What led you into design?
I could talk for hours about what led me to design, but in short, I've always been inquisitive about the beauty of everyday things and the world around us—pop culture, music, and evolving technology. Growing up, I loved creating, whether through building Legos, doing arts and crafts, or competing with my older brother to see who could draw our favorite cartoon characters best (PS... I was better). In essence, creativity was something I was drawn to instinctively.
As I grew older, I realised that design was the perfect balance of these interests, allowing me to combine my love for aesthetics with a desire to improve how people interact with the world around them, which ultimately led me to study industrial design. Through university, my desire for aesthetics as the primary goal was broadened by various forms of creative expression introduced by my peers and lecturers, fueling my passion to design with purpose and ensuring that beauty is matched by utility and function. This is also where I first discovered UX and interface design and its crossover with industrial design.
What later drew me in was the perfect intersection of empathy and design innovation, which I have the luxury of engaging in every day as a product designer. However, at heart, I would say I'm just a creative who loves to create!
What does a typical day look like?
A typical day for me starts around 8 AM. I work remotely and usually go into the office once or twice a week, or more, depending on project teams. I recently started journaling again, so in the morning before work, I like to begin my day with that and then maybe grab a coffee. On days when I go into the office, I enjoy grabbing lunch with coworkers at this awesome food spot nearby called Farmer J's (no gatekeeping here) and going for long, coffee-fueled lunchtime walks.
What's your workstation setup?
My work setup is pretty standard, but I have the luxury of working between a few different arrangements. At home, I've got a regular Dell XPS monitor that I use for my main design work, along with a laptop screen for Slack or Teams, as well as all my other peripherals. I'm pretty big on music, so I always have something playing to stay motivated.
Where do you go to get inspired?
The vibrant London scene has inspired me a lot recently. From the architecture of buildings to artisanal coffee shops and small alleys, the blend of cultures that London represents is incredibly refreshing. The feeling of immersing yourself in a city that is bigger than you serves as a significant source of inspiration.
Exhibitions and art galleries are another source of inspiration for me. Being able to detach from day-to-day production and simply be a spectator is an amazing feeling. Recently, I've had the pleasure of seeing a few exhibitions at the Tate Modern as well as the Victoria and Albert Museum.
What product have you recently seen that made you think this is great design?
There are too many to name, and this might be a cliché choice, but it’s probably going to be Apple. As a kid, I can still remember when they unveiled the first iPhone, which will always be a pivotal moment in technology. I recently watched their keynote where they introduced the integration of a hearing aid feature into the AirPods Pro 2. Although it may seem minimal, it could benefit many people by eliminating the price disparity of traditional hearing aids, potentially cutting the price in half. This move will go down as one of the first to introduce this functionality to traditional audio devices, so I'm intrigued to see where they take it once they get FDA approval.
What pieces of work are you most proud of?
I'd like to shout out Yuh, one of the first projects I worked on in my design career that was shipped. Yuh was conceived by Swissquote, a Swiss banking group, in late 2019, aiming to disrupt the banking sector through its innovative approach. The app was successfully rolled out in May 2021 and is now available for download in the App Store. This experience showed me the power of what can be achieved with a tightly knit team in a short timeframe.
What design challenges do you face at your company?
I've had the pleasure of witnessing incredible growth in the two years I've worked at this company, alongside amazing colleagues who push the boundaries of innovation and design every day. The design challenges I face often revolve around balancing creativity with functionality. While I'm still early in my design career, these challenges push me to think innovatively and find creative solutions that elevate the final product.
Additionally, staying on top of design trends and integrating new technologies without overcomplicating the user experience is an ongoing challenge. With the integration of generative AI, we now need to consider how to leverage this technology responsibly for the benefit of our users.
What music do you listen to while designing?
Any advice for ambitious designers?
Don't be afraid of failure or adversity; it's usually in pivotal moments of growth that we learn the most. Lean into the discomfort and think of design as a journey, understanding that everyone's path is a little different.
Also, stay curious and keep learning. Push the boundaries of your creativity because you never know where it might take you. Explore different mediums—there's always something new you can apply to your craft. And remember, whatever you're feeling, someone else has likely felt before, and it's perfectly normal.
Anything you want to promote or plug?
I’d like to plug a book that I always return to whenever I’m feeling creatively stuck or find myself in a rut. It’s called Steal Like an Artist by Austin Kleon, and it’s a fantastic read for anyone in a creative field. Maybe it could help someone who might find themselves in a similar position!
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