Every summer I would intern at a different company doing a different design role, to get a feel for what I was good at. There’s no way I could have known what I wanted to do without trying so many different things first.

Why did you choose to attend OCAD U?

I always knew I wanted to go into a creative field. When choosing between schools, OCAD was one of my top choices because I wanted a school that focused on design, not a school that happened to have an arts program. Having smaller classes allows professors to be more hands-on, and you get to build better relationships with classmates.

 

Please briefly describe your current job/practice.

As a UX designer, my goal is to literally design the experience of the platform. What that means is helping LinkedIn build new features that its users need/want and are good for the business and mission. When working on each project, my design process includes analysis, research, rounds of design iterations, design reviews, presentations and collaborating with various cross-functional partners. Every little detail, down to a single button, is important to the overall experience!

 

How did you get started in your career?

During undergrad, I tried many different types of design to see what I like. It’s okay to not know what you want to commit to! Every summer I would intern at a different company doing a different design role, to get a feel for what I was good at (graphic design, motion design, etc). In 4th year, I stumbled upon UX design. I did a lot of research into the role, cold emailed and networked with many UX designers, and tried to teach myself the skills needed. I worked on updating my portfolio to focus on UX case studies and applied to 80 different internship jobs. I extended an extra year at school so that I could do my first UX internship in California, which really helped me excel in my experiences and meet people in the industry. Then during my last year, I began applying to full-time jobs again and landed an offer to work at LinkedIn in California again.

 

What were your policies regarding internships, volunteering, and paid work?

I’ve done paid and unpaid internships before. Volunteering is fine as long as I have the time and am passionate about the work. Sometimes, you need to do those projects in order to get off the ground and build your portfolio. But always know what your worth is, and don’t let people take advantage of you. Remember you always have the right to decline work if it seems unreasonable. Know the difference between getting experience and allowing someone to “hire” you for free labour. The one policy I had was - spend each summer working. If it helps you grow as a designer/artist, go for it! Those experiences were what helped me get to where I am now

         

What do you enjoy most about your work? What is the most challenging aspect of your work?

What I enjoy the most: The people I work with - they’re smart and kind. I also enjoy learning so much on the job, especially when we do A/B testing to understand which designs perform best!

Most challenging: It’s always surprising to learn how many people are required to keep a “website” or “app” running! At LinkedIn, there are 14,000+ employees, and hundreds of people on each team dedicated to specific sections of LinkedIn’s platform. What this means is collaboration and communication are crucial to being able to operate and continue innovating on new projects since so many decision-makers can be involved.

 

What skills or relationships developed at OCAD U helped you participate in your field? Is there anything you would have done differently?

Participating in design competitions at OCAD U were really helpful! Also helps to take courses close to the field you want to be in (for me, it was web design and product design courses). I don’t think I could have done anything differently, there’s no way I could have known what I wanted to do without trying so many different things first.

 

What are the key responsibilities you maintain for your practice?

  • Developing good relationships with colleagues
  • Storytelling and influential skills are needed to be a good presenter - I have to do lots of presenting (it’s not my strongest suit, but I’m trying to get better at it daily)
  • Staying up to date with my industry (Example: design patterns for iOS/Android, best practices, design methodologies, etc)

 

What are your personal and professional goals for the coming years?

  • Maintain a good work/life balance
  • Talk at an event
  • Continue venturing into hobbies outside of work

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