Navira Abbasi

🤝Designing Together: The Power of Trust in Cross-Functional Teams Let’s talk about something often overlooked in the hustle of deadlines, roadmaps, and launches: the human connections that hold our squads together. As product designers, we live at the intersection of user needs, business goals, and technical feasibility. In this space, our product managers and engineers aren’t just “other functions.” They are our partners—the people we rely on to bring ideas to life. Yet, the real challenge is less about tools, processes, or even skillsets, and more about building relationships rooted in honesty, transparency, and trust. Here’s the truth: without these values, even the most brilliant designs can falter. Why? Because product development isn’t a solo act. It’s a collaborative symphony, where alignment, constructive friction, and mutual respect drive success. Honesty: The Foundation Honesty starts with dropping the ego. Be real about what you know, what you don’t, and where you need help. For example, if a design direction feels risky, say so. Likewise, invite your PM and engineers to challenge your assumptions. The best ideas emerge when all perspectives are heard, not when we hold back to avoid discomfort. Transparency: The Glue Transparency isn’t just about sharing updates—it’s about inviting others into the process. Share your messy explorations, involve engineers in user research, and talk openly about constraints. A transparent team is a team that avoids surprises. And when everyone understands the “why” behind decisions, alignment comes naturally. Trust: The Multiplier Trust doesn’t happen overnight—it’s earned through actions. It’s being consistent in your delivery, showing empathy when conflicts arise, and treating criticism as an opportunity rather than an attack. When trust is solid, something powerful happens: debates shift from “proving a point” to “solving a problem.” The Role of Feedback Feedback is where these values are put to the test. Constructive criticism isn’t just about improving a design—it’s about building a better partnership. When a PM critiques your work, they’re helping align it with the strategy. When an engineer pushes back on feasibility, they’re ensuring it’s buildable. Embrace these moments. They’re not threats; they’re gifts. The Big Picture In a squad, the lines between roles blur. Success isn’t about who “owns” the best idea—it’s about delivering the best solution together. When honesty, transparency, and trust become your defaults, your team stops being just a collection of functions. You become a unit, operating with shared purpose and collective accountability. So, product designers: How are you fostering these values in your squads? What’s one thing you’ll do differently this week to strengthen your partnerships? Let’s commit to designing not just great products, but great relationships. That’s where the real magic happens. #Collaboration #ProductDesign #TrustMatters #Teamwork #productdesign

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When launching a new product I see alot of product managers wait until they're asked "how it's going", before thinking about what their metrics of success are. This is something that I learned as a new product manager when trying to get funding for my first product. Think about the metrics that are important both your company, as well as what is going delight the customer to the point that they're publicly championing your products and organization. #productmanagement #GTM #productlaunch #launchstrategy

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“You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.” — James Clear A few folks have asked my thoughts on Product Ops recently. I may have an unconventional view, but I strongly believe that Product Ops is _NOT_ Project or Program Management of specific initiatives in flight. It is not intermediation between PMs, Engineers, and Designers so they don’t have to talk to each other either. Read on... https://lnkd.in/e76DKnV6 #ProductManagement #ProductOps #ProductOperations

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Here's one for the Product Manager's in the room. https://lnkd.in/gh_fGTqs This was a good article that captures a lot of the keys to effective product management. When I started reading the article, one of my first reactions was, "Wait. There are Product Manager 'Influencers'? How is that a thing?" A few quibbles aside, I think this article is spot on, although the element of trust was overlooked to some extent. As mentioned in the article, one of the challenges product managers face is the task of influencing without authority. Persuade. Motivate. Incent. Cajole. Whatever synonym you use to describe this aspect of the role it is firmly grounded, and can only be effective, if there is trust in that relationship. Every one of a PMs partners/colleagues/collaborators/stakeholders should trust that the PM has no personal stake and is working to satisfy the needs of the product and its goal. Everything they do, and everything they ask others to do, is to that end. It's all about the product's mission, in service of the vision, pursuing the strategy. It's not about who's doing the asking.

