Stories

September 28, 2024

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Eric Le Tai is not your typical product designer.

As the Founder of Collective Engram, an online design studio based in Nevada, Eric has carved out a niche for himself by blending creativity with purpose. With a background in art direction and a keen focus on user experience (UX) research, he is driven by research-based design that impacts the community and connects business brands with their customers.

But how did Eric get here?

Eric’s journey began in 2019 when he took a pivotal step by studying social impact in New York. There, he discovered how to craft digital solutions that address economic challenges. This ultimately inspired him to pursue entrepreneurship seriously. “My passion for entrepreneurship has always driven me, but transitioning from a traditional 9-5 mindset has been a journey,” Eric shared with AHN.

Despite all the hurdles that he’s encountered, Eric is proud of his willingness to take risks, embrace failure, and keep moving forward.

Through Collective Engram, Eric hopes to form a collaborative community of professionals—designers, researchers, and developers—working together to deliver innovative digital services to small businesses in need.

His mission is simple but profound: to empower entrepreneurs and small businesses by offering design and research services tailored to their needs, while also creating new opportunities for collaboration within the industry.

The Services of Collective Engram

Eric offers a wide range of services that cater to businesses and entrepreneurs at different stages of their digital journeys. His primary focus is on final design deliverables for web, applications, and print. Clients can opt for additional research services, but they are not always required.

Here’s a breakdown of the services offered through Collective Engram:

User Research (optional):

  • UXR Research Report
  • Competitive Analysis
  • Personas

Final Designs (Figma, Photoshop, etc.):

  • Visual Design Final
  • Wireframe
  • Interactive Prototype

Design Support:

  • Design System/Components
  • User Journey Flow/Site Map
  • Product Strategy Workshopping
  • Presentation Support
  • Development Support (Hand-Off)

Any new business can benefit from creating an online website or blog for their product, but Collective Engram is especially beneficial for small businesses, entrepreneurs, and startups that need a professional and cohesive online presence.

For larger projects, such as application development or e-commerce platforms, Eric’s product design and research services become particularly valuable. He tailors his approach based on the client’s needs and the goals they wish to achieve with their product.

The Future of Collective Engram

Looking ahead, Eric sees exciting opportunities for Collective Engram. “My main focus is bringing in new clientele and optimizing the workflow process for different client needs,” Eric says. Currently, his primary focus is web design, but he plans to expand into larger-scale projects such as application and product design and large e-commerce platforms.

Eric is also exploring opportunities in industries like healthcare and education, where large-scale data analytics play a crucial role. In addition, he is learning the basics of front-end development to work more seamlessly with developers on future projects.

Connect with Eric

In his efforts to better understand potential clients and their needs, Eric offers free consultations for businesses interested in working with him. You may reach him at: collectiveengram.com

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Know Your Value Proposition

Pain points and gain points are not necessarily new concepts, but some might think they are opposing concepts, when in contrast, the two complement each other. Through customer pain and gain points, you can get a better understanding of your customers’ needs, and offer a unique value proposition.

  • Pain point: As the name suggests, it’s something that “pains” your customers; an issue that they have that needs to be addressed; a challenge that they need to overcome.
  • Gain point: Gain point, on the other hand, is more about you. What can your product or service do for the customers; what can they gain from using your service; what can you help them with?

The two are extremely simple and are a good place to start when you’re trying to advertise your product or service since they consider both your and your customer’s sides to offer a value proposition that is valuable. 

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Winning The Race by Understanding Customer Journey

Before becoming a loyal customer, a lead has to interact with your product/service at various stages. This entire process is summarized in the customer journey, divided into 5 main stages:

  • Awareness: The customer becomes aware of your brand and your product, usually through search engines when searching for a solution to their problem.
  • Consideration: The customer is aware of your brands but also your competitors’;, they start wondering which of the options they should choose from.
  • Purchase: The customer makes a buying decision, either from your brand or your competitors’.
  • Retention: After the purchase, you need to consider how to get them to repurchase many more times, since retaining is cheaper than recruiting.
  • Advocacy: At this stage, the customer is basically your brand ambassador., Tthey love your product;, they tell their acquaintances about your product.

Understanding the journey and what stage the audience is at can help you understand their needs and adjust accordingly. Each stage has a different touchpoint as well, so adjusting to said touchpoint makes it more effective and less costly. Understanding the journey can help you win the race.

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At AHS, we specialize in helping brands capture attention and inspire action — whether you’re launching a new product or scaling your business, we’ll guide you to marketing that resonates and delivers results.

