Interview with Anjali Srikanth
Interview about Crave Mobile Application Design Interview
Design Legend Interview
29 April 2020
I have a background in product design , retail and management. As a designer my inspiration towards this career came from a young age. My dad is an engineer , but he had a passion for art as well. My journey towards art and design started with him. Growing up I dabbled with textile art, painting and sketching, and decided to pursue a career that combined my creative abilities along with technology, to give it purpose.
As mentioned design gives a purpose to creativity, it has an aspect of problem solving, in some ways addressing requirements that need to be fulfilled. As a designer you are first a problem solver, who gets inspired to device a creative solution that not only solves the purpose but it also sustainable.
I always wanted to pursue a career which had a creative and artistic aspect, and becoming a designer was the best avenue to do so.
I am a user experience and product designer by profession. I have been part of endeavors for designing apps across different platforms and domains. In the future I would like to design applications that can support specially abled professionals.
Have an open mind, inspiration can come from anywhere. The world is your oyster, and having a broad perspective gives you advantage This can help to understand your product users better, thereby helping you build solutions that have a long lasting impact
Learn from your experiences. There will be good projects and not so great ones. The more times to you fall, the more you can succeed in your career. Never give and keep learning .
A design is a really good one it solves the purpose of your users. The product definitely has to meet business goals, but it should also serve the purpose of the final users.
Good design has a cause, it serves a purpose, simply put your design is a success if it meets the user/ consumer's requirements. It is an important investment as functionality is key to a lot of our daily tasks and unmet needs. A good design helps to bring in efficiency and improve productivity. It leads to progress, for a more sustainable solution.
I would like to design products for specially abled working professionals. It might be a device or an application, and there is a lot of research required for the process. I do take out time during the day to study more on the process, the user research process, is very different compared to the other endeavors taken up. Hopefully in sometime a solid product can came out.
I would like to design a project and scrum management application for specially abled working professionals. As mentioned the work is in progress, with the research going on. There are a lot of details to be taken into account, as its very different from my previous design projects. The learning curve is interesting and takes one to a different level.
For me personally I believing learning and observation together make a good recipe for design. Every project is an experience to imbibe from, whether its a great one or a negative one, you evolve from each endeavor. Keeping an open perspective whether its for feedback, self improvement or a new aspect of design helps you to become successful in the long run.
Jesse James Garret is one of the design leaders I look up to ,for many designers like me, his thoughts on experience design have been very insightful when it comes to the approach and process of a design endeavor.
S.Balram is another design master and legend I have immense regard for as well, his thoughts on design for users with disabilities has definitely inspired to look more into the cause.
S.Balram is another design master and legend I have immense regard for as well, his thoughts on design for users with disabilities has definitely inspired to look more into the cause.
There are many and perhaps the products vary as well. The iPad and iPhone by Jonathan Ive is an all time a favorite, definitely is indispensable for me. Mikimoto for his jewelry designs that are classic and timeless. Masaba Gupta for her stylish and quirky clothing items.
I had designed a Microfinance application "Sylvan" leveraging IBM Watson's machine learning technology. The application helped to bridge the gap between Microfinance service providers and people who need services from them. The project involved the process in exploring the bottom of pyramid concept and how the application could help target users belonging to lower income sections of society.
As a designer you need to be open to feedback whether its for a project or self improvisation. You need to a good observer and be ready to fall. You should not be afraid of failure, and see it as mine step towards success. Design is about discovery, improvement and innovation, the more we drill down into the root of a problem, the better the outcome.
I would have been an artist, I love painting and sketching in my spare time. It has been a hobby since childhood.
Design is a thought process that gives a holistic approach to problem solving. There are quantitative and qualitative aspects to the craft. As designers we bring a procedure combining many like aspects art, science, technology , business and creativity
My biggest supporters are my parents. My dad has been my inspiration for my creative pursuits since childhood.
My mom has always motivated me to face challenges with grace. I am here today because of my parents.
My mom has always motivated me to face challenges with grace. I am here today because of my parents.
I am constantly learning and studying something new on a regular basis. Being open to learn whether it from your co-workers , surroundings, journals or individuals makes you more evolved in your craft. It helps to get a wider perspective , thereby helping you in your work.
