Niyati Gupta

Excited to share my latest article featured by Artium on the transformative power of pairing in design. In this piece, I explore how pairing isn’t just for developers but can enhance collaboration across all departments, including design. Read more about how we can use this approach to stay ahead in the era of AI. Your thoughts and feedback are welcome! #pairprogramming #productdesign #AI #innovation

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Hiring for design system roles differs from hiring for other design or engineering roles. Clarifying what makes the roles unique is essential for screening candidates. Here are some nuances that I've found to be helpful. When asking for a presentation, stop using the word "portfolio" and start using "case studies." They tell similar stories but change the expectations from traditional visual portfolios. Include clear bullet points about expected responsibilities; don't just copy and paste requirements from other similar, existing roles. Just because they have the word "designer" or "engineer" in the title doesn't mean the job is the same. If your org still insists on doing a design exercise, tailor it to reflect what you expect from a design system practitioner. The day-to-day is unique, so don't waste time on an exercise that provides no value for you and sets the candidate up for failure. If hiring a design system team manager, you're not hiring an independent contributor and vice versa. Managing and building design systems is a lot of work. One person can't do both roles well simultaneously, so pick one and focus the interview questions on the expected role. What did I miss?

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Talk about an opportunity of a lifetime!

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This episode of the Finding Our Way podcast articulates, with such clarity, what’s been on my mind about the value proposition of design as a function. A business could leverage creating a stellar user experience as a strategic lever to succeed in the market, or NOT. The latter is totally acceptable where designers primarily focus on production tasks (like UI designs) in an org that prioritizes churning out features. Yet, it’s a bitter pill to swallow for many designers. They feel disgruntled and get exhausted speaking to the deaf ears about how great an outcome design can bring to the table and how influential they could be outside of Figma. This podcast talks about how many designer leaders are struggling to deal with this reality. As someone who is not in a leadership position, I feel the struggle too. But if I were to stay positive and constructive while prioritizing my mental sanity, these would be some options to consider. - Get hired by a company that REALLY values design (think Airbnb, Linear) - Be extremely good at your craft and find fulfillment in it, regardless of its direct impact on the bottom line—as long as you remain employed 🤷🏻‍♀️ - Elbow your way into cross-functional discussions as much as possible, at least within your team, to find opportunities to demonstrate what you can do outside of Figma. You can help expand the perspective on design that your cross-functional partners have, one person at a time. https://lnkd.in/gjheYY_f

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My LinkedIn profile describes me as a successful design leader, but that's not even half of the story. Behind the scenes is a rollercoaster of job rejections, lack of self confidence , financial setbacks, navigating industry switch, balancing college and freelance assignments and countless lessons on professional and interpersonal skills with each year. Learning to be a good manager was totally another feat. The most challenging of it all was seeking an entry into the product design field while studying graphic design from National Institute of Design, two totally different things but here I was, pushing the boundaries! All of these shaped me into who I am today. From self-support to enduring over 15+ interviews in preparation for Product Design opportunity, All I was doing was striving for more. Now I realise nobody has all the answers, even if it may seem that way. So just believe in yourself and put in your best efforts. Pushing ahead is the only key to this game. My advice to anyone starting their career journey is to stay in the present and give your best efforts to achieve what you really believe you can :) #productdesign

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Design success starts with documenting your journey! Tip for aspiring designers: Cultivate the habit of documenting your design process, no matter how raw or informal. These notes serve as invaluable guides during presentations or discussions with stakeholders. Transparency of thought process builds trust, fostering healthy dialogue and alignment with stakeholders. Plus, it boosts your confidence! #DesignTips #ProcessMatters #TransparencyWins

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Design Technologists, such a good topic, PJ Onori and I wanted to bring on friend Donnie D'Amato BFA., MA. for the convo. Back when we all started, it was a skill set I had dabbled with, but only with HTML/CSS. Donnie and PJ go head-to-head to talk about their roles as different types of design technologist/ux engineer and how this role is essential for product design and XFN growth, specifically if they can sit with design systems teams. #designsystems #podcast #designengineer #designtechnologist #productdesign #react #html #css

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If we're not talking about design maturity, agile process, or craft, then us designers are probably talking about ✨quality.✨ I certainly see my interviewer's eyes light up when I mention this magical word. "Design is the one that has to hold the quality bar," I tell them. But what if that didn't have to be true? For a truly high-quality product, I don't think it should be design holding the line. It has to be something baked into the organization - everyone holds the quality bar. Even though "quality" is a slippery thing to define, if we can define it and hold ourselves to it, we can reduce the tension in the org and start to think less about the mere baseline quality for the product and more about raising that bar - delighting the user. I very much enjoyed Luke Anthony Firth's take on how they folded quality into their product building process. Have a read! https://lnkd.in/g4SenmYZ #designleadership #productprocess #productdesign #productquality #designquality #opentowork

