Aashrey Sharma

Hiring for design system roles differs from hiring for other design or engineering roles. Clarifying what makes the roles unique is essential for screening candidates. Here are some nuances that I've found to be helpful. When asking for a presentation, stop using the word "portfolio" and start using "case studies." They tell similar stories but change the expectations from traditional visual portfolios. Include clear bullet points about expected responsibilities; don't just copy and paste requirements from other similar, existing roles. Just because they have the word "designer" or "engineer" in the title doesn't mean the job is the same. If your org still insists on doing a design exercise, tailor it to reflect what you expect from a design system practitioner. The day-to-day is unique, so don't waste time on an exercise that provides no value for you and sets the candidate up for failure. If hiring a design system team manager, you're not hiring an independent contributor and vice versa. Managing and building design systems is a lot of work. One person can't do both roles well simultaneously, so pick one and focus the interview questions on the expected role. What did I miss?

41

2 Comments

For all the UX enthusiasts out there, here’s a list of some fantastic UX conferences happening around and you can attend in India. These are some of my favourite ones as well. 🙂 1. UXIndia,  https://2024.ux-india.org/ 2. UXnow, https://www.uxnow.org/ 3. UX360 Research Summit, https://lnkd.in/gSJfXD_q 4. International Conference on Research Into Design, https://lnkd.in/gUCEVvQ9 5. Hatch conference, https://lnkd.in/guyvAaEN 6. UXInsight Festival, https://lnkd.in/gPHb5Zby 7. ConveyUX, https://conveyux.com/ 8. AIGA Design Conference 2024, https://lnkd.in/gsKmfRWT 9. George UX Conf, https://lnkd.in/gQgHwuRF For more information, plz visit the specific event websites. Top 5 benefits of attending the conferences: 1. Connect with other professionals 2. Stay ahead of Industry Trends 3. Inspiration and Fresh Ideas 4. Showcase work 5. Attend amazing workshops and masterclasses When people with the same passion come together under one roof, the conversations are truly unstoppable. These gatherings create an environment so vibrant and inspiring that you wish the day would never end. The energy and vibe are unmatched. UX conferences are more than just events; they’re incubators for ideas and catalysts for growth. Some ideas that start as casual conversations come to life, sparking innovations that can shape the future of design. For others, it’s a place of clarity, where the fog of uncertainty lifts, revealing the path forward in their career. Don't think. Just decide your next UX conference, you would like to attend soon. 😁 #UserExperience #UXConferences #UXEvents #UXSummit #DigitalDesignConferences #ProductDesignSummit #UXGathering #UXDesign #UserExperience #UXResearch #DesignThinking #InteractionDesign #UIUX #UXStrategy

23

1 Comment

Since I heard there would be more #Cisco #layoffs I have been on an emotional roller coaster. Will my friends and former team be impacted? If not, how are they coping? I'm told news is being delivered today. If you get, give, or witness colleagues getting unfortunate termination news: YOUR WORTHINESS IS NOT YOUR EMPLOYMENT STATUS I don't want to write this, out of fear of it coming across as "about me". I need to write this to reach out to those affected. You are not alone. This is not about you. You are bigger, better, and stronger than the circumstances you are facing. Some context (what I hope is the only about-me portion). I spent ~two years with Cisco from June 2022 - April 2024. During that time I hired 7+ ICs, witnessed 3 rounds of layoffs, before being impacted. What I write comes from personal experience. If you are impacted: The Cisco alumni network (and those not impacted) are your strongest asset. I credit this network as a key factor that brought me back into the workforce. Use us. Lean on us. Take the time to organize your files, your resume, and your plan. Don't rush into a job search. Cisco has given you some runway. It's OK to sit idle with the engines running before trying to take off. Gather yourself. If you are still employed: Notice I didn't say "not impacted". Layoffs. Impact. Everyone. It's OK to mourn the loss of your teammates. It's OK to mourn the loss of some job security, thinking "will I be next?". It's OK to take time for your own emotional stability. Be kind to yourself. Be kind to those impacted. Don't treat those impacted as lepers. Reach out. Check in on them. Don't lose your humanity. (I say this having seen some folks reach out a LOT during my time impacted and others disappear. Be the former). I always knew there'd be more layoffs in Cisco's future. That's not a knock. That's an objective observation. What I didn't expect was how deeply it would stir some emotions, some positive, some more raw. So I'll add a third group of people I'm writing this to: those who have been impacted in the past. Be the outreach you had, that you want to emulate. Be the outreach you wish you had. It's OK to be vulnerable. It's OK to put yourself out there. It's also OK to close out the noise if you need to, if the feelings are still raw. We are not identified by our employment status. We are not our jobs. I wish everyone the best of luck on your journey.

133

8 Comments

Design Technologists, such a good topic, PJ Onori and I wanted to bring on friend Donnie D'Amato BFA., MA. for the convo. Back when we all started, it was a skill set I had dabbled with, but only with HTML/CSS. Donnie and PJ go head-to-head to talk about their roles as different types of design technologist/ux engineer and how this role is essential for product design and XFN growth, specifically if they can sit with design systems teams. #designsystems #podcast #designengineer #designtechnologist #productdesign #react #html #css

25

3 Comments

🚀 Exploring AI & User-Centered Design: Where UCD Falls Short 🤖🔍 AI is transforming our world, but is User-Centered Design (UCD) keeping up? In my latest blog, I dive into my experience and challenges of integrating UCD with AI, covering key points like: 🔹 The Dilemma of Unknown Unknowns: How AI introduces new, unpredictable issues. 🔹 Data Gaps: The impact of missing data on inclusivity and fairness. 🔹 Big Data Complexity: Why designers need new skills in data analysis. 🔹 End-User Complexity: Making AI understandable for users. 🔹 AI Behavior: The need for ongoing maintenance and refinement. Drop your thoughts and experiences in the comments—I’d love to hear your perspective! 👇📢 https://lnkd.in/g9yAHQ5p #AI #Design #UserCenteredDesign

19

The job UX market is flooded with candidates, yet we hear of companies taking months to find the right one. There is frustration building on both sides of the interview table. Both are overwhelmed by the work required to find a good candidate/job opportunity match. I get it; choosing someone unsuitable for the role can be costly for a company. Team productivity may be slowed down, and re-starting the whole hiring machine after a failed probation period is painful for everyone involved. But at times, some teams hold out for the perfect candidate instead of taking the bet on someone with potential and then using their internal resources of existing seniors, leads, and managers to develop the talents properly. Proper onboarding, training, and support can de-risk hiring even junior UX professionals to a team. This reduces the need for “only senior” roles, cuts hiring costs, and increases the effective utilization of UX professionals across the board. Maybe it’s time to rethink the notion that we need that “one perfect Senior UX Designer” in our squads. What do you think? How can we de-risk hiring UX professionals and make it less stressful for everyone involved? #ux #uxdesign #uxjobs #uxcareer #productdesigner #uxdesigner #uxhiring #uxcoach

71

12 Comments

The design job market is tough right now (for new and experienced folks alike). I've had many people reach out to me for advice to whom I've always replied that my journey has been far from perfect. I've had my fair share of failures (& some successes) as a designer and I'm happy to share the lessons I've learned along the way. If you or someone you know wants to talk about anything design (portfolio, interviews, layoffs, team fit, rejections, product feedback, etc.), I'm happy to chat. :) #productdesign #adplist #mentorship

47

2 Comments