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Ever pondered how to sharpen your product sense, especially when diving into a new industry? 🤔 I just listened to a podcast episode that had me nodding in agreement. This episode debunked the myth that product sense is an innate gift. Instead, it's a skill cultivated by engaging deeply with your environment and staying endlessly curious. Here's the essence in bite-sized takeaways: - Balancing Act: Domain expertise is crucial, but don't let it cloud your curiosity or humility. It's about finding that sweet spot between knowing your field and staying open to learning. it. - Quick Wins: Developing product sense swiftly by: 1. Dive deep into understanding users and customers. 2. Immerse yourself in data to see how your product is used and evolves. 3. Familiarize with your company's operations and the personalities within. 4. Explore the competitive landscape and industry trends. Taking a leaf from my own experience, when I hopped into the edtech world several years ago from a solid educational background and hands-on teaching experience, I fell for the expert trap. Thought I had it all figured out about users but I didn’t. I realized that relying solely on my domain expertise without sufficiently engaging with user feedback was a misstep. It was a tough lesson in the importance of humility and adaptability. This experience taught me to seamlessly integrate product sense into my daily routine when building products.

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If there's one piece of advice that I wish someone had given me when I was looking for my first product management job, it would be: Don't worry about the title. It's especially tough on new graduates and career changers to break in because it's unclear if you have what it takes to manage the variety of stakeholder expectations you will encounter. I recommend putting yourself in situations where you're learning about working with customers and co-workers in different teams than yours. When I'm looking at a resume, I'm going to favor those with some job experience over no experience. The exception to this rule is when I'm looking for a smart product analyst who knows how to get at data to support the team. As a product leader, I need to know what the data is telling me, but to get there, I look to learn more about what we're storing, as well as those around me who can aid me in translating actionable data from the variety of data sources that I have available.

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I've spent the majority of my career as the only designer on an isolated team—or the only designer at the entire company. This experience has been invaluable, allowing me to take ownership of countless projects and rapidly gain expertise in various aspects of design. But there’s a flip side. Without a team, there’s no clear career path, no organic mentorship, no healthy peer competition… It’s easy to feel like you’re in a bubble, unsure of how you stack up against the wider design world or what you need to improve to reach the next level. To be honest, I’ve felt lost at times. Recently, my manager gifted me a book that has been a game-changer: The Path to Senior Product Designer by Artiom Dashinsky. If you’ve ever felt lost in your career, want to advance, or simply feel like you’re not doing enough, I can’t recommend this book enough. It provides clear guidance on how the industry grades and evaluates designers at all levels, with practical exercises to help you map out your journey to the next stage. Read it, follow the exercises, and you’ll know where you stand and where you need to go.

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Day 20 of my UX Thrive Challenge. Today’s challenge is focused on designing a User Settings Page. I created a clean and intuitive layout that allows users to easily manage their profile, personal information, and account preferences. The design emphasizes simplicity and user control, with clearly defined sections for profile details, security, notifications, and more. Key interactions like Edit and Delete Account are thoughtfully placed for easy access while ensuring that critical actions are highlighted. This page is designed to give users confidence and control over their personal data! #UXDesign #UIUX #UserSettings #AccountManagement #DesignChallenge #UXThriveChallenge #CleanDesign

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As a newbie in Product Management, I've been curious about the contrasts between startups and corporate gigs. Check out this insightful and hilariously vivid analogy by Boris Krstovic: https://qr.ae/psDnQC #ProductManagement #StartupLife #CorporateCulture

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Great advice for both sides of the equation.

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Product leaders, when you’ve got a strong UX partner in place, you’re able to focus on the things your business needs most from you. — Hi, I’m Erin. Follow me for user experience tips and insights from my 20 years as a UX designer and reach out to me if you have questions about how Slide UX can help you with your project. 🤓👋

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Want to build products that really hit the mark? Then you need to check out Apoorva Mishra's latest article about the “Product Trio”—the dream team of PMs, designers, and engineers! 👩‍💼🎨👨‍💻It’s all about getting everyone on the same page from the get-go. Keep the communication flowing and you’ll not only save time but also end up with a product that your users will actually love ❤️! Harvard Business Review Marty Cagan #ProductTrio #Teamwork #ProductDevelopment #NoMoreSurprises

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Design without reason is like building without a foundation. In my latest newsletter explain what design rationale is.

