Manali Bapat

Navigating Tricky Design Projects: A Guide for Indian Mid-Level Designers --- Embarking on a design project can be both exciting and challenging, particularly when faced with unexpected complexities. Here's how Indian mid-level designers can handle tricky projects effectively: # 1. Understand the Scope: Define the problem statement, objectives, and deliverables clearly. # 2. Thorough Research: Understand the industry, target audience, and competitors through research. # 3. Set Realistic Goals: Establish achievable goals and milestones to stay on track. # 4. Collaborate Effectively: Maintain open communication with team members, developers, and clients. # 5. Prioritize and Iterate: Begin with the most critical aspects of the project and iterate as you progress. # 6. Manage Expectations: Be transparent about what can and cannot be achieved within given constraints. # 7. Embrace Flexibility: Adapt to changes and unforeseen circumstances with a positive attitude. # 8. Seek Feedback: Get feedback from peers, mentors, and clients for continuous improvement. #9. Stay Organized: Utilize project management tools to stay organized throughout the project. # 10. Learn from the Experience: Reflect on the project upon completion to identify lessons learned. Tricky design projects can be intimidating, but by following these strategies, Indian mid-level designers can confidently tackle them and turn challenges into opportunities for growth and professional development.

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For all the UX enthusiasts out there, here’s a list of some fantastic UX conferences happening around and you can attend in India. These are some of my favourite ones as well. 🙂 1. UXIndia,  https://2024.ux-india.org/ 2. UXnow, https://www.uxnow.org/ 3. UX360 Research Summit, https://lnkd.in/gSJfXD_q 4. International Conference on Research Into Design, https://lnkd.in/gUCEVvQ9 5. Hatch conference, https://lnkd.in/guyvAaEN 6. UXInsight Festival, https://lnkd.in/gPHb5Zby 7. ConveyUX, https://conveyux.com/ 8. AIGA Design Conference 2024, https://lnkd.in/gsKmfRWT 9. George UX Conf, https://lnkd.in/gQgHwuRF For more information, plz visit the specific event websites. Top 5 benefits of attending the conferences: 1. Connect with other professionals 2. Stay ahead of Industry Trends 3. Inspiration and Fresh Ideas 4. Showcase work 5. Attend amazing workshops and masterclasses When people with the same passion come together under one roof, the conversations are truly unstoppable. These gatherings create an environment so vibrant and inspiring that you wish the day would never end. The energy and vibe are unmatched. UX conferences are more than just events; they’re incubators for ideas and catalysts for growth. Some ideas that start as casual conversations come to life, sparking innovations that can shape the future of design. For others, it’s a place of clarity, where the fog of uncertainty lifts, revealing the path forward in their career. Don't think. Just decide your next UX conference, you would like to attend soon. 😁 #UserExperience #UXConferences #UXEvents #UXSummit #DigitalDesignConferences #ProductDesignSummit #UXGathering #UXDesign #UserExperience #UXResearch #DesignThinking #InteractionDesign #UIUX #UXStrategy

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Hello, I like many recently followed the election results by the minute, in that process I came across many news websites that were showcasing the results in such interesting ways, I wanted to showcase the designs used to convey the results of the election. Read the full article to learn more about the factors influencing design, the various strategies employed by news outlets and websites. https://lnkd.in/dKFx9bNa Key Takeaways: Diverse Design Approaches: Learn how different news outlets and websites have presented election results in unique and engaging ways. Factors Influencing Design: Understand how language, region, competitive standpoint, and information to be highlighted impact UI design choices. Multilingual Support: Explore how UI design can cater to the diverse linguistic preferences of Indian readers. User-Centered Design: Understand the importance of putting user needs at the forefront of the design process. Read the Full Article: https://lnkd.in/dKFx9bNa

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Not sure if this is actually a job vacancy or just another post to increase organic traction here profile and company’s presence There are many ghost interviews and fake job vacancies updated in Linkedin for ensuring company’s organic presence in social media. Dear companies, We job seekers have endure months of searching and applying of several forms just to get 1 interview call in this ATS/AI enabled job market. Your Ghost interviews and vacancies are only making things worse for us. Kindly have some heart. We are humans, not bots. Your understanding and ethical reactions will be appreciated. Thanks #fakejobs #ghostcalls #ghostinterviews #unethical #darkpractices

