Malyssa Mavetz

Hey designers 👋 You NEED to remember this👇 As a designer you’re not actually selling a design. You’re selling the outcome. For many businesses that’s credibility. Does it look like their company is run out of a basement or does it look like a legit business. You have the ability to change perceptions and that’s super valuable and powerful! #design #designer #graphicdesign

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Most designers focus on low rates. You shouldn’t. As a Senior Designer, it’s easy to fall into these traps: Lowering rates to get work Undervaluing your experience Chasing client approval over fair pay "Value" isn’t just a strategy. It’s who you are. If you don’t assert your worth... If you don’t believe in the value you bring... If you don’t charge based on your experience... Your career might stall. I choose projects wisely. I charge fairly for my work. I take on clients who value me. So here’s my advice to you: Pause. Reflect. Look at your rates. Look at your projects. See the value you bring. Look at how your work impacts client success Know your value → Charge your worth P.S. Repost this empowerment ♻️

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I've noticed an interesting trend, more and more product designers are eyeing a switch to product management. I’m even hearing whispers that some companies are considering merging these roles altogether. PMs excel in driving strategy, aligning with business goals, and ensuring products succeed in the market. Designers focus on crafting exceptional user experiences and solving problems creatively. The overlap in areas like user research might explain why some designers feel ready to step into PM roles and why some PMs think they can handle design tasks. IMO keeping them separate allows both functions to excel in what they do best. What's your take?

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"We have designers who have innovative hypotheses as they conceptualize projects. What I do as a researcher is study those concepts, collect and analyze data, and verify hypotheses that support our work." Learn more about Mahshid Jalalian—who was recently recognized as a Healthcare Design Rising Star—and her work as a Design Researcher. In this Quick Take, we explore the concepts and projects fueling her passion for design innovation ⬇ https://lnkd.in/enKQzgu3

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Some argue that ‘knowledge of a specific field’ can speed up the process. However, a good designer who understands professional standards can adapt to a new field relatively quickly—sometimes in a matter of days or weeks. Limiting candidates based on industry experience overlooks the versatility and problem-solving skills that great designers bring to the table.

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I know this might be unpopular, but this is for the design leaders: You don't need a designer on every project. Some decisions can be made quickly by others with a quick conversation. Not every design project needs innovation or even research. It's your team. You can choose where to invest your bets. Invest them wisely for the greatest business impact. #ux #designthinking

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0 YEAR EXPERIENCE IS THE ENTRY LEVEL NOT 1-2 YEARS

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One thing I’ve noticed in our industry is that designers are often evaluated by the final shipped product, not the quality of their original designs. I understand why—it’s the tangible outcome—but this approach overlooks the essence of a designer’s skill set. As designers, we rarely have full control over the implementation process. We advocate for pixel-perfect execution, but real-world constraints like time and budget often dictate otherwise, especially in MVPs and funding phases. Design is about more than just the end result. It’s about the process, creativity, and problem-solving along the way. #DesignTruths #ProductDesign #UXUI #RealTalk

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Have you ever felt trapped in a career loop, stuck in the same senior designer roles year after year? Have you found yourself taking on leadership responsibilities without the recognition or compensation to match? If so, you're not alone. Many talented designers face the frustrating reality of the "Senior Designer Ceiling," a career plateau that can be difficult to overcome. But it doesn't have to be your story. At Yeh IDeology, we've helped countless designers shatter this glass ceiling and ascend to the leadership roles they deserve. Our Thrive By Design program provides the tools, strategies, and support you need to break free from the limitations and unlock your full potential. Imagine a future where: Your skills are recognized and rewarded. You're leading high-impact design teams. You're shaping the future of your industry. Join us for our upcoming workshop on September 5th and learn how to: ✅ Identify the hidden barriers holding you back. 🚀 Develop the leadership skills that truly matter. 💰 Negotiate for the compensation you deserve. Don't let the Senior Designer Ceiling define your career. Take the first step towards breaking free and achieving your leadership aspirations. Register now: https://buff.ly/3TfASqB #designcareer #leadershipdevelopment #careercoaching #seniordesigner #thrivebydesign #yehideology

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📣 Designers, you might be surprised at how easy it is to EARN MORE with a few smart moves! In today’s episode (112) of Design Business Freedom podcast, I’m sharing 10 powerful steps to help you reclaim your PROFITS and PEACE. Here’s a hint: one simple step (with just a little commitment) could make a huge difference in your design business. Sometimes, it’s those unnoticed expenses that add up over time, quietly draining your profits🗑️. When you commit to these 10 steps, you’ll see an uptick in your bottom line and be ready to welcome bigger projects and better clients. And the best part is you can do them ALL in ONE DAY! You’ve got this, and I’ve got you. Always. Catch this episode wherever you find podcasts, and start making these quick, impactful changes today. Your business deserves it! 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gYEXnxW2 . . . #designerentrepreneur #interiordesignerlife #interiordesignfirm #boostyourprofits

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Great insights on job search from the hiring backstage. Read those tips and take them to heart when applying for a design job!

