Local StoriesApril 24, 2023

Hidden Gems: Meet Tina Tang

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Tina Tang.

Hi Tina, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Back in 2019, I had been working in IT consulting for just over 6 years. I was working really hard for a promotion, and I finally got it. Yet, the fulfillment I felt was fleeting. In search of more fulfilling career growth, I took a nerve-wracking leap and quit my job to enroll in a full-time master’s program at my alma mater, the University of Virginia. As I delved into the fields of machine learning and computer vision, I was struck by the incredible potential of AI to enhance creativity and facilitate communication using generative models. Before choosing an engineering career path, I had completed 4 years of studio art classes, and for the first time in my life, I could see those two paths – art and engineering – converging into one. I thought this is the fulfilling thing I’ll do next.

Generative AI has been making waves in the news lately, with ChatGPT passing medical exams and Stable Diffusion generating stunning art. But, back in 2020, the excitement around AI was brewing in a smaller community of AI research scientists and engineers (mostly in academia), including myself and my fiancé, Anthony. Anthony and I envisioned how AI could democratize image composition and design, bringing complex tools to the everyday smartphone user. But we strongly believed the one-tap filter interface used in many AI image editing tools was insufficient for creative applications. So, we set out to develop an app that would give users greater control over the output, enabling them to mix and match model-generated results with precision and customize the design to suit their unique vision. We got excited about this idea and started building a rough version 1. As soon as we had a working version on our phones, we started testing our app around our home and discovered it was incredibly helpful for visualizing ideas related to paint and décor.

We had been talking about adding built-in shelves to this nook in our living room for years and couldn’t decide between neutral paint colors or moody colors, floating versus framed shelves, types of storage, etc. Anthony thought dark colors would look better. I thought light colors would look better. It’s kind of funny that the first thing we wanted to do with our app was prove out our ideas to one another. It turns out Anthony was right. Once we could see our ideas in a tangible visual, it was clear that “moody” was the winner. We realized how helpful our app was for visualizing DIY ideas around the house and started showing it to people. I even stood outside Home Goods and Crate and Barrel to see how shoppers would react. Their eyes would light up, and their excitement was enough validation for us to focus on Bristles full-time. We knew we were on to something special.

As we developed a polished version of our app, we sought feedback from DIYers and built a wonderful beta community that continues to give us helpful feedback today. Our goal was to empower DIYers to explore new avenues of creativity – to create designs that are as unique and individual as themselves and their clients and then to find the confidence to dive in. We’ve already seen many creative ideas come to life and it is tremendously rewarding.

We recently released the Bristles App in the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store. We’re very excited to see what the future holds for Bristles, and we’ll continue to pour our hearts and souls into adding new features that put the power of AI into the hands of DIYers.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Entrepreneurship is like a Spartan race. You’re running as fast as you can, but every few feet you have to figure out how to overcome an obstacle in order to move forward.

I’m often asked about how we will compete with industry giants in design software. At first, this question weighed heavily on my mind, and I struggled to find a clear answer. Then, I found my guiding light: focusing on the people that are overlooked by these bigger companies and creating design tools that meet their unique needs. Our first obstacle was learning about who was being overlooked. Once we learned who, we became driven by a deeper sense of purpose to build for them.

We started narrowing our focus to DIY, where Anthony and I struggled with design personally. Then, as I interviewed hundreds of DIYers, we learned about furniture refinishers. In interview after interview, I would hear about how furniture refinishers resorted to scribbling on top of images on Instagram stories to try to communicate their paint design ideas to their clients and followers. Alternatively, they would spend hours in Photoshop working on a single mock-up. They put in the effort because it was important for them to plan out their ideas. If they choose the wrong color or the finished piece has trouble selling, they would have to re-sand it, re-prime, re-seal, re-paint, and change the hardware. It could take days of re-work, and many refinishers work from their homes or garages, so they can only work on one or two pieces at a time. I had dabbled in upcycling myself – that is, buying thrifted or secondhand furniture and refinishing it with paint and new hardware, but not to the level of the artists I’ve gotten to know on the Bristles journey.

I was amazed to learn about the hard work, creative energy, and artistic attention to detail furniture artists put into their craft. If you take a look at the “before and after” shots, you’ll be amazed at their stunning transformations too. After my interviews, many furniture refinishers thanked me for building a tool to help them. That really pulled on our heartstrings. Anthony and I became laser-focused on making sure our app empowered furniture refinishers to visualize their artistic ideas to share with clients ahead of doing the hard work. Today, most of our customers are furniture refinishers, and they’re excited about the Bristles concept! Next, we’ll cover more DIY use cases we’ve learned about in interviews like decorative accent walls and using paint as a design element rather than a backdrop – bold ideas that feel too risky without a plan.

In my experience so far, the struggle we experience for every obstacle we face is far outweighed by the reward we feel when we eventually overcome them.

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
At Bristles, we understand how daunting it can be to bring your creative vision to life. That’s why we developed an app that empowers DIYers to visualize their ideas for transforming furniture, interior and exterior spaces with new paint and materials. With our smart eraser and virtual painter’s tape, you can experiment with different color schemes and designs without the fear of messing up. Our goal is to give you the creative flexibility to design as you wish while making the process as easy as possible.

We know that visual communication is key when it comes to sharing ideas with clients and partners. That’s why Bristles makes it simple to create realistic mock-ups of your project ideas using just images of paint colors and products. And with our auto background removal tools, you can seamlessly integrate new hardware or décor from your own photos or our library of products.

Our app is optimized for DIYers, offering powerful image editing features without the overwhelming complexity of desktop software. You can paint anything from walls to ceilings to furniture, and even the tiniest details like hardware! With Bristles, you have ultimate creative freedom to design as you wish without the hassle of managing cumbersome layers.

As a founder, I’m proud to offer an app that helps DIYers and furniture artists turn their vision into a reality. Our app is currently available in the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store. We’re working on some exciting updates including an idea generator to help you see design options quickly if you’re trying to make a quick decision at the thrift store or touring an open house. Stay tuned for those!

What were you like growing up?
Growing up, I was very shy. I didn’t speak a word of English except “hello” and my name when I started Kindergarten and actually completed Kindergarten twice. In hindsight, I needed the extra year to start picking up the language. Thankfully, I was young and learned quickly, but even after I became fluent, I was scared to speak up. My grades were always great except in communication categories. I preferred drawing to express myself, and what started as a crutch became an asset over the years. I worked really hard to improve my writing skills and read tons of books. It paid off. Fast forward to entering the working world, where I received praise for my ability to use visuals effectively to convey complex concepts and ideas in consulting and graduate school presentations. Six-year-old me would have never guessed I would present anything to large audiences. I’m grateful for my experience growing up because now I can look back and appreciate how far I’ve come. Whenever I participate in public speaking events today, I think back to when the idea of being good at presenting seemed impossible. It still isn’t easy, but practice makes…possible. If I can do it, anyone can.

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