From Self-Taught Designer to Mentor: The Unfolding of a Creative Path - Praveen Nambupitchai - S3 Ep 11

In this episode, we are joined by Mr. Praveen Nambupitchai, the Design Lead at Galaxy Weblinks Inc. A self-taught design expert with 6.5 years of experience, Praveen specializes in UI and product design. His profound knowledge of UI design has honed his ability to craft intuitive and visually striking interfaces that deliver an enhanced user experience. Beyond his expertise, Praveen mentors aspiring designers, guiding them in skill development and career advancement.

Discussion points - 

• Could you share the journey that led you to become a design extraordinaire and educator? 2:08
• Did the self-taught learning journey, including discipline and reliance on online resources, ever lead to self-doubt or uncertainty about your ability to succeed as a designer?  4:11
• Apart from talent, what key factors do you consider pivotal in shaping you into the accomplished designer you are today? 5:18
• When facing intermediaries like managers or client representatives who filter design feedback, how do these challenges influence your design attitude and motivation? 6:59
• Transitioning from solo work to collaborating with teams on multiple projects, what key differences have you observed in your design approach and overall experience? 9:48
• Rapid fire round 11:19
• Shifting from a designer to mentor and course creator, how challenging was it to adapt your focus, develop a curriculum, and bridge design approach gaps? 20:03
• With Figma introducing new features like variables, multilingual support, data sets, and AI capabilities, what's your perspective on these changes? 22:59
• Regarding generative AI tools in the creative industry, do you see them as a threat or a benefit? Will they reshape your design approach, or have a more positive impact? 25:47
• Could the integration of advanced features like generative AI in tools like Figma result in a steeper learning curve for designers and the need for specialized professionals in prototyping and interactivity? 29:04
• What advice would you give to aspiring designers who admire portfolios like yours and dream of becoming accomplished designers themselves? 30:31

Show notes -

• I didn't attend any school to learn design, and during that time, there weren't any online platforms available for learning either. The only source I had was YouTube. I absorbed all the videos that people had recorded and posted. This was also a period when the design was undergoing significant evolution.
• I don't closely follow design trends, as they change constantly. Instead, I focus on maintaining consistency through practice and frequent iterations. I don't settle with just one design; I keep iterating until I'm truly satisfied.
• I gather various inputs to determine what will work well visually and experientially. While some might believe visuals alone suffice for a product, the experience also plays a significant role.
• When working alone, your decisions rely solely on your own judgment and experience. However, collaborating with a team introduces new perspectives and surprising possibilities that you might not have considered on your own.
• Teaching is something I aspire to do beyond this industry, given my personal journey through challenges. Recently, I've observed individuals enthusiastically taking online courses in various fields, including UX. However, there remains a significant gap in teaching the art of crafting quality designs. This gap is what I aim to address through my mentorship.
• Figma's recent foray into AI is quite intriguing, particularly the demo they showcased. There have been concerns that AI might take over jobs, but as seen in the demo, these tools aren't actually performing design tasks.
• As a designer, you are understanding how engineering functions is essential, as your role extends beyond creating a design. Designing is just the beginning; you're involved in the entire process, from building the design to development, leading to a sense of satisfaction once the product is complete.
• When starting your career, gather references from established professionals, especially those focused on consistent enterprise and real product design, rather than chasing trends that are ever-changing.

Links - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/praveen-n-964560151/  

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