About Shaun Tai
Opportunity, by design. Opening creative careers to every community. Twenty years into his career, Shaun Tai uses creativity, technology, and education to advance economic mobility. He calls it Design for Social Good. In 2009, Shaun started BRIDGEGOOD in Oakland Chinatown, offering training, mentoring, and apprenticeships. The nonprofit has served more than 22,000 people across Northern California and beyond, with over $72.5 million in workforce outcomes.
Shaun’s family carried their craft from Taiwan to Oakland. His mom always said furniture is meant to be used. He learned the joy of making functional art for everyone. Today, Shaun designs opportunity the same way. He brings that joy home as a husband and father.
Experience
Now
Product & Systems Strategy
BRIDGEGOOD opens tech careers to first-generation creatives, most of them women and people of color, and it has always been tuition-free. With Google.org, Adobe, and the Golden State Warriors behind the work, more than 22,000 people have found their way in. Together, they have built over $72.5 million in jobs and wages.
$72.5 million
UX & Platform Architecture
A young designer in Fresno or Stockton deserved a place to shine. BRIDGEGOOD.com became that place, giving 9,800 creatives a free professional portfolio and a direct line to more than 1,000 businesses. Together they earned $3.24 million in their first tech jobs.
9,800+ creatives welcomed
Data & Civic Technology
Oakland Digital opened in 2009 on a hopeful bet: the city's rising talent was ready for the digital economy. Inspire Oakland put that talent on billboards. Alongside it came films on data ethics with Amazon's former Chief Scientist, and public meeting videos that welcomed San Francisco workers into decisions about their own health care.
$5.8M to the local economy
Digital Media Innovation
In the early days of YouTube, Pushin' The Bay TV sat down with E-40, Too Short, and Shock G to celebrate Bay Area hip hop in their own words. More than 30 million views later, it lives on as a treasured archive of the culture. ZTY Media carried the same storytelling to clients from Andreessen Horowitz to the City of Oakland.
30M+ video views
Education
Master of Arts, Architectural and Urban Design
San José State University
Interdisciplinary studies with a 4.0 GPA. Thesis on small, green, passive solar backyard homes.
Bachelor of Science, Advertising
San José State University
Magna cum laude, with a minor in management.
Bachelor of Arts, Graphic Design
California State University, East Bay
With honors, and a minor in multimedia.
Collaborations
Organizations across design, technology, education, healthcare, sports, and community.
Co-led Bay Area creative mural program
Powering tuition-free career pathways
Investing in workforce equity for creatives
Advancing UX career pathways for creatives
Scaling workforce training regionally
Building community workforce pathways
Funding East Bay design education
Showcasing student art across OAK airport
Training students in design thinking
Opening UX projects to emerging designers
Building a portfolio platform for students
Co-led community programs and activities
Gallery
Recognition
Selected press, awards, and invitations to keynote.
Shaun Tai
Shaun’s work is centered on BRIDGEGOOD. Each year, he partners on three outside projects with the potential for lasting impact. If your work shares that purpose, start a conversation.
Connect
Work, moments, and updates.