01/07/2025
What prepared me for the Product Design role I love today?
I envisioned working as a product designer while I was still a UI/UX designer.
👉 I started by researching the difference between the two roles and identifying the skills I’d need to grow.
Even though I thought Product Design would come later in my career — it happened sooner.
And somehow… I was ready.
Here’s what actually helped me:
✅ Research Mindset
Back when I worked as a Research & Investment Analyst, I learned something important:
🧠 Everything is out there — scattered, yes, but findable.
Now, I often begin with just a vision — no clear path, no obvious answers.
So I research like crazy:
• Competitor products
• Adjacent industries
• Or… build from scratch
✅ Ask the Right Questions
Not just design questions. But bigger ones:
• How does this feature work, end-to-end?
• What happens before and after this screen?
• Who uses it — and who supports it behind the scenes?
🙋🏻♀️ Whether solo or in a team — your questions shape your solutions.
Better questions = better, faster decisions.
✅ Solo vs Team Design
I’ve done both:
• Freelanced as a one-person design team for a Malaysia-based startup 👩🏻💻
• Collaborated with a global team across 34+ countries 🌍
These experiences taught me:
• How to take ownership and talk to stakeholders
• How to communicate across cultures
• How to figure things out — when you’re the only designer people count on
✅ Follow Your Curiosity
People say: “Just learn what you need for now.”
But I believe: Learn what excites you.
💻 I explore JavaScript — not to code full-time, but because it’s fun and useful.
It might not always feel immediately relevant — but it adds to my toolkit.
And that makes me a better designer.
✅ Obsession with Learning
You have to genuinely enjoy learning.
📚 Books, tutorials, courses — because they fuel you.
Doing the bare minimum won’t make you stand out.
Start slow — but keep building.
✅ Done Is Better Than Perfect
When I finished my first UX portfolio, I didn’t send it to 50 people for feedback.
I knew it wasn’t perfect — but it was mine, and it was enough to start applying.
💡 If you’re doing the work, you’ll know when you’re ready to move.
✅ Envision → Act
Design is less about visuals — and more about:
