FAQ
Do you have experience with Figma?
I have 5 years of experience using Figma and over 8 years of using rapid-prototyping software. I also have 12 years of experience using Sketch. I've used Miro, Invision, Confluence, Airtable, Jira and other tools for collaboration and project management in enterprise environments.
Do you work better in teams or by yourself?
I work much better and more effectively in multi-disciplinary teams, where I can tap into various minds to coordinate a more refined and thorough outcome. I can still take on large problems independently if needed.
How do you handle criticism and pushback from colleagues?
I make sure to always have data to support my design decisions. When I get pushback from other designers or even non-design colleagues, I can resort back to this data to support my position. I also work to create and maintain an environment where criticism and pushback is encouraged because that is the best way to iterate and improve solutions. When working with non-design colleagues, it is important to set expectations to mitigate situations where impractical feedback is given from an uninformed perspective. This can be mitigated by articulating to the team the role of product design in the end-to-end product lifecycle. At the same time, it is crucial to maintain an environment where all ideas are valued and encouraged.
What are your strengths and weaknesses in the end-to-end product lifecycle?
I am a full stack designer that can take a simple idea and transform it into a high-impact commercial product. My greatest strengths come from my mastery in creative problem solving. As a result, I excel at ideation, research & experimentation, prototyping, strategy, and vision. I am also an expert at the stages that come after, like creating high-fidelity assets, standardizing design systems, accessibilty, and more. My biggest weakness is that I sometimes get too deep into the vision and get ahead of myself. However, this has been much more manageable when working with larger teams, as they tend to keep me in check.
What is the most important characteristic of your next job?
When I am passionate about something, there is nothing that can stop me from solving a problem. Combine this with my unique ability to master brand new domains in a short and efficient manner, and I can accomplish almost anything. In my next job, I need to be in a role where I am building unique solutions for complex and important problems. This is what I am truly passionate about.
Is your startup going to be a distraction from your full-time role?
I will be 100% focused on my full-time role during working hours. While employed, the focus of my startup transitions from sales to product development. This enables me to only put in a few hours per week to support and guide one or two engineers. This has never interfered with my full-time day job.
Why not focus 100% on your startup?
I know that I need to continue to develop many skills that can only be acquired and mastered in large team and business environments. I am hoping to spend at least 3-5 more years in these environments before fully immersing myself in entrepreneurship again. Additionally, my current business model cannot be sufficiently scaled to generate enough income for me to go full-time on this startup.