Creativity meets innovation in Tiffany Teng’s classroom. As a Lecturer in Digital Product Design (ENTR 405) with the U-M Center for Entrepreneurship, Tiffany helps students explore how design and technology can solve real-world problems. A U-M alum with a BA in Art & Design, she began her career in marketing and illustration before discovering digital product design through an internship at a virtual reality (VR) startup, a first step into the fast-paced world of tech entrepreneurship.
That experience opened her eyes to the passion-driven world of tech entrepreneurship. Her time working at a VR startup and as a student staff member at optiMize (U-M’s student startup incubator) showed her just how many career possibilities existed beyond the traditional paths she had imagined growing up.
Once the Student, Now the Mentor
As a student, Tiffany took digital product design and then returned as a teaching assistant under Andy Seidl, the instructor who had originally taught her. When Andy decided to move on from the position, he recommended Tiffany take over the role. Now, she gets to bring her own experiences into the classroom and help students discover what’s possible.
What inspires Tiffany is the energy and passion students bring to their ideas. She’s committed to guiding the next generation of creators with the knowledge she gained in school, helping them turn creative thinking into meaningful, real-world solutions. For her, there’s nothing better than seeing students grow and knowing she’s made a tangible difference along the way.
Tiffany’s Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs and Innovators
Try it out! See how steep the mountain is for you, and if it’s something you want to pursue, there’s no better time than now.
When she’s not helping students design what’s next, Tiffany enjoys playing tennis, trail running, and making pottery. Whether she’s working with digital tools or clay, she brings the same spirit of creativity, curiosity, and experimentation to everything she does.