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Getting Back To Basics: 4Ps Marketing Mix

Sometimes, to create an effective marketing strategy for your business means going back to the basics. Popularized by Neil Borden, the 4P’s model is still widely used today, with each P representing a core aspect of the marketing mix:

  • Product: The core of your business, whether it is a physical product or a service. Understanding your product, what differentiates it from the competition, what is unique about it, etc.
  • Price: How much your product should be sold for. This should be based on the supply cost, how you position your product, and whether you should increase or decrease the price based on your target audience.
  • Place: The “where” of your product. Where can the customers purchase your products (online or physical stores, drug stores or supermarkets, etc). More so, it is also where you choose to advertise.
  • Promotion: How you reach your customer, either through advertising, public relations, or promotion, increases your brand awareness.

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Stories

Building Tomorrow: How Nan Lin Redefines Homebuilding with 3D Printing 

For Nan Lin, entrepreneurship isn’t just business; it’s freedom. A freedom earned through sacrifice, relentless execution, and a refusal to accept the limits of a broken system. As the founder of Kaizen Capital and 4DIFY, Lin is reimagining the housing industry, tackling its inefficiencies with cutting-edge technology and a bold vision. His mission? To build stronger homes faster, at lower costs, empowering communities and challenging the status quo.

From Immigrant Roots to Visionary Leadership 

Lin’s journey began at age 10, when he immigrated to America with his mother. While adapting to a new country, he was inspired by his loving parents’ sacrifices, which shaped his relentless drive. “I saw the lengths they went to give me a better life,” Lin says. “Their love and dedication became my compass.” Years later, that resolve led to the creation of Kaizen Capital, where he transforms underutilized properties into vibrant housing solutions: ADUs, subdivisions, condo conversions, and luxury short-term rentals. By unlocking hidden value in land, he delivers market-rate and affordable housing that strengthens neighborhoods.

But Lin saw a deeper problem: traditional construction is slow, costly, and vulnerable to fire, pests, and natural disasters. Frustrated by an industry stuck in the past, he founded 4DIFY to lead a new era of construction through 3D-printed concrete homes.

Nan Lin | Founder and Principal of Kaizen Capital and 4DIFY

3D Printing: The Future of Housing, Today

Lin’s vision for 4DIFY was sparked by a frustrating reality: “Wildfires destroy neighborhoods every year, yet we keep building stick-frame homes that burn like kindling,” he says.

After visiting several 3D printer manufacturers, Lin partnered with New York–based SQ4D. It took nearly a year to secure exclusive licensing rights, navigate regulatory hurdles, and obtain building permits, but he got it done.

Now, 4DIFY is building California’s first community of 3D-printed concrete homes. As this article goes live, their first printed home is nearing completion, despite heavy regulations and a steep learning curve. The team is already outperforming traditional timelines and cost benchmarks. The second and third homes will soon print simultaneously, targeting completion in two months, effectively one home per month at under $200 per square foot.

Despite challenges as an Asian immigrant, Lin managed to transform them into motivation and success. 

“We’re aiming to build at half the cost and in a quarter of the time,” Lin says. “That’s not a dream. It’s the direction we’re heading.”

Built with concrete, reinforced with rebar, and topped with metal roofs, these homes are resilient against fire, wind, earthquakes, mold, and pests. They’re also designed for long-term savings, with lower maintenance, less waste, and reduced energy and insurance costs.

“Critics doubted it would work,” Lin reflects. “But seeing is believing. This is the future.”

A Philosophy of Purpose and Resilience

Lin’s journey has been marked by relentless challenges, some seemingly insurmountable. “Obstacles never stop,” he admits. Yet he transforms adversity into opportunity, fueled by a positive mindset, solution-driven focus, and disciplined execution. His trusted team is his backbone. “No one succeeds alone,” he says. “My team turns the impossible into reality.” This resilience shapes his leadership, blending bold vision with purposeful action to create opportunities, particularly for communities long excluded from wealth-building. “Housing isn’t just a product,” Lin says. “It’s a platform for empowerment.”

Recognition and Inspiration

Lin’s impact is gaining notice. The Sacramento Bee named him one of the Top 20 AAPI Change Makers, and he was honored in the Business Elite Awards’ 40 Under 40. But for Lin, the real reward is inspiring others. “I want to show the next generation of Asian entrepreneurs what’s possible when we claim our seat at the table,” he says.

Lin wants to create opportunities for those marginalized by elevating the future of construction, making it more accessible for his community.

Join the Housing Revolution

Nan Lin isn’t just building homes, he’s redefining what’s possible. Through Kaizen Capital and 4DIFY, he’s creating a future where housing is affordable, resilient, and sustainable. Follow his journey and see the revolution unfold.

Connect with Nan Lin: