Abhilash Arun’s Post

Hey UX and Product Designers: I’m going to share the things I wish somebody would’ve taught me about being a Staff+ Designer in a series of virtual workshops. This role is a combination of team leadership and in-the-pixels design work, all without any direct people management. It's a path I've been exploring for the majority of my career, and it's only becoming more and more important as tech companies consolidate their leadership roles. If this sounds compelling, please fill out this quick survey to let me know which information would be most impactful for you: https://lnkd.in/eJz5saz3 It’s pretty quick and should take you less than five minutes. You’ll also get notified when the course goes live. Let’s shine a light on this high-impact career path! ✨💪🏾✨

I came across a quote by Kiran Bedi on LinkedIn: "When an opportunity comes, take it and then prepare." This really resonated with me. See how. . People often ignore new opportunities, sticking to what they know. But trying something new can be incredibly rewarding. Here’s how this mindset has helped me: → Embrace Challenges:  ↳ I’ve learned to say yes to new opportunities, even if I feel unprepared. It pushes me to grow. → Learn on the Go:  ↳ Each new challenge is a chance to learn. I prepare as I go, gaining new skills along the way. → Overcome Fear:  ↳ Stepping into the unknown can be scary but also exciting. Facing fears builds resilience. → Grow Professionally:  ↳ Embracing opportunities has fueled my career growth, from starting my own agency to conducting workshops. → Expand Horizons:  ↳ Saying yes has expanded my network and opened new doors, leading to enriching collaborations. Next time an opportunity comes your way, take it. You’ll learn and grow along the journey. Let’s connect and explore new opportunities together. Visit Desisle - UI/UX Design Company to learn more about our services and visit my topmate.io to connect directly: https://lnkd.in/dV8GU8gb Ready to build your next MVP SaaS product? DM me #UI #UX #UIUX #UIUXDesign #Design #WebDesign #ProductDesign #Desisle #IshtiaqShaheer #DesignAgency #Designers #AI #SaaS

✨ 𝐁𝐢𝐠 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐡𝐢𝐟𝐭 𝐀𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐭!✨ Guess what? I've made a leap from Software Engineering to Product Design! 🎉 𝗪𝗮𝗶𝘁, 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁?! 😲 Yep, you heard that right! Let me take you through the story of this unexpected yet exciting transition. 💡 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗳𝘁? Product Design has always been my passion. When I'm in the zone, working on a design project, I feel inspired and motivated. It's where my creativity shines, and I can bring innovative ideas to life. 🎨 🤔 𝗦𝗼, 𝘄𝗵𝘆 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗦𝗼𝗳𝘁𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗿? Well, I initially thought Software Engineering would pay more than Product Design. But over time, I realized I was wrong. Earning more is not just about the field you're in, but how much you know and how well you brand yourself. 💼 🌟 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻: This journey taught me to follow my heart and pursue my passion. Now, I'm excited to blend my tech knowledge with my creative skills to bring impactful products to the world. 🌎 🔥 𝙆𝙚𝙮 𝙏𝙖𝙠𝙚𝙖𝙬𝙖𝙮: Life's too short not to follow your dreams. Take risks, chase your passion, and make a positive impact. 🚀 Thanks for joining me on this adventure! Stay tuned for more updates on my journey in Product Design! 😊 #CareerJourney #PassionToDesign #ProductDesignLife #EmbraceChange #20daylinkeinchallengewithhaoma #ProductDesign #BusinessStrategy #UserExperience #DesignStrategy #SmallBusinessTips #UXUI #ProductDesign #ProfitMaximization #BusinessSuccess #CostEffectiveDesign #SynergyInDesign #DesignThinking #SmartInvestment #SmallBizGrowth

Are you a product designer at a startup struggling to make an impact? Here’s a bold move to fast-track your career: Invite your CEO out for coffee. Why? Face time with leadership helps you stand out and understand the business at a deeper level. Ask these questions to make the most of that coffee chat: What’s keeping you up at night? → Running a company can be lonely. Understanding their worries shows you care about the bigger picture and can help you design solutions that truly matter. What’s something you wish more people on the team understood? → This helps you see where alignment or clarity is missing, so your designs can bridge the gap. If you could wave a magic wand, what would you fix in the business today? → This uncovers the frustrations and priorities that need your focus. What’s a customer story you’ll never forget? → This is where they will light up. Most CEOs, once they’ve found PMF, aren’t in the day-to-day anymore, but each has a customer story that still makes their heart smile. What can I do to make your life easier? → This question will more than likely catch them off guard—in the best way. It shows you’re invested in helping beyond your role and willing to take action. Building a strong connection with leadership early can shape your entire career. #productdesign #design #uiux #productdesigner ——— I’m Sky Davis, Product Design Lead at Bellawatt, Writer at workinginproduct.com I help folks transform blurry, chaotic ideas into products loved by millions. Follow me + hit  & stay tuned.

Isn’t it intriguing how job titles and responsibilities vary widely within the same organisation? Consider this scenario: 1 Head of Product Design: Overseeing a team of 20+ direct reports. 6 Heads of Product: Each managing just 3 direct reports. There’s nothing wrong with having multiple Heads of Product to manage different tribes or pods. It makes sense organisationally. However, this discrepancy often highlights a misalignment between job titles and actual responsibilities, especially when comparing Head of Product Design to Head of Product roles. In many instances, a Head of Product Design’s scope and influence can be more closely related to a Director or VP of Product rather than just another Head of Product. The breadth of responsibility and impact can be significantly greater. If you’re a Head of Product Design or UX and this resonates with you, consider leveraging this insight. Build a business case to realign your job title to more accurately reflect your responsibilities, something like ‘Director’ might be a better fit. What’s your take on this? Have you encountered similar discrepancies in job titles and responsibilities?

Some of these may be self-evident, but a worthy reminder of certain qualities to keep in mind when navigating a career and challenging job markets. https://lnkd.in/eF4jbJrC #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 #ai #genai 

I had so much fun at yesterday's Q&A call and live critique session in Career Strategy Lab! If you missed it, the recording link's up now. During the session the CSL coaches and I reviewed: 1) An awesome UX portfolio for a Senior Design Manager at a health tech company about a project they worked on that resulted in $2 million in revenue. 2) An About Me (or elevator pitch) for a Product Designer with 2 years of experience who's trying to leverage their previous experience as a manager of a major band that you've definitely heard of is pretty cool! 3) We also discussed how to reframe using LinkedIn in your job search. Many people resist using LinkedIn; however, when you look at it as a strategic tool and not an obligation or evil social platform, you can be more objective and less emotional about it. Love hanging out with everyone in CSL and seeing all the awesome progress they're making every day as they learn how to articulate their skills and experience and essentially design, market, and sell themselves in their career ... or as I like to say "the product of YOU" 😉 Curious about how Career Strategy Lab (CSL) can help you in your career? Just DM me or visit our website which you can find by visiting careerstrategylab (dot) com #uxdesign #productdesign #womenintech #techladies #uxresearcher #uxwriting #uxjobs #uxcareers

User-Centric Design: Listening to user feedback isn't just about fixing problems—it's about uncovering hidden opportunities. A feature request today could be a game-changer tomorrow. #UserExperience #ProductDesign Also, I am looking for new opportunities and available to join within 15 days. #ProductManagement #Teamwork #jobs #productmanagementjobs #immediatejoiner

Be comfortable being uncomfortable. I try to remind myself: “Your creative decisions should guide you, but don't get overly comfortable with tactics that worked today. They won't necessarily work tomorrow.” Throughout my career, I've seen design trends, new methods, and frameworks come and go—this never ends. But one thing remains the same: money drives business. The mighty dollar. Money opens doors, sustains lives and jobs, fuels innovation, and brings stability. It’s the heart of the business. And customers make the decision. For many creatives, it’s an uncomfortable truth that money often determines the reach and impact of their work. So try new approaches and believe in big ideas. Just remember, in the end, money keeps everything moving. The blue side controls the narrative. Here’s the cool thing though—if you create value for customers, the money will follow. The challenge of unlocking this value is linking it to creative impact. Maybe even owning it. Agree or disagree? #productdesign #productdiscovery #userresearch #uxresearch

Leaving a role where you’ve dedicated time and effort is never easy, but it can be a vital step in one's professional growth. My recent experience was marked by numerous learning opportunities and experiences that have shaped my career. 👉 Embracing the Role of Design Design plays a crucial role in problem-solving and enhancing user experience. During my tenure, I witnessed the challenges of integrating design insights into broader company strategies. This experience underscored the importance of advocating for the role of design in creating impactful solutions. It also reinforced my passion for promoting design thinking in every project I undertake. 👉 Navigating Bureaucracy and Diplomacy In any organization, some level of bureaucracy is inevitable. Navigating these structures taught me valuable lessons in patience, perseverance, and the art of diplomacy. While challenging at times, these experiences helped me develop essential skills in managing complex workflows and stakeholder relationships. 👉 Learning from a Dynamic Work Environment The fast-paced and dynamic environment presented both opportunities and challenges. The experience of working in such an unstructured setting honed my ability to adapt quickly and remain focused amid change. It also highlighted the importance of clear communication and organizational strategies in achieving team goals. 👉 Managing Deadlines and Expectations The push to meet ambitious deadlines was a significant aspect of my role. While this pressure sometimes felt intense, it taught me the importance of time management, prioritization, and maintaining quality under tight schedules. It also emphasized the need for realistic goal-setting and transparent communication from leadership. 👉 Witnessing Leadership Changes The departure of several key leaders and colleagues during my time was a poignant reminder of the transient nature of corporate life. These changes brought challenges but also opportunities for stepping up, taking on new responsibilities, and growing as a professional. It reinforced my belief in the value of strong leadership and the impact it has on team morale and stability. 👉 Conclusion Reflecting on my recent professional journey, I am grateful for the experiences and lessons learned. These experiences have significantly contributed to my professional development and have prepared me for future challenges. I remain optimistic about future opportunities and hope that my insights can contribute to continuous improvement in any organization I join. I am excited about the future and look forward to new opportunities where I can apply these learnings and continue to grow. #design #productdesign #uidesign #uxdesign #uidesigner #uxdesigner #staffproductdesigner #seniorproductdesigner