My Journey as a Product Designer (where I am now)
Design has undeniably become a hot topic in the last couple of years. People from various backgrounds have gravitated towards roles like UI Designer, UX Designer, and Product Designer. I started my design journey in 2021; albeit I might say i started in 2020 during my stint as an HR assistant in a tech company. In this article, I’ll take you through my design journey from 2020 to the present day, making this article sound like an answer to the famous “tell us about yourself” question during interviews but anyway, here we go, let’s dive into my design lifecycle from 2020-date.
Swapping Employee happiness with User experience
Although HR and Product design are two distinct fields, when done correctly, they are both based on the user-centric approach.
My first interaction with design was a matter of sheer interest. Back then, I was building my product (yes, 20-year-old me working as an HR assistant was very interested in being a tech CEO). I assembled a mini-team to assist me, and interestingly enough, that Slack channel still exists somewhere in the digital universe.
Our mission was nothing short of ambitious — we aimed to create Tether, one of Nigeria’s pioneering service provider platforms. Imagine artisans showcasing their talents effortlessly, while users access their services without getting lost in the Instagram maze. Though I lacked design training or experience, I joined forces with the designer on the team, making key design decisions and even creating detailed user flows. Oh, and let’s not forget about my other project — an escrow platform aimed at tackling fraud from online vendors (basically tackling what I ordered vs what I got scenarios) inspired by my genius friend (thatkingguy). Ah, the days when ideas flowed like a river 😆.
While those grand projects didn’t see the light of day, they were the nudge I needed to dive deeper into the world of design.
The Plateau…
They lied, practising your design skills every day doesn’t make you better, or does it?
From 2021 to early 2022, I worked with various mentors I connected with on Twitter (shoutout to Collins), seizing every opportunity to collaborate on real-life projects. But as time passed, I encountered what I now call the “improvement plateau.” It’s that phase where you’re designing every day, consuming design content, and seeking inspiration, yet you feel stagnant. Your past designs don’t seem to reflect any progress, leaving you questioning your understanding of design principles. It can be utterly frustrating, and if this is where you are, you are not alone.
It can be quite frustrating to put in a lot of hard work and not be sure where it’s all going or if you are doing it right, thankfully, if you have been doing something right, the “compounding effect.” will eventually rear its little head. All those countless nights and months of dedicated effort paid off, slowly but surely. In my case, my designs gradually improved before my eyes. Throughout 2021 and 2022, I invested significant time in refining my skill set, but it wasn’t until 2023 that something clicked. My advice to aspiring designers is to go beyond merely looking at designs — study them deeply. Regularly revisit your old designs and critically assess how they can be enhanced/improved. Remember, a design is never truly complete; there’s always room for improvement. Dive into Figma and explore those possibilities.
Then..
Now..
Although I haven’t landed the full-time gig of my dreams, my network keeps me busy with freelance gigs and personal projects. So, if you’re reading this and in search of a dedicated designer, look no further — reach out, and let’s make magic together!
I’m sharing my journey to inspire all of you amazing folks stuck in the “improvement plateau.” Trust me, you’ve got this! Just keep pushing forward. Remember, good designers aren’t built in a day, but with a sprinkle of determination and a dash of resilience, we can achieve the extraordinary. Until next time, keep your designs gleaming and your creativity beaming! 🚀✨
