Trib’s Post

Thanks to so many of you who just joined me for an awesome chat with 2 alumni from Career Strategy Lab who recently got hired into roles as a Senior UX Researcher and a Lead Product design at Dexcom and Nextdoor! 3 key takeaways: 🗺️ 1) Just like a product needs a roadmap, your CAREER needs a roadmap. Without a roadmap, product teams flail around in chaos – and without a roadmap, you'll flail around when creating your resume, portfolio etc. A roadmap serves as a compass for your career ... and decisions are a LOT easier when you have a compass to guide you! 👥 2) Just like many entrepreneurs "build in public," navigating your career is a lot easier when you do it in community (and not a silo.) The benefit to building in public is that you learn from each other's mistakes, learnings etc. If you create your resume, portfolio, etc, in a silo, you'll second guess everything and get stuck in negative thinking, etc. With a community, you can have the support and collective knowledge of like-minded people who are on a similar journey. 🧠 3) Like startup founders, it's easy to get stuck in your head and overthink everything. The same applies to getting hired! Startup founders are often too close to their own idea! Chances are, you're too close to your resume, portfolio, etc, and you've been overthinking things and NOT considering the "users" (aka recruiters and hiring managers). Eventually, startup founders realize they can move faster and more effectively when they hire the right experts to help them bring their ideas to life – and the same applies to your career! There you have it ... I hope these takeaways were helpful! Thanks again to all of you who showed up live for our little Q&A session with alumni today and the mini portfolio workshop I taught :) Excited to see some of you on next week's Q&A Call (Tuesday) and Mindset Call (Wednesday) ... and with that, I'm logging off for the day! #ux #uxdesigner #productdesigner

Are you a junior Product Designer in a startup and feeling pushed to the brink of burnout? Here’s 5 red flags you need to learn about and what to do about them. 1️⃣ Working for free Some startups justify not paying you by calling it “experience.” But you deserve to be compensated for your skills. 💡 What to do: If compensation isn’t on the table, advocate for fair pay, even if it’s a smaller amount. Your time is valuable. 2️⃣ Lack of mentorship or guidance You’re left to figure everything out on your own with no real leadership expertise in product and or design. 💡 What to do: Ask for regular feedback and guidance. Try seeking out a mentor in the design community as well who can help you grow. adplist.org is a great resource and I’m on there too so hit me up! https://lnkd.in/epeXXaEf 3️⃣ Overworked and underappreciated You’re given massive responsibilities with little to no recognition. 💡 What to do: Document your contributions. Make your achievements visible to the team, and request regular reviews to highlight your impact. 4️⃣ Disregard for design process Startups often rush through or skip proper design processes, compromising product quality. 💡 What to do: Advocate for better practices, even if it’s just small improvements. Explain how good design improves the product, and why it’s worth the investment of your time and their money. 5️⃣ No long-term growth You feel like a temporary solution rather than a long-term asset. 💡 What to do: Set up a meeting with leadership to discuss your future at the company. Ask about growth opportunities and define your path within the organisation. Use your documented impact to show your continual growth and value. —— Burnout isn’t just about overwork, it’s also about being undervalued. Startups may be trying to save money, but it comes at the cost of product quality and your well-being. Speak up, protect your career, and don’t let anyone take advantage of your passion for design. —— What challenges have you faced as a junior designer in a startup? #productdesign #ux #uxdesign #startups #product #design

So much has changed in design and tech lately. Mass layoffs, AI/the economy posing existential questions, evolving expectations from Leadership, new interfaces such as AR/VR becoming more mainstream.. So, what should product design education look like going forward? A bit of context. I run ownpath, where we've been helping designers and teams such as Gojek and Freshworks upskill through our Academy. We host a Design Collective where we work with startups and enterprises such as Hero Motocorp, L&T, and more to meet their design requirements across a variety of models. We also regularly host design/product leaders at community events and podcasts. (The picture is from last week's fireside with Anjana, a staff content strategist at Spotify.) So, we're fairly tuned into how business requirements are evolving, how design/product leaders are expecting their teams to adapt, and where designers are seeing challenges. What's clear to us: the more strategic and problem-solving aspects of design are becoming more important. Showing good taste and judgement to make sure design decisions are being made that serve users, the business, the brand, and society is becoming crucial. Effective collab with Product, Engg, and Leadership and facilitating great user experiences is taking centre stage (design should not just be a service function!). Articulating one's thinking clearly is not only important with stakeholders but with AI as well, that's essentially what prompt engineering is, isn't it? So, we took everything we learned over the past 4 years and went back to the drawing board. We re-designed the Product Design Fellowship program to reflect this vision on how Design is evolving. Some key updates: - The Fellowship is now personalised according to the designer's needs and goals. You can choose to skim modules you already feel confident with, and deep dive into modules you want to strengthen your foundation in - Heavy emphasis on not only making sure designers are capable of high-quality craft, but are also good at understanding users deeply, identifying what problems to solve, working effectively in teams, and developing a taste for what great design looks like. We've also included Generative AI for Designers and Spatial Design to help designers become future-ready - We're doubling down on industry projects and part-time opportunities so designers can apply what they're learning in real-world settings, and earn from these opportunities too - We're evolving our placement process with guides, personalised portfolio reviews, and a dedicated coordinator to help Fellows stand out and unlock amazing opportunities Huge thanks to all the mentors and instructors for contributing to and making this vision possible. Take a look at the curriculum and see for yourself if it can benefit you or someone you know. We’ve made it fully accessible, and we’re always open to thoughts & feedback! Link in the comments. #designeducation #productdesign #uxdesign