I have faced a lot of criticism at times for not being good enough. However there is always some positive aspects to take away from your critiques, its just a step to improve your craft. You have to take it in your stride.
Designers should be true to themselves, and present their work in a way they comfortable communicating about it.
Another good aspect is to learn about your audience, and come up with a method that not appeals to the people you are presenting , but also helps bring out your uniqueness.
Another good aspect is to learn about your audience, and come up with a method that not appeals to the people you are presenting , but also helps bring out your uniqueness.
I am working on an application that can help specially abled professionals for tasks like project and scrum management. The project is in research phase and I hope to bring an application that is purposeful and sustainable.
The ultimate goal of a designer is to create products and services, for the betterment of society. We should aspire to discover and innovate, experiences that serve a purpose in the long run.
As designers we are problem solvers, discovering unmet needs and coming up with experiences that create a positive impact.
Design helps to bring out of box approach to our existing lives. As designers we are creative problem solvers, trying to build solutions that impactful
I am working on a collection of pen art work compositions. Looking to exhibit my artwork in a couple of months to a year.
The design projects which gave me satisfaction are the ones where I got to work in a midst of good collaboration. This helped in the learning process, thereby leading to good results for the projects.
I think many firms are keeping design departments as a core functional group. I hope to see this growing across different domains, with design become a mandatory process business endeavors.
I think design is becoming a necessity and core business function. It growing rapidly, and that means as designers,
we will also be taking up a lot of aspects of business development when it comes to our profession
we will also be taking up a lot of aspects of business development when it comes to our profession
A lot depends on the nature of the endeavor. At times you have a well define scope, and set of deliverables, many a time there is short deadline. I prepare myself according to the project plan.
My process starts with a preliminary research on the industry domain coupled with understanding the stakeholder requirements, business and a competitive analysis of similar products and services. This helps to bring in more structure when it comes to user research and rest of the steps involved in the design process.
To have an open mind, constantly learn and evolve.
Design and trends are a reflection of one another. As designers we study trends, when it comes to a project. Many at times a design can serve as an inspiration for future trends.
Technology had helped in getting access to the global trends in design. It definitely complements the design process, whether its research, prototyping and more.
I use a variety of tools come of which include adobe photoshop, illustrator, adobe experience design, axure, sigma, omnigraffle and sketch. There are projects where I have to learn a new tool, based on requirements. So the tools I use vary based on the endeavor.
I think the three of them help in different aspects of customer experience. Ambience helps in giving an overall positive experience, while color and materials have a role in defining the mood, brand message and purpose.
I would want people to ask me in detail about the purpose of my design, the users and the inspiration behind the endeavor.
When I see a new great design or product, the first aspect coming to my mind, is the overall experience and functionality.
I believe my ideal design partner is one who believe in constantly learning and improving. Co-designing is a process of true learning as it serves and supports the collaborative design process.
I would say every team I have worked with from stakeholders, to technical team members, have had an influence on my work. Design is collaborative, you get inspired by your team mates and co-workers.
The Elements of User Experience Design by Jesse James Garret, Thinking Design by Prof. S. Balram
One has to keep learning and practicing, be it a sketch, a design pitch or a software skill. Apart from that the ability to receive feedback, and being a good communicator can help to give added value.
I guess there are many design legends I would like to meet some include Jony Ive, Donna Karan and Philippe Starck.
I feel honored, it gives a me cause to design more products and services that serve a purpose. There is a lot more for me to do, and I am happy to be a part of this journey
Well I love purple, it its my favorite color since childhood, it represents creativity and wisdom. My favorite place is San Francisco Bay Area, California as it is home, when it comes to food I love desserts, season is summer, for its vibrant aspects, favorite things are my paintings and jewelry collection, for the brands I really like Gap and Zara.
Well I remember the stakeholders liking a sample which was not one of the best ones according to me. They saw something unique in it, which took me sometime to figure out. Sometimes the stakeholders or users can like a design sample, which may not be in adherence to the plan, there is always an element of surprise.
A postive attitude coupled with good thoughts make my day as a good designer. When you focus on the positive aspects, the negative aspects get outweighed, and you can concentrate better on your goals.
I always wanted to do something with art and creativity. I would constantly draw, make paper products, play with fabrics and paint. As a teenager I started giving more focus to my art, and overtime it has helped me pursue a profession in the design field.