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As a Product Manager… One of your most important relationships will be the one you share with your UX team… We as product managers often fall into the trap of viewing product solely through our own perspective… UX allows us (if not forces us) to view product through the lens of the user… UX toolkits and ceremonies provide us with an efficient and effective means to ensure we are meeting our users’ needs by providing us with critical user informed feedback loops that will ultimately serve to make our products more ‘correct’ and successful… #ProductManagement #FeedbackLoop #UserExperience

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IT'S MY TURN TO RANT TODAY!!!!!!!!!!!!! Let’s get real for a second—there’s a side of product management no one talks about. It’s the part that stretches you thin in ways you didn’t expect, both mentally and emotionally. 1. The Never-Ending Mental Load: You’re the brain behind every move, always trying to figure out how to make things better. Even when you’re “off,” your mind keeps spinning with ideas, problems, and solutions. It’s like the switch never flips off. Exhausting? Absolutely. 2. Handholding When You Shouldn’t Have To: There’s nothing more draining than having to hold someone’s hand through tasks they should already be on top of. Instead of focusing on the big picture, you end up babysitting, guiding them step by step when your energy is already spread thin. 3. Stakeholders vs. Vision: You’ve got stakeholders with their own ideas, but their vision doesn’t always align with where the product needs to go. Navigating those conversations while staying true to the product’s vision? Let’s just say it takes a lot of patience and energy. 4. Speaking Everyone’s Language: Communication—it sounds so simple, but it’s anything but. Every day, you’re switching between talking to backend devs, frontend devs, designers, marketers…each speaking their own ‘language.’ And you’re expected to make sure everyone understands each other perfectly. Not as easy as it sounds. 5. Wearing Too Many Hats: One minute you’re knee-deep in product testing, the next you’re writing content, or even handling customer feedback. Some days it feels like you’re doing everyone’s job just to keep things running smoothly. It’s a constant juggling act. 6. Balancing Work and Life: Let’s be honest—how do you even balance your work life with your personal life when you’re already stretched so thin? It’s a real challenge to keep your personal brand alive while also giving 110% to your job. And don’t get me started on mental well-being. 7. Unrealistic Expectations: And then, of course, there’s the pressure to deliver. “We need this product in two months.” Sound familiar? You’re expected to move mountains in record time, and somehow you’re supposed to keep your cool through it all. It’s a wild ride. I’ve been through this before, shoutout to internships like HNG Tech, so I’ve seen the pressure firsthand. But seriously, how do you manage your mental health when you’re dealing with all of this and working remotely? I’m genuinely curious—how do you guys cope? Drop your thoughts below because we could all use a little support. 🖤 #productmanagement #mentalhealth #worklifebalance #RealTalkPM #productjunkie #pmstruggles

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So late to the post, but ICYMI, we launched some stuff at #Config2024 last week. We've been cooking up a lot on our pillar — going from building Figma's second product (FigJam), to dreaming up its third, Figma Slides. Here's what we announced: Figma Slides: I'm especially proud of the designers on the team: Keeyen Y. Khalil Cader Jakub S Ryan Reid Natasha T. Kylie To. For always asking "what if?" even though slides are a file format as old as time, for dreaming up new ways to interact with AI, for sweating the details on a tool that balances the needs of designers and everyone else alike. Try it out → https://lnkd.in/e_R6Pi_v FigJam Pages: We brought a fan fave Figma feature to FigJam! Big ups to rocky chen ✌️for striving pixel-perfection on this one → figjam.new

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Maximalism is trending in branding—bold, vibrant, and all about “more is more.” With India’s rich visual culture, it’s a great opportunity to embrace this trend. But since the market is so used to minimalism, it can feel overwhelming. The challenge? Balancing global trends with local preferences. What do you think about this shift? #BrandingTrends #Maximalism #DesignForIndia #figmaindia

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This week, I watched a roundtable on connecting design systems to business value organized by Into Design Systems Community & Conference. A big thanks to the experts for sharing their knowledge! Elyse Holladay, Staff Design Engineer @ Color Marcela Rodriguez Joos, Design System Leader @ UPS Adam Lagerhausen, Sr. Product Marketing Manager @ Omlet Brian Alfaro, Design Lead @ The Washington Post It’s not always easy to directly connect the value of a design system to business metrics like conversion rates. However, here are a few key business benefits: 💥 Scalability: Supports product expansion with minimal redesign efforts. 💥 Reduced Maintenance: Lowers future costs by minimizing tech debt and keeping designs up-to-date. 💥 Reduced Tech Debt: Lowers long-term maintenance by standardizing code and design assets.

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It's been a minute since I've been able to attend a Floxies Community event! 💜 Felt good to tune in to hear how Stephanie Walker uses User Diaries 📓 as a method to gather user feedback and drive thoughtful design decisions. Interesting and a powerful way to keep user needs front and center! 💡 #FloxiesCommunity #Floxies #UserExperience #UXDesign #UserResearch #UserDiaries #ProductDesign #DesignCommunity #TechCommunity

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