💜 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗺𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗧𝗮𝘀𝗸𝘀 💜 Hey guys, One thing I did differently this week was to streamline my daily tasks and determine the ones that are top priority. To be fair, it gave me some sense of direction, a feeling of moving in the right direction. The weekend starts today, and my advice to you is to take some minutes out of your busy schedule today or tomorrow and streamline your tasks. Pick the top 3 that moves you closer to your goals and ensure you do them daily. What are your plans for the weekend? For me, I plan on watching one or two movies and spend the rest of the time coding and relaxing. Let me know yours in the comment section. Have a great weekend everyone. Like, share, comment and repost. 💜 ----------------- 💜 Are you a recruiter seeking a talented UX designer? Are you a founder, startup, or brand looking to enhance the user experience of your product? My name is Daramola Oluwatobi, a UI/UX designer with solid skills in no-code development. I bring valuable skills and expertise to contribute to your team's success. 𝑺𝒆𝒏𝒅 𝒂 𝑫𝑴 𝒐𝒓 𝒄𝒍𝒊𝒄𝒌 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒌 𝒊𝒏 𝒎𝒚 𝒃𝒊𝒐. Let's connect! I post on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. #startups #startupjobs #startupcompany #startupfounder #uxdesigner #productdesign #founders #tobifemi #uidesign

Start-up 🚀 or big tech 🏙️ what do you choose when applying? 💫 Ever wondered if you’re more suited to a start-up or a big corporation? Having been a product designer in both worlds, I’ve learned that each has its quirks and perks In a start-up, you’re not just a designer – you’re also a bit of a product manager, researcher, and sometimes even your own QA tester! You get to shape the product from scratch, juggle multiple roles, and enjoy the thrill (and chaos) of building something new every day. It’s fast-paced, hands-on, and perfect for those who thrive on wearing many hats and making quick decisions. But don't be too quick to dismiss the corporate side. Big companies these days often feel more like a collection of start-ups. Cross functional teams have the freedom and agility to innovate, test, and iterate, working like small businesses within the larger organisation. So, if you're worried about being stuck in a rigid environment, think again! Many corporates have that start-up energy where you can still move fast and break things – with a bit more budget and support. So, what’s your pick when you’re scrolling through job ads? The all-hands-on-deck vibe of a start-up or the innovative, resource-backed hustle within a corporate giant? Share your thoughts – I’d love to hear! 🍿 #ux #product #job #startup #tech

The Real Struggles of Designers in Startups 💔😭 Working in a startup is thrilling, but for designers, it comes with unique challenges: 1. Wearing Many Hats Designers often handle branding, UI/UX, and even marketing tasks, stretching their skills thin. 2. Limited Resources Tight budgets mean fewer tools and less support, pushing creativity to its limits. 3. Fast-Paced Environment Constant changes and tight deadlines can lead to burnout and stress. 4. Balancing Innovation and Feasibility Designers must innovate while staying within resource and time constraints. Communication Gaps 5. Lack of structured communication can lead to misalignment with other departments. 6. Uncertain Career Path Startups may not offer clear career progression, adding to job uncertainty. Despite these hurdles, the impact of your work is direct and the growth potential is immense. Stay resilient, keep pushing boundaries, and remember that every challenge is an opportunity for growth. #designlife #startupstruggles #kirthikux #uxdesign #startuplife #designercommunity #figmadesigners

How Do You Work with Your Customers? Because We Adopt the Same Lean Startup Strategies When Working with Ours At Tekkon, we know the key to a successful startup is understanding your customers' needs. This principle also applies to how we work with you. Just as you ask your customers about the challenges or problems they’re experiencing, their goals, and the solutions they've tried and what they actually need ... is the same approach we adopt to dive deep to understand your unique tech challenges and goals. 👨💻 For our developer augmentation model, there is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to working with startups and their diverse tech stacks. We understand your exact requirements for a developer, ensuring we find the most suitable remote talent to work with you. 🎨 Similar to how you gather feedback on prototypes, wireframes, and user experiences, we fine-tune designs that resonate with your audience to deliver the best possible user experience. For all of our UI/UX designs, we strive to understand the unique experience you’re trying to create for your customers in great detail, and work with you directly to ensure it is exactly what you're looking to build. ⚙️ Much like how you check with customers to perfect their user experience, we ensure your platform meets user expectations through rigorous testing and feedback. Our DevOps Engineers can work with you to create custom infrastructure that supports your product's reliability, speed, and security. We love working with startups, supporting the ecosystem, and most of all, we want you to succeed. Your success is our success. TGIF - 🍻 #UXDesign #StartupSuccess #CustomerFocus #DeveloperAugmentation #DevOps