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Visual Identity vs. Brand Guidelines

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“At anything in the fridge if you’re hungry. My home is your home.” (How you can bring UX into your home to make guests feel welcome) I always joke that UX designers make the best hosts and party planners because we like to make the experience optimal even outside the workplace. Once thing I’ve noticed from decades of both being a guest and a host, is that food always comes into the picture. The sweetest hosts welcome their home with open arms and invite you to raid their pantries and fridges at our convenience. I’ve noticed that unless you are very comfortable with that person, or a repeat guest, that open invitation lays there as a polite pleasantry that is never acted upon. Of course, I’m not gonna just eat whatever you have in your fridge, or mess up your meal plan. But on the flip side, guests aiming to be just as polite don’t say anything, quietly hungry, or Make plans in their head to get food afterwards, or subtly make passive comments asking if the other person is hungry. To solve for this challenge, I’ve created a guest specific area for snacks in the pantry, and drinks in the fridge. This has a sign marked for them. And when someone enters my home, I show them this and say I’m always happy to make food, but if they feel uncomfortable, they are welcome to have anything in this designated section - no questions asked. UX doesn’t stop with the software we are making, We should always be thinking of how we can engage with people around us. I love UX in the wild. How have you optimized your guest experience? #ux #uxdesign #uxinthewild

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We’re often taught a linear process when it comes to building software, right? Discovery → Define → Design → Release But what happens when you land a job right in the middle of that process? After countless decisions have been made? What do you do? --- I’ve seen so many new designers expect to start a job and hit the ground running. 🏇 They want to impress everyone. 🤿 They’ll jump straight into designs.  🏅 They’ll expect to contribute to meetings. 😖 Then they’re surprised when no one listens. --- Building great software is hard. We know that. Not only is the code complex. There may be tons of flows, features, screens, components, and copy to think about and keep track of. Then there are the hundreds of conversations, debates, arguments, and decisions that went into coming up with all the code, flows, features, screens, components, and copy. That’s all well and good when you were there from the beginning, but how often are we actually starting all of this from scratch? The chances are good when you land a job you’re replacing someone who recently left or you’re part of a growing team. Either way, a lot of these decisions have been made and you need to help execute. If you *really* want to help execute, you can’t start from the middle. You need to start from the start. ✅ Starting from the start is about understanding the context. ✅ It’s about breaking up bigger problems into more digestible chunks. ✅ It’s about looking back at everything you know you know. ✅ It’s about getting a better sense of what you don’t yet know. 🎯 Here are a few key takeaways: ▶️ You’re likely going to end up in the middle of a process: When you start a new job, you’re most likely going to end up on a team that has already started work. Spend the first month getting to know the people, the processes, and the overall context. ▶️ Don’t rush into it: You *could* skip the context and jump to one specific solution, but you may be totally wrong at best, or risk hurting your credibility with the team at worst. You won’t get fired for doing your due diligence. ▶️ It’s a marathon, not a sprint: You’ve often got time to take a step back and consider the larger problem. You may not have months or even weeks, but even if you’ve only got a few hours, do what you can to get the context before settling on a solution. ▶️ You won’t have all the answers: Unless you’re a software team of one, your team will have insights you aren’t aware of. They may have additional context and additional insights. Reach out to your team and see what they have to say. ▶️ Avoid confirmation bias: Chances are good you’ll have some ideas in your head. There’s nothing wrong with that. But be sure to avoid confirming your suspicions or validating your ideas simply because they’re your ideas. Be objective and open to anything. --- So the next time you’re faced with a big problem, take a step back and start from the start. #UXdesign #SoftSkills

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If you want to be really, really good at UX... Focus on what really matters and avoid making dumb mistakes. What matters: -Stakeholder buy in and commitment -Good user research -Iterative design + testing with users -Detailed specifications and robust component libraries -Extensive QA testing to flush out the bugs before shipping Dumb mistakes: -Berating design suggestions from non-UX team members -Behaving like design prima donnas, thinking that designers can do no wrong -Whining about not having a seat at the table when you have neither earned it nor demonstrated the capacity to sit there -Criticizing engineers and PMs for behaving like engineers and PMs Note: both lists are incomplete, but hopefully they give the gist #ux  #userexperience  #userresearch #design

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There is no design talent shortage. Many in the industry claim it’s hard to hire, but they’re only considering full-time employees. Some of the most innovative designers prefer not to be tied to a single brand. The gig economy has liberated them, offering flexibility and often better compensation. Sure, some roles necessitate full-time hires. But to create a top-notch, agile design team, consider blending full-time staff with freelance consultants and specialized agencies. Rethink your hiring strategy and unlock untapped potential. --- I’m 𝗘𝗿𝗶𝗻 𝗕𝗼𝗿𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗶𝗻 Your footwear design support. Need assistance or want me on your freelancer list? Drop me a DM! #designteam #freelancer #scalingteams

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Is your design interview process dragging on too long? Here are some strategies to streamline it: * Skip the polished portfolio requirement for senior-level candidates * Ensure everyone on the team is aligned on the role before the process starts * Limit the interview stages: 2 for individual contributors, 3-4 for leadership roles * Develop a strong EVP to attract top talent, even if this is just for the design team - Message me for examples! * Create talent pools—designers thrive in communities * Interview with a clear purpose, not just to "test the waters" * Leverage Content Designers to create effective JDs * Partner with a reputable recruiter, it makes a difference * Embrace remote work to access a global talent pool

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