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After interviewing many designers on ADPList, I consistently offer the same advice: Simplify and reduce the amount of text and process sketches. Focus your case studies more on the finalized designs rather than the journey to get there. This might seem counterintuitive, but your portfolio serves as a validation of your high-quality visual and interaction design skills, as well as your product thinking. Showcase these qualities by emphasizing the designs themselves rather than the process behind them. Once you reach the 1:1 interview stage, you’ll have the opportunity to dive deeper into your process and explain how you achieved these designs. For now, let the designs speak for themselves. #designportfolio #designadvice #portfolioreviewtips

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The second part of my article on the value of explicit design rules is here. In it I dive head first into example in layout, position, ordering padding and margins with examples from various design tools. In the end of this part there's also a treasure trove of links to other insightful people writing on adjacent subjects. Hope you find it interesting and be swayed to try tools that allow for more expressive explicit design rules. https://lnkd.in/dmGpUHU6

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🌟 Proudly Presenting a Key Project from My Portfolio: Endorsed Employers Profile Template Redesign at Work180 🌟 During my tenure as a Senior UX Designer at Work180, I led the redesign of the Endorsed Employers Profile Template—an initiative that has set new standards for transparency and engagement on the platform. 🔗 Brand Integration: We crafted a space where the dedication of employers is transparently showcased, reinforcing trust and alignment with Work180's mission. 💬 User Engagement: The new design boosts user engagement by facilitating easier interactions with employer profiles, thus enhancing the overall user experience within the Work180 community. This project not only reflects our dedication to a user-centric approach but also underscores the impact of thoughtful design on user experience. 👉 Check out the details and more about the project: https://lnkd.in/g7dvYUQ7 #UXDesign #DigitalTransformation #UserEngagement

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Just attended a UXR session where we discussed the state of UX Research. While it's been around for a few years, it's still in its infancy. Early adopters of the practice are already seeing a significant competitive advantage. In fact, in the next 10 years, it's likely that every company will have a UX Research team. Don't be left behind - invest in UX Research now to stay ahead of the game! #UXResearch #UserExperience #CompetitiveAdvantage

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🚀 Unlocking Innovation: Insights from Mihika Kapoor at Figma 🚀 I've been fangirling over Lenny's Podcast lately. One of the recent episodes I indulged myself in featured Mihika Kapoor, a dynamic design engineering PM hybrid at Figma. I was 100% star-struck. Mihika's journey and wisdom offer valuable lessons for product managers, innovators, and anyone passionate about driving impactful change. Key Takeaways: 1. Zero-to-One Product Development At Figma, projects often begin with designing and prototyping even before they get the green light. This forward-thinking approach ensures that every team member sees the potential impact of their work. It also fosters a culture where employees feel empowered to present good ideas. 2. Creating a Compelling Vision At the beginning of each section, Lenny reads aloud tweets or comments that Mihika's colleagues have said about her. It seems to be a well known consensus at Figma that Mihika's ability to gain buy-in for new ideas is one of her most remarkable traits. By vividly describing what the world could look like if a project succeeds, she gets her team and stakeholders excited and aligned with the vision. 3. Figma's Internal Culture Figma fosters an entrepreneurial spirit through initiatives like Maker Week, an internal hackathon that encourages ambitious thinking and innovation. This culture allows team members to explore bold ideas and push the boundaries of what’s possible. 4. Handling Constant Change In a rapidly evolving environment, adaptability is key. Mihika shared strategies for navigating change and maintaining focus on the bigger picture, ensuring that teams stay resilient and proactive. Representation Matters! 💯 As a fellow brown girl in tech, it's incredibly inspiring to see Mihika Kapoor paving the way for the rest of us. Her journey and insights are a testament to the power of vision, culture, and empowerment in driving product innovation. Whether you're a PM or a team leader, there's a lot to learn from her approach to building impactful products. Thank you for reading!

