Industrial Design
My involvement in design began at a young age. Before landing my first job as a Junior Designer in 2008—even before starting my bachelor’s in 2009—I spent my evenings after school taking technical courses. These courses helped me understand various manufacturing machines, manual patternmaking, and later, 2D CAD software. I also volunteered at a local brand to gain hands-on experience with the production process. This exposure taught me the value of knowing not only the product but also how it’s made.
During my time in the fashion industry, I spent countless hours on the factory floor rather than in front of my computer. I quickly realised that manufacturing errors could lead to significant losses or delays. Working in this high-pressure environment, I learned that design isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s about solving problems from both the user and business perspectives, and understanding the entire production lifecycle is key.
As I transitioned to digital design, I found that these principles still held true. Just like with physical products, knowing how a digital product is ‘manufactured’ is crucial. While coding is not required, grasping the technology behind the product is essential. Familiarity with programming languages, command-line tools, and development environments can make a significant difference. This knowledge enables designers to create more effective solutions, ensuring they are both practical and innovative, while also enhancing communication with teams and stakeholders.
Whether in physical or digital design, understanding the production process enhances the ability to solve problems and create impactful solutions. Design isn't merely about aesthetics—it involves strategically addressing and preventing issues within an organisation.
Digital Design
Let me share how I began working with digital products. Can you guess how? I started by learning how they were made. In 2018, while finishing my master’s degree, I dove into digital design. I taught myself programming languages, command-line usage, IDEs, and server management. I even ran my own cloud server and learned to develop simple websites and apps—all without the aid of AI tools at the time.
Together with friends in the marketing industry, I co-founded a small agency while continuing to learn about the technology behind digital products. A few years later, I got a job as a Web Designer and then transitioned to a Full Stack Designer at a software development company.
Why was I able to both design and code? My 10 years of experience in industrial design, combined with my determination to learn coding, equipped me to design effectively and collaborate closely with engineers. This technical background allows me to communicate with engineers in ways that would otherwise be impossible—something many companies struggle with. The result? I create user interfaces (UI) that seamlessly translate the backend’s power into a great user experience (UX). The products I design are useful, consistent, easy to learn, and—most importantly—improve users' lives.
As Bruno Munari once said, ‘The design method does not change much; the skills change. Instead of solving the problem alone, in the case of a large project, it’s necessary to increase the number of experts and collaborators and adapt the method to the new situation.’
What’s the takeaway from my story? My transition from physical to digital design involved learning new techniques, technologies, and processes across different industries. Expanding my knowledge and skills made me better at my craft. The principles and methodologies of design can be adapted to any context, but the essence of design remains constant—whether you're creating a product or a service; physical, digital, or virtual.
Reflections on Design: Navigating Confusion and Professionalism
Over the years, I’ve noticed how ambiguous the term design can be. It means different things to different people, leading to misunderstandings and the rise of trendy jargon that often dilutes genuine expertise.
Does every designer need a college degree? Many universities are out of sync with industry needs, leaving graduates with certificates and debt but lacking practical skills. While formal education is essential for professions like medicine or engineering, it is less formalised in design. However, I believe that formal education for aspiring designers should be compulsory, alongside a commitment to self-education and an updating of design curricula in educational institutions. Understanding design requires more than a bootcamp or a title; it demands continuous learning about history, society, nature, the human mind and body, technology, and more. Design isn’t just about buttons, icons, or layouts, despite what some in the digital community might mistakenly believe. Mastering tools like Figma or XD doesn’t make anyone a designer; these are merely tools.
The biggest issues in design are ignorance and arrogance. Some avoid learning, believing they can succeed without it. Others think they know everything and refuse to keep evolving. Both attitudes harm the profession. I’ve embraced the concept of Beginner’s Mind—the idea of staying open to the unknown and continuously learning. When you think you know everything, you close yourself off to new perspectives, making challenges seem more difficult than they are. To excel in design, ongoing education and a willingness to grow are crucial. Adopting this mindset has helped me overcome challenges, maintain an innovative approach, become a better professional, and grow as a person.
The journey to this point hasn’t exactly been easy; I’ve faced many challenges along the way, from prejudice towards the profession to a lack of appreciation in an industry that doesn’t always understand what design is all about. Living around the world as a woman and a foreigner didn’t make things any easier. But I can’t imagine my life—or anyone's life—without design. I remain passionate about this field, and I hope to inspire you to dive into this amazing world!