Sam Yuen
transdisciplinary practitioner
Minding The Middle is a London-based practice paying attention to hidden stories and overlooked things.It asks the question "What's in the way of being congruent selves, internally and systemically?" to cultivate care.It holds space for exploration through deep conversation, micro practices, and uncomfortable play.
photo of Shushhh! by Ben Peter Catchpole
Sam Yuen
transdisciplinary practitioner
bio
Sam is a Singapore-born, Melbourne-shaped child of a Hong Kong immigrant; an artist, designer, researcher, storyteller, consultant, producer, and coach.They weave experience design, ontology, systems thinking, and art making with the principles of omotenashi - wholehearted hospitality - in unpacking complex themes such as social power, psychological safety at work, and use of self. They are learning to deconstruct conditioning around gender, white (and yellow) privilege, and social conformity.Sam's fascination with human complexity stems from agoraphobia at 21, both trauma and gift that enabled them to experience systemic discrimination, practice staying in the deathly uncomfortable, reframe narratives from childhood, and step into their power of otherness.Their practice has expanded alongside this self-work, integrating ICF-accredited coach training from Newfield, a Global Organisation Development certificate from the NTL Institute for Applied Behavourial Science, and an MA in Playable Experience Design from Goldsmiths.Stumbling upon physical computing, sculpture, and woodworking at 44 has been the mid-life kindling that brought materiality into Sam's focus. They are currently curious about the textures of shame, paper offerings as memoir, and the sonification of their lifelogging data.
Sam Yuen
transdisciplinary practitioner
work with me
As principal researcher and design manager: I have a track record of delivering high-impact outcomes, co-creating the conditions for design teams to thrive, and developing mid-weights into leads who are competent and self-aware. I work in the open with vulnerability and transparency.
"Sam is very collaborative and her experience really helped push the team forwards to ensure we met client expectations. She is very clear in her communication and uses her problem-solving mindset to quickly address issues with alternative solutions." - Delivery Manager, 2024
As speaker: I've been fortunate to present around the world on design craft, team culture, and leadership at events such as UX Australia, SDNOW, UX India, and IxDA London. I'm currently developing a series of workshops on visual storytelling.
"I loved @duzkiez's amazing #sdnow4 talk. It articulated really well what scares me about being in a design practice, and the complexities of feeling safe in those environments. Such an impactful talk." - Service Designer & Technologist, 2019
As mindset coach and design mentor: Change is a process but also an accumulation of seeds that bloom when you least expect it. I partner with people who feel stuck and are ready to do the work. Over weekly or bi-weekly sessions, we'll examine what shapes your lens, unpack the habits in your way, and co-create experiments that facilitate new insight into your being.
"Sam was compassionate in difficult moments, patiently holding silence when they sensed I needed time. Each session offered accountability on my practice and how things had changed. Thank you for opening my eyes to new possibilities!" - Staff Design Researcher on coaching, 2021
"Sam's approach is highly intentional, so the goals you craft together are always in view and the learning plan feels dynamic and holistic. The sessions have expanded my ways of thinking, seeing, and sitting with myself." - Deputy Director on design mentoring, 2021
As emerging artist: I think a lot about identity, belonging, human constructs, polarities, patterns, and emotional capacity. I'd love to collaborate on small projects that are socially-engaged around mental health, social inequality, or care in the community.
"Because I played someone I feel very opposite to, it didn’t inspire me to take action but the game was valuable and enlightening for conversations I might have with people I disagree with." - player in How Will You Play?, a LARP on social power in public toilets, 2021
Sam Yuen
transdisciplinary practitioner
get in touch