I see a more collaborative world fostered by creativity and unique problem solving.
Apart from being a product and user experience designer, I like to paint and sketch. I have also designed fashion accessories and have written a book " The green saree"
Designer Interview
29 April 2020
As a child I always had a creative streak. My dad was an engineer but he had a passion for painting and drawing. A lot of my inspiration to explore art , the use and application of color came from him. Growing up , I still had an avid passion for painting. I also realized that combining aspects of technology and design could take my interest to the next level. This lead me to pursue product and user experience design as a profession. Today I take my passion to seek for different challenges and come up with creative quirky solutions.
I work at Capgemini's Digital Interactive group. The experienced leadership and design mentors, have helped to bring out the best in many design professionals. We take our design work as forum to create holistic innovative solutions thereby bridging the gap between business requirements and user goals.
Design is a comprehensive process of problem solving. You come a cross an unmet need and get inspired to come up with solution that brings a difference. It is about creativity with a purpose. It allows you to bring in multiple perspectives when you come across a product, campaign, need or want.
I like creating products that can bring a change to lives especially for users with special needs. I remember designing a clothing product for quadriplegic patients. The garment made it easier for nurses, especially when it came to the frequent garment changing process for the patients. So it addressed the needs of not only the patients but also the needs of people who took care of them.
I actually have a couple of them, and the list keeps on growing. Moreover the list is not limited just to user experience design. For interaction design
I designed a section of the corporate website as my first assignment. It was a learning process, as I had to take my education skills to a different level, work with experienced team members from different departments and be prepared to take feedback. I learnt that the first iteration was never going to be the best when it came to a design assignment and that each phase is a process of improvements towards the final result.
When it comes to platforms I am unbiased. Whether it is the iOS or Android each platform has some good points and can complement an application. For me the more platforms and technology types I get to work on, the more exciting the project turns out to be. I cannot be pro one technology, as it limits the design process.
I feel the most creative in the mornings with a set of fresh positive thoughts. Apart from that traveling and interacting with people, exploring different places, reading books and studying textile arts helps me to stimulate my creativity.
The aspects I focus the most on designing a product include the user needs and stakeholder requirements. The end user needs to comprehend the application, if an application is brilliant, but cannot be used by the app consumer, then the application is not sustainable. On the other hand the business has a perspective, when the seek out for a product design endeavor. Understanding their concept and the message they want bring out through the application is equally crucial.
When I am involved in a design endeavor, I feel a sense of ownership, diligence and dedication. There is a sense of purpose and keep an open mind. There is excitement and passion with a sense to be prepared for any situation.
When my designs are realized there is a sense of accomplishment. It gives insights into how much more I can do as a design professional. It makes me prepared for my upcoming projects and gives me a desire to explore more around me.
Dedication to learn and improve, the yearning to explore beyond boundaries, good team work, research and diligence.
Whether the design works for the end users, are they able to understand the application, and if the business is able to convey the message through the product or application to their target consumer group.
A designer should strive the create products and experiences that are sustainable and bring a positive impact in the long run. Design combines art, science and technology, so with such a beautiful skill it should be used for a cause. This brings meaning and a sense of responsibility to our work. Designers need to look at unmet needs and constantly seek out for problems that should be addressed. This makes our work purposeful in the works we live in.
I think the design field is evolving into a though process that is not just limited to classical artistic pursuits. It is a way of life. The design school of thought is being accommodated as a process business transformation, education, technology and social endeavors. In the future I see this growing to a much bigger level, where design is automatically brought into every process crucial for big enterprises, organizations and institutions. It will be a process to solve challenging problems in an innovative manner.
I help my last solo exhibition in school for my paintings and textile art pieces. There was a collection of of oil paintings, scarves, stoles and jewelry items using techniques of tie and dye, block printing, embroidery and batik.I do plan to hold an exhibition of my sketches in a few months from now.
My design inspiration comes from a process of constant exploration. Whether it its for a color palette, a font or product concept, a designer should not limit the inspiration to a set of applications, sites or blogs. Inspiration can come from a print, a service, a good book or movie. Sometimes if I am looking for something new I try to go for a walk and observe my surroundings. At times a good book can help to think of a novel approach to a design challenge.