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Hello Designer's, Take a look at new the design concept for the Bento Layout : My Comeback Story in UX/UI Design. Embarking on the challenging path of UX/UI design, I encountered more than just design briefs; I faced the harsh reality of low payments in the Indian market. But in adversity, I found resilience. Fuelled by passion, I dove deeper into my craft, emerging not just as a designer, but as a testament to perseverance. In this journey, I've learned the true meaning of perseverance and how important it is to keep pushing forward, no matter the obstacles. I hope my story inspires others who are facing their own battles. Join me as I showcase the power of creativity, determination, and unwavering. 📈✨ 💬 I’d love to hear your feedback. Don't forget to like and share if you’re inspired! ❤️✌️ #UI #UX #UXUIJourney #BentoDesign #DesignInnovation #UserExperience #UserInterface #Dribbble #Remote #Freelance #Job #DesignCommunity #JobLossRecovery #CareerGrowth #CareerChange #UXDesign #UIDesign #OvercomingObstacles #CareerJourney #ProfessionalGrowth #Perseverance

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As UI/UX designers, we often face a unique set of challenges that can feel overwhelming. From balancing user needs with business goals to navigating feedback loops, every day is a new puzzle to solve. But it’s in these struggles that we find opportunities for growth and innovation! Here are a few tips to turn those daily hurdles into stepping stones for better designs: 1. User Feedback is Gold: Regularly seek and embrace user feedback. It’s a chance to refine your designs and align them with real needs. 2. Stay Curious: Explore new tools and methodologies. Continuous learning keeps our skills sharp and our designs fresh. 3. Collaborate: Engage with cross-functional teams. Diverse perspectives can lead to creative solutions we might not see on our own. 4. Prototype Early and Often: Rapid prototyping helps us test ideas quickly, reducing the risk of costly revisions later. Let’s share our experiences and support each other in this creative journey! What struggles have you faced today, and how did you overcome them? Reach out to us at https://lnkd.in/g59miHyq and let us help you find the perfect fit for your UI/UX design needs. We'll work closely with you to understand your requirements and provide you with a list of top candidates within 24 hours. #UIDesign #UXDesign #DesignThinking #UserExperience #CreativeProcess #Collaboration #ContinuousLearning

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In design hiring, many companies use take-home assignments to evaluate candidates. However, these tasks often have drawbacks such as uncompensated work, unrealistic time constraints, and potential for misuse. As someone who has hired over 10 designers, I've seen the limitations of traditional test assignments. To address these issues, I have shifted to design exercises in my recent hiring processes. These short, live tasks allow for real-time evaluation of key skills like problem comprehension, communication, and strategic thinking. Additionally, a portfolio review remains crucial for assessing a designer's UI skills and style. This approach respects candidates' time and mirrors the "live coding session" method in tech hiring. By adopting design exercises over lengthy take-home tasks, we create a more equitable and transparent interview process. #hiring #ux #designhire #designjobs

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Updates from CONFIG: When Ansh Mehra sir met founder of Figma . Such insightful conversation!

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Just type 'Job' in our advanced filter 🔍 to access all these design job portals 💸 in Design Wallet🔥. ⤵⤵⤵⤵ We've curated an extensive list of job boards tailored specifically for designers. 💎 Our list is categorised by: ⇾ Design Job Portals ⇾ UX Design Job Portals ⇾ Remote-Specific Design Job Portals ⇾ Job Portals for Junior Designers Access Design Wallet🔥 for FREE. https://lnkd.in/gnbz6chf Happy job hunting! 😊 ______________________ Like if you find it useful 👍 And Repost ♻️ for more designers to see.