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Highlighting my article on Friction in Design Process and how to overcome it. https://lnkd.in/gKXMAsBd #design #designthinking #designbuild #designstrategy #product #producctdesign #productmanagement #productstrategy #designprinciples #innovation #designers #digitaltransformation #ux #uxdesign #uiux #uidesign #designinnovation #application #software #softwaredesign #usability #userresearch #research #usercentereddesign #productleadership #uxwriting #designsystems #empathy #interfacedesign #usabilitytesting #userexperience #productdesign #accessibility #ui

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"Not only can you not borrow recipes 1:1 from a book or another company, you often can't even borrow them from another team in your organization. Everybody's at a different altitude, with a different oven, cooking a different quantity of a different item every single day. You will always, if I may, have to adjust for your locale, your pantry, and the skills of your chefs." Chef's kiss. You can have a loose process or framework you like to follow, then you adapt adapt adapt. Sometimes, even, within the same team. Gasp! "Embrace the discomfort. Have what feels like a slow, even excruciatingly slow planning conversation about the interface copy and product content at least once. See if the work doesn't go a little easier. Have the conversation again — hey, we learned some things last time, this is going better. Repeat, repeat, repeat. Now you're cooking." Hard convos are the way. Practice them, embrace them, have them.

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What role would UX professionals (researchers and designers) play in the era of AI and the future of probabilistic design? ***************************** As AI technology, models, and AI-powered features gain attention, I still believe that UX specialists play a crucial role in ensuring that AI systems are human-centric, focused on usability, and ethical, transparent, and accessible to everyone without stress, just as we have always done. 1. Human-Centric Design: - Focus on user needs, behaviors, and emotions. - Make AI systems intuitive and user-friendly. 2. Ethical and Transparent AI: - Ensure AI decisions are clear and understandable. - Integrate ethical considerations to build user trust. 3. Balanced Personalization and Customization: - Use AI to tailor experiences to individual preferences. - Balance personalization with consistency to avoid overwhelming users. 4.Usability and Accessibility: - Create easy-to-use AI interfaces. - Ensure accessibility for all users, including those with disabilities. 5. Collaboration with AI: - Enhance the design process with AI tools. - Work with data scientists and engineers to integrate AI capabilities. 6. Predictive and Adaptive Design: - Design interfaces that predict user needs. - Develop adaptive interfaces based on user interactions. 7. Data-Driven Design: - Use large datasets to inform design choices. - Continuously improve designs with user feedback. 8. Continuous Improvement: - Refine interfaces with real-time data. - Optimize user experience based on user feedback and continuous testing. While UX designers ensure AI technologies are user-friendly and effective, AI-driven approaches often overshadow user-first principles. This challenge remains a critical theme for UX professionals. Additionally, AI can handle many UI design tasks, such as automating routine work and generating design variations. This allows designers to focus more on strategic and creative aspects, enhancing efficiency and innovation.

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Reflecting on this journey, I'm filled with gratitude for the opportunity to guide and support so many talented designers. A few highlights of our time together: Demystifying Interviews: Helping mentees tackle tough behavioral interview questions has been incredibly rewarding. It’s a joy to see them grow in confidence and articulate their experiences and values compellingly. Portfolio Development: Reviewing and refining approaches to portfolio presentation has been another area where we’ve seen fantastic progress. It's been a pleasure to assist in honing their storytelling skills, ensuring their work not only shines but tells a powerful narrative. Confidence Coaching: One of the most transformative parts of our sessions has been implementing strategies to calm nerves and boost self-assurance. Witnessing mentees transform their anxious energy into poised and assured presentations has been truly inspiring. If you’re embarking on a career in design, or if you’re a seasoned professional looking to elevate your interview and portfolio skills, let’s connect! I’m excited to explore how we can work together to unlock your full potential. Thank you to everyone who has been a part of this journey. Here’s to continuous learning and growing together! #Mentorship #DesignThinking #CareerDevelopment #GivingBack

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Disclaimer: the job market is weird, sure, and "design" as a discipline has a massive titling/career-progression-labeling problem. That said... I continue to see SENIOR #designsystem Designer roles including "Drive the vision and project management..." as the first (or close to the top) requirement in the list. That is a LEAD or a MANAGER responsibility. NOT an individual contributor! Stop adding eons worth of work and responsibility to a SENIOR IC role and then get confused, upset, or act perplexed when the entire systems program/initiative isn't "on pace" or "delivering on it's promises". This particular one that erks me also includes "manage the system's backlog and roadmap" as if that's an IC designer's job... These aren't small companies, either. These are systems that would serve 100+ consumers across disciplines. So frustrating to see. /endrant

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Leveraging AI thinking will help you build better AI assistants. Here is my latest article on Medium titling "Design Thinking to AI Thinking" which got republished in UX magazine. https://lnkd.in/gCrB7Ajt #ai #artificialintelligence #aithinking #design #ux #medium #article

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