We are often told that the path to success in Japan is straightforward: study hard, join a company, work long hours, and repeat. This system is built on precision and discipline, but it often comes at a heartbreaking cost: the fading of our creative spark. Our guest today spent years observing this struggle and realized that creativity isn’t a divine gift reserved for artists. Rather, it’s a survival skill we’ve forgotten.

Today on the Real Gaijin AMA podcast, we introduce a guest who refuses to color within the lines. He is a man who transformed his own grief and isolation into a blueprint for innovation. He proves that even a “gaijin“ with tattoos can thrive by putting broken pieces back together in unexpected ways.

Who is he?

Carlos Lastres is not your typical designer. A senior product designer, software engineer, and MBA holder, he operates at the volatile, lucrative intersection of aesthetics, code, and business strategy. A winner of the Apple Design Award for Inclusivity (2025, Speechify), Carlos has built digital experiences that have reached millions across SaaS, Web3, and health tech.

His journey is one of profound transformation. Growing up in Costa Rica, he was pushed toward “safe” paths. However, life took a turn when he lost his mother to cancer in his early 20s. This tragedy shocked Carlos to his core and forced him to ask hard questions about legacy and purpose. This quest led him to China and eventually to Japan, where he became a three-time TEDx speaker, a polyglot, and a vocal proponent of fostering creativity in the workplace. Carlos doesn’t just design products; he solves problems by blending his unique cultural perspective with his passion for business-driven, user-centric design.

On the agenda

We cut through the jargon to explore what it means to be creative in a rigid world.

* The “Gaijin“ Edge: How Carlos’ background as an outsider in Japan and China became his greatest asset for innovation.

* Creativity as a Survival Skill: Tactical steps to retrain the brain, break out of professional labels, and move beyond the “logical vs. creative” binary;

* Designing for Revenue: Why the best design isn’t just about beauty—it’s about data-informed decisions that move the needle.

* The AI Era: How tools are changing the landscape for product designers, and why the human “taste” factor remains irreplaceable.

* Lessons from the Journey: Insights from winning an Apple Design Award.

Key Takeaways

* Embrace cultural differences as a catalyst for professional growth: Carlos describes his journey through Latin America, Silicon Valley, China, and Japan as a master class in professional development. He learned to balance the innate creativity of his roots with the essential “speed-to-market” mindset practiced in China and the meticulous, quality-driven documentation standards found in Japan. Ultimately, he used this blend to develop award-winning software.

* View “gaijin” (foreigner) status as a strategic superpower: Rather than letting his status as a foreigner in Japan be a barrier, Carlos uses it to challenge rigid corporate norms. Acting as a contrast to the traditional Japanese “salaryman” archetype provides his colleagues with a different perspective and helps them feel more comfortable taking calculated risks and thinking creatively within a structure that often discourages standing out.

* Understand that true “balance” is a myth: Carlos asserts that achieving a perfect work-life balance is not the goal for high-performing professionals. He advises prioritizing based on a project’s specific needs, whether that means moving at lightning speed to capture market share or slowing down to ensure absolute quality and compliance when working with government entities.

* Leverage AI as a partner, not a replacement: Addressing the fear that AI will replace developers, Carlos argues that people using AI will replace those who do not. He emphasizes that the future of software interaction is natural language and has found that using tools like ChatGPT helps him become a better, more precise thinker by forcing him to refine his ability to describe complex ideas clearly.

* Invest in yourself to remain relevant in an evolving landscape: Carlos emphasizes that, regardless of tools or technological shifts, the most critical investment is in oneself. He maintains confidence in his ability to stay ahead of the curve by “learning how to learn” and continuously adding new skills, whether through certifications, personal projects, or exploring fields outside of software development. Carlos notes that he currently feels three times faster and more productive than before the widespread adoption of AI.

Timeline

Substack does not yet have the functionality to allow you to use a link to jump to a specific section like YouTube’s “chapters.” Please refer to the times listed below to navigate through our hour-long conversation. Thank you for your understanding.

Links

* Website: https://www.lastrescarlos.com/

* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carloslastres/

* Speechify — Text to speech. Voice typing. Fast answers: https://speechify.com/

* Glimpse – AI vision for your Ray-Bans: https://glimpseai.jp/

* YouTube TEDx Talk:

#CarlosLastres #ProductDesign #Innovation #Creativity #JapanTech #UXDesign #CareerAdvice #TechLeadership #DesignThinking #カルロスラストレス #プロダクトデザイン #イノベーション #クリエイティビティ #日本企業 #キャリア #デザイン思考 #テック #エンジニア #RealGaijin #リアル外人

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