assess the environmental impact of their choices, creating products that benefit the planet and appeal to eco-conscious consumers.
- Personalized UX through adaptive interfaces
User interfaces will become adaptive, responding to individual user actions and preferences. Using AI, designers will create interfaces that change layouts, content, and navigation based on user behavior.
This shift will create a more engaging experience, moving away from static designs and toward dynamic environments that meet users' needs.
