What led you into design?
I think my fascination with design was sparked early on. My dad, a civil engineer, would create large structural designs with incredible precision using drafters and rulers. Witnessing that level of attention to detail and creativity was my first introduction to the power of design.
My own path began with a love for sketching in my childhood, which laid a creative foundation. This really carried into my undergraduate studies, where I genuinely loved one of my courses: engineering drawing. Arguably, I was one of the best in my department, and that experience of meticulously visualizing and building structures somehow translated into my side hustle of developing websites.
I absolutely loved the front-end aspect of that work—there was a certain magic in seeing my code changes appear instantly on the screen. The instant feedback was incredibly rewarding, and it honed my passion for building things.
After I graduated, I began my professional career at one of the largest IT companies in India as a front-end developer. It was there that I had the opportunity to work closely with UX designers and architects. I became completely captivated by their process—the structured approach they took to understanding a user problem and strategically balancing user needs with business goals. This was my "aha!" moment; I realized I wanted to be on the side of the process that defined the problem, not just built the solution.
This realization prompted me to pivot my career, and I started taking on design responsibilities for clients in the insurance and banking industries. While I was gaining hands-on experience, I felt a strong need for formal education to deepen my understanding of design principles and research methodologies. That's why I decided to pursue a Master's in Human-Computer Interaction, which has been instrumental in shaping me into the designer I am today.
What does a typical day look like?
As for every designer, I find that no two days are exactly alike, but a typical day balances cross-functional collaboration with dedicated time for design work. Sometimes, a day is all about collaboration, and that's okay, too.
My day usually kicks off around 8.45 a.m. with a cup of coffee or tea. I use this time to review my calendar, catch up on emails and chats, and clear any blockers, especially since many of my cross-functional partners are in different time zones. I also check my weekly to-do list to decide on my priorities for the day.
The first half of the day is often dedicated to collaboration. This could be a weekly sync with my working group on a project or a one-on-one with a product, engineering, or design partner. I really value these sessions for aligning on strategy and making sure we're all moving in the same direction.
I've learned to be very intentional about protecting my focus time, so I try to schedule my hands-on design work for the afternoons. This is when I get to do the "actual design work"—anything from working on UX strategy to building high-fidelity prototypes, depending on the project phase.
Our office has some great walking paths, and I try to go out and take one-on-one meetings over a walk to get some fresh air and build a stronger connection with my teammates. It's a great way to have more candid conversations. I usually try to wrap up my day around 4:30 p.m. to get home and spend time with my family.
What's your workstation setup?
My main setup is a 2021 MacBook Pro, which I connect to a 32-inch Samsung external monitor. I use the standard Apple keyboard and trackpad for peripherals—nothing too out of the ordinary.
Where do you go to get inspired?
I find that my inspiration comes from a combination of sources, both in and out of the digital world.
The digital design community is always my first stop. I usually look at platforms like Behance, Awwwards, Muzli and Dribbble for visual inspiration and to see what trends are emerging, but I get the most value from reading detailed case studies and articles on sites like Medium and UX Collective. I also follow a few designers on Instagram and LinkedIn who provide great insights on emerging trends, especially with the rapid changes we're seeing with AI.
Equally important to me is inspiration from the real world. I love observing everyday things, from the way a physical product's packaging is designed to the intuitive layout of a museum or even how a service like a food delivery app manages to streamline a complex process. I believe the best design principles can be found in our surroundings, and these observations help me understand the core of human behavior.
Ultimately, I view inspiration not as a solution, but as a starting point. When I find something that captures my attention, I make a point to analyze it and ask, 'Why does this work so well?' I'll collect these ideas on a mood board and try to break down the underlying principles—whether it's hierarchy, color theory, or user flow. This continuous cycle of observation, analysis, and experimentation is what truly fuels my creativity and helps me solve problems in my work.
What product have you recently seen that made you think this is great design?
While there are many well-designed products, two recent examples from very different ends of the product spectrum stand out to me.
On one hand, I’ve been incredibly impressed with Perplexity AI. What I find so brilliant is how its user interface has been designed to solve a completely new problem: synthesizing complex information from multiple sources into a single, coherent answer. The information architecture and visual hierarchy are exceptionally well thought out. The way content is presented—with clear source citations and related questions—makes the experience feel intuitive and keeps the user from feeling overwhelmed. It’s a great example of a product built on strong feedback loops, rapidly adapting to how users want to interact with a conversational AI.