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🧘‍♀️ Honest/unfiltered responses on some common things we hear about UX research : 1. Anybody can ask questions - Well yes, like anybody can dance or draw. It's only the matter of quality that varies with practicing and learning the techniques. 2. Qualitative v/s quantitative is always a debate - No, it's not. Both have very different objectives. Please care to read the definition at least. 3. The sample size is very small - I would be happy to debate if you know or at least are open to learn all the sampling techniques and their usage. 4. We tested the product with friends/people in my building/people in the park - Well, I will let the book answer this one.... ( #uxresearch #sampling #userreaserch #justkidding)

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✨ Weekly UX 10 Designing with Empathy and Impact Heard an interesting talk today by Dhun Patel, CEO of Therefore Design, at the Design Festival conducted by Pune Design Festival and Association of Designers of India. She beautifully articulated the essence of staying curious and deeply invested in understanding brands, market dynamics and most importantly, the end customers. Being a UX Designer her words deeply resonate with me. Here are some key takeaways that aligned closely today: 1️⃣ Stay Curious: She emphasized the importance of curiosity—an essential trait for exploring diverse ideas and staying ahead of trends. As UX designers, curiosity drives us to explore user behaviors, learn about emerging technologies and keep evolving in our craft. 2️⃣ Stay invested: She spoke about diving deep into the brand’s identity and market context. For UX, this translates into understanding the product vision, the brand philosophy, the user needs and the business goals, ensuring every interaction adds value. 3️⃣ Diverge to Converge: Her philosophy of injecting a quirky and fun side to designs with the consumer’s cultural and emotional context is a reminder to make user experiences not just functional but delightful, memorable and which deeply resonate with the user. 4️⃣ It's all about business: It's about achieving the business requirements and expectations by really understanding the perspective of the client for their product. 4️⃣ Co-create with your Client: She also talked about the importance of collaboration. As designers, we bring creativity and user-centric strategies but the client's deep understanding of their business truly shapes the product that delivers impact. ✨ Ultimately, design is a journey of constant exploration and refinement to create something that truly aligns with the users to make their lives better.

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Freshers keep asking how to prepare for a design interview... Obviously you can do multiple whiteboard challenges, prepare a neat portfolio, prepare common questions and what not but the best advice I ever got which helped me was "The best thing you can do to prepare for an interview is just be yourself" sounds simple right, but easier said than done !! #Design #Interview #preparation #Freshers

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As a UI/UX designer, I've come to realize that our job is a never-ending quest to create the perfect balance between form and function. 🤯 We spend countless hours agonizing over the placement of a single pixel, debating the merits of a rounded corner vs. a sharp edge, and trying to figure out why the client keeps asking for "just one more change." 🤦‍♂️ But hey, at least we get to play with cool tools like Figma and Sketch, right? 🎨 And let's not forget the satisfaction of seeing our designs come to life and users actually enjoying the experience we've created. 😌 So, to all my fellow UI/UX designers out there, keep pushing boundaries, embracing the chaos, and never stop striving for pixel perfection. 💪 Hiring from us via https://lnkd.in/g59miHyq #UIDesign #UXDesign #DesignStruggle #PixelPerfection #CreativeLife #DesignCommunity #DesignTips #DesignInspiration #DesignJokes #DesignMemes

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🔊 Design doesn't exist in a vacuum. 🔊 This reminds me of my experience as a Product Designer for The Enthubakers, a bakery based in Gurgaon, India, last Summer. I was responsible for reconfiguring the UX and UI of buying a product from the bakery's e-commerce website and opting into a subscription plan. Having spent two years studying Interaction Design in the Bay Area before the internship, I had gained exposure to some amazing design work that had been redefining UI/UX in trailblazing ways. So, I had some hefty plans in mind for what kind of design I wanted to create for The Enthubakers. Long story short, those plans had to be adapted when I learned that Indian customers looking to regularly buy staple foods such as bread didn't desire engaging animations or a reimagined e-commerce interface. They just wanted to get through browsing, selection, and checkout as swiftly and intuitively as possible. Design doesn't exist in a vacuum. Users' mental models are inevitably molded by the region and culture in which they exist. Part of being a successful designer is factoring cultural nuances into your work and knowing how to translate your skills in a way that can seamlessly conform to those mental models.