As a designer I believe one has to understand the business domain of the project, the users and the stakeholders. I do my prior research on the business and a competitor analysis of similar products. This helps to gain a better perspective about the product thereby enabling the process of efficient user research. Followed by this is the process of problem definition , regular reiterations along with good collaboration to bring out the final product.
I am from the United States of America, and live in California. I feel in the place I live there is good exposure to different types of culture, art forms and technology. As a designer this has helped to understand that the process of design is limitless, there is a need to have an open mind and a possibility to learn from everyone you meet. The more open you are as a person, the better it is for your work, as it leads to improvement. I hope to continue this process of thought, constantly learn and create a good impact with my work.
In every project , I have to work with teams who have members from different backgrounds. This includes engineering and business teams, to design and marketing teams. The design process is very interactive, a lot of brain storming and collaboration are some of the aspects I see on a regular basis.
When you select a designer, the selection must be made on the thought process and willingness to learn. While looking at a portfolio there good samples and mediocre samples. However one must look at how the designer has evolved over time and how they can contribute with their design process to the organization
I follow a design process understanding the business, the business goals followed by doing research on the target users. This leads to giving a clearer definition to purpose of the product and understanding the start purpose of the project. Followed by this is a process of a problem solving, ideations, prototyping, regular interactions and collaboration to give out the final deliverables.
My textile collection, the laptop , handicrafts, my self made paintings and some vintage jewelry pieces.
My day starts with a workout of 30-35 minutes. It can be a mat work out or yoga, followed by some meditation.After which it goes with regular routine of work, if there is time on weekdays I do indulge in some painting and reading. Dinner is a time I like to experiment cooking and trying new recipes
To keep an open mind, your design education continues as your work experience grows. Also never be scared of failure, for we only learn from our mistakes. This makes us better designers and decision makers
The positives according to me are many as a designer you are a creative problem solver, you bridge the gap between the users and the business through your work and have the ability to make products that change lives. Negatives, can't really think of any, but I have to say you have to be really strong to take criticism well at times.
Keep learning, the first draft of your design work is not the solution but rather a stepping stone for reiterations till the final product comes through. Be patient and look for ways and methods to improve your craft.
As a designer you should have to ability to work with different teams, a good collaborator, makes you a good decision maker. Also you need to be strong to face hurdles and challenges at times, the design project you are working on can experience certain obstacles, but one must not give up and learn to look for innovative ways of problem solving.
As a designer I know tools like adobe photoshop, experience design, after effects, illustrator, sketch, axure, figma, omnigraffle, just-in-mind and invision. However I also try to learn to some of newer tools coming out in the market on a regular basis. I do read a lot about different design thought leaders and also try to practice sketching and coloring techniques as well.
In any design project one must set the key milestones of a project, planning is key to ensure deliverables are given with due diligence and a timely manner. A designer should therefore also take up project management as a field of study, to be prepared to work with cross functional teams. Regular standup and scrum calls, also help in the process.
The time duration of a project varies. A lot depends on the project requirements and defined goals. This can range from a few weeks to a couples of months or a year. At time a design endeavor can have multiple phases, you might brought in during the mid stages of the project.
A lot of people have a misconception that a designer is an artist who just puts color into interfaces. We are more than that we a product creators, product managers and innovators, and have an aspect of creativity, business acumen and technology to our roles
Every experience in my professional journey has been important so far, and so will future ones as well. I feel with every project, there is something to learn and grow knowledge from.
I have worked with clients across different domains such as information technology, finance, banking, media, healthcare, retail, analytics, and supply chain infrastructure.
I enjoy design projects where there is a good cross collaboration process. It is in such projects that you learn a lot not just from the design professionals but also from members from different divisions. This helps to get a holistic perspective of the project thereby enabling you to give your very best in the endeavor.
In the future I plan to work on designing some applications that can help working professionals with special needs. The space is huge with a lot of untapped potential.
As a designer you always work with a team. Even if you are the only designer, you need to work with the business and technology team members, brainstorm with them, take user inputs and stakeholder inputs while coming up with the design work.
Currently apart from my interaction design and user experience design work, I am working on a collection of abstract pen artwork. Hopefully in some time I can exhibit them
anjali.srikanth@outlook.com
I feel there is not limit to design. As designers we have to ability to discover and create solutions that bring a change.