On the other hand, I’ve always admired the sustained design excellence of a product like Instagram. What’s so brilliant is the way it constantly evolves while balancing its core experience. I find the seamless integration of features like Reels and Threads into the existing feed to be a masterclass in balancing user habits with new business goals. The small details, like the "more information" bottom sheets and the personalization of content, show a deep commitment to giving users control and providing them with a relevant experience. It proves that great design isn't just about groundbreaking new products; it’s about the strategic and thoughtful evolution of an existing one.
I also have a great appreciation for the RingConn app and the ring itself. It's a fantastic example of how a simple, focused design can be incredibly effective. I think app's strength lies in its ability to present complex health data in a clean, intuitive way. It's a good example of simple and effective design. Of course, there could be improvements but overall I appreciate the design. This design approach demonstrates that sometimes, the most successful products are those that empower users by simplifying their experience rather than overwhelming them with options.
What pieces of work are you most proud of?
Having been in the tech industry for over 12 years, I've had the opportunity to work with clients across the world in diverse domains like insurance, banking, and healthcare. This experience has allowed me to lead projects that have created significant business value and made a tangible impact on users.
If I had to highlight one of the relatively recent project I'm most proud of, it would be the design work I led at Huntington National Bank. Specifically, the business account origination process for both in-branch and online experiences. What made this project special was that I led the design team during the pandemic, which required us to quickly adapt to a remote work environment. I completely revamped the in-branch account opening process, which was a tremendous success. The new design dramatically reduced the account opening time, giving bankers more time to build relationships with customers. Following that, I led the design for the online business account opening process, which was a critical solution that benefited both the bank and its customers as they navigated COVID restrictions.
Another project I'm incredibly proud of is a computer-tailored decision support tool for lung cancer screening called Lungtalk in 2017. I worked on this project during my masters and played multiple roles, from UX researcher and designer to developer and usability tester. We even had a study protocol published for our work. This project was a great example of a research-driven design process and using technology to improve people's lives.
Currently, I'm with the Google Analytics design team, leading several highly impactful projects focused on bringing power of AI to Intelligent Home and our mobile app among other projects. While some of the projects I'm leading are still in flight, I can say that the scale of the user impact is enormous. It's an experience that makes me feel both humbled and incredibly motivated to continue creating intuitive experiences that help users achieve their goals.
What design challenges do you face at your company?
That's a great question, and it’s one of the things that makes my work so interesting. As a designer on the Google Analytics team, I face a variety of challenges, but a core one is helping people make sense of their data.
The product serves an incredibly wide range of users, from a small business owner who just needs a quick summary of their website traffic to a seasoned data analyst who needs to build complex reports. I have to design an experience that caters to that entire spectrum, making sure a new user can find immediate value while an expert still has the power and depth they need. It’s a constant balancing act in my design choices, from the information architecture to the visual hierarchy.
The introduction of AI has also added a new, exciting dimension to this work. I'm actively leveraging AI to solve some of these core challenges by bringing new ideas to the product. Beyond that, the sheer scale of the product presents its own set of challenges. The technical constraints of processing and presenting enormous amounts of data also add a unique layer of complexity to the design process.
These are the challenges that make the work so rewarding. It's not just about designing a dashboard; it's about helping people understand their data and ultimately empowering them to make better decisions for their businesses. That’s a problem I'm passionate about solving.
Any advice for ambitious designers?
For ambitious designers, especially those who are early in their careers or at a mid-senior level, my advice would be to relentlessly focus on your craft and communication. While your technical skills are the foundation, your ability to articulate your ideas and collaborate effectively is what truly sets you apart. Soft skills are not just "nice to have"; they are the difference between surviving and thriving.
Equally important is investing in your professional network. Connect with and learn from other designers, and actively seek out a mentor. A good mentor can provide invaluable guidance that helps you navigate your career path more intentionally.
Anything you want to promote or plug?
Feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn to stay in touch - https://www.linkedin.com/in/anurag1490/
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