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As UX designers, we're always striving to create the most memorable and intuitive experiences for users. But have you ever thought about going beyond user experience to encompass the entire customer journey? Let me tell you about the time I paid extra just because things got... well, confusing. So, I’m at Mumbai airport, carrying a little extra luggage. I decided to book a cab, and after comparing prices on both Ola and Uber, Ola won the battle of the budgets. But then came the head scratcher: finding the pickup point. 😅 At the airport, you need to walk to the designated pickup point to hail the cab. Following the signs and directions provided by Ola, I kept navigating—but somehow, I still couldn’t find the pickup spot. I followed the boards, and standees, yet it was quite unclear. It felt like a mini scavenger hunt 🥲. Meanwhile, I noticed Uber's directions. Their signage was more frequent and precise, guiding passengers smoothly to the exact spot. After 10 minutes of wandering, I decided to pay extra for an Uber simply because it was that much easier to reach their pickup point. Here’s the thing: This was something that happened beyond just the app. It was about the entire experience, from booking the cab to arriving at your destination. My takeaway? It’s important to think about the complete journey of the user, great customer experience means thinking about every step of the journey—even the ones that happen outside the digital space. But one might not always be involved while working on such end-to-end journeys, so how might you apply this to your digital designs? 1. Well, start considering the end-to-end experience, not just isolated interactions. You may be working on 2 separate user flows but they may have an impact on each other in a critical manner. 2. Helping users avoid frustration by anticipating user pain points and addressing them before they occur. (aka, no mini scavenger hunts).

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📢 Exciting News for UX Designers! Are you preparing for your next design review and wondering how to navigate challenging questions or confidently defend your design choices? 🚀 In my 13+ years of experience, I have sat in over 100+ design review sessions, during which I have used exact scripts which have had stakeholders nodding in agreement. Today, I'm sharing a **FREE cheat sheet** that will transform how you approach design reviews. You’ll get **15 powerful, word-for-word scripts** that’ll help you: ✨ Explain design decisions confidently (even without a ton of data)   🔍 Respond when you don't have an immediate answer (with grace and professionalism)   💬 Defend your design choices persuasively   🤝 Integrate feedback smoothly, showing you're both receptive and action-oriented  Each script is packed with insights that showcase strategic thinking and user-centred design to help you nail your next review. 👏 Curious? Grab the Link in the comment, and download it for FREE #UXDesign #DesignReview #UserExperience #UXResearch #ProductDesign #DesignDecisions

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🚴‍♂️✨ Thrilled to announce the release of our latest blog post detailing the transformation of Swiggy's referral screens for delivery executives. We've tackled usability issues, introduced delightful loaders, and ensured clear communication of rewards. The result? Increased engagement, higher referral rates, and a seamless user experience. Check out the blog for an in-depth look at how we achieved this! Special Thanks to jaisheel nishad and Lalit Chaudhari for helping me out with the flow and Harin Nitisvaar for the animation :) #ProductManagement #UXDesign #ReferralPrograms #Swiggy

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As UI/UX designers, we navigate a fascinating yet challenging landscape. Here are some key insights to help you thrive: 🎨 Embrace Empathy Understanding user needs is paramount. Dive deep into user research—interviews, surveys, and usability tests are your best friends! 🔄 Iterate Relentlessly Design is not a one-and-done process. Embrace feedback and be prepared to pivot. The best designs often emerge from multiple iterations. 📊 Balance Aesthetics and Functionality A stunning interface means little if it’s not user-friendly. Strive for that sweet spot where beauty meets usability. 🧠 Manage Stakeholder Expectations Clear communication is essential. Regular updates and transparent discussions can alleviate misunderstandings and keep projects on track. 💔 Overcoming Imposter Syndrome It’s common to feel like you’re not “good enough.” Remember, every designer has been there. Celebrate your growth and keep pushing your boundaries! 🚀 Continuous Learning The design world is ever-evolving. Stay curious, explore new tools, and keep honing your skills. Hire best and talented designers at https://lnkd.in/g59miHyq Let’s share our struggles and successes! What’s your biggest challenge as a UI/UX designer? 💬👇 #UIDesign #UXDesign #DesignCommunity #ContinuousLearning

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