🚀 Exciting Opportunity: Join Me in Building a Game-Changing SaaS Product! 🚀 Hello LinkedIn Network, I'm thrilled to announce that I'm embarking on an exciting journey to create a groundbreaking SaaS product! Our mission is to revolutionize [industry/sector] by offering innovative solutions that solve real-world problems and add immense value to our users. To turn this vision into reality, I'm looking for talented and passionate individuals to join me on this adventure. Whether you're a developer, designer, marketer, or have a unique skill set that can contribute to our mission, I want to hear from you! Why Join Us? Innovative Vision: Be part of a product that aims to transform [industry/sector] with cutting-edge technology. Collaborative Environment: Work with a team of like-minded, driven individuals who are committed to making a difference. Growth Opportunities: Play a key role in the early stages of a promising startup with significant growth potential. Equity Options: Be rewarded for your contributions with equity, sharing in the success of our journey. Who I'm Looking For: Developers: Proficient in technologies like React, Node.js, Python, etc. Designers: UX/UI designers with a knack for creating intuitive and beautiful interfaces. Marketers: Experts in digital marketing, growth hacking, and user acquisition. Product Managers: Visionaries who can translate ideas into actionable plans and features. Sales & BD: Professionals with a strong network and the ability to drive partnerships and sales. If you're passionate about creating innovative solutions, thrive in a fast-paced startup environment, and are excited about the potential to grow with a company from the ground up, let's connect! Drop me a message or comment below if you're interested or know someone who might be. Together, let's build something amazing! 🌟 #SaaS #Startup #TechInnovation #JoinUs #Opportunity #Equity #Hiring Looking forward to connecting with you all! Best, Banti samanta

It was an absolute pleasure talking with Sergio Irausquin who's seeing the same problems come up within the tech teams he works with. My key insights from our call: 🤢 There are ALOT of Bloated product teams with lots of specialist, but not enough work to keep them busy. 🤓 Cost cutting in companies is seeing more organisations pushing to bring on “Full-stack” product consultant (UX, UI, Research & Product Ownership) 😭 Organisations are hiring design specialists who have no commercial thinking skills, and teaming them up with Product Owners with no design thinking understanding. THIS DOESN’T BALANCE OUT, IT JUST LEADS TO PRODUCT FAILURE! 💡 Even though they charge more up front there’s so many benefits for startups and smaller organisations to ensure that they’re hiring the “Full-stack” product consultant rather than building a team of the usual 5 product people for 4x the price. You get a MUCH better return. 🤸♂️ Product teams feeding eng-teams too much work is INCREDIBLY wasteful. STOP SPENDING MORE MONEY THAN YOU NEED TO! 👇 I'd LOVE to hear your thoughts on our conversation. Are you seeing these same trends in your organisation? Leave your thoughts in the comments below. 💪🤖🤳 #startup #UXdesign #productdesign #DontHireAConsultant #Hiring #tech

If you're building a tech startup, avoid these common mistakes 1. Don't rush into opening an office with just an idea. First, you need to have a rough concept of what you're trying to build. 2. Create a basic user flow. Think about how users will interact with your platform, and write it out in simple terms. Focus on the user experience, not the tech stack just yet. 3. Avoid jumping into office space early. Instead, hire a tech consultant who can provide a High-Level Design (HLD) and Low-Level Design (LLD) of your idea. They will help break your project into phases, so it's realistic and scalable. If your consultant is also a developer, that's a huge bonus! 4. Invest in a good Figma designer. Don’t cut corners by hiring interns or freshers for a lower salary—it will cost you more in the long run. A solid design is key to success. 5. Get a Figma design with a working prototype. Share it with your tech consultant to ensure that your design is feasible and aligns with the development phases. 6. Now, it's time to hire developers. Start with 1-2 years of experienced developers who can bring energy and fresh ideas. However, don’t expect them to work 24/7. Respect work-life balance, as burnout will hurt productivity. 7. Use AI and automation to optimize development processes. Implement tools that streamline testing, deployment, and bug tracking. Leverage AI-driven code suggestions and error handling to make your developers more efficient. By focusing on structured development and hiring smart, you'll build a tech startup that’s efficient, scalable, and sustainable. Avoid rushing through critical early steps, and your foundation will be much stronger. 💬 Like & Comment your thoughts: Did you make any of these mistakes as a co-founder or tech lead? How did you navigate through them? Let’s share experiences and learn together! #tech #startup #techstartup #avoid #mistakes #techguide #guide #StartupSuccess #TechEntrepreneur #FoundersJourney #StartupMistakes #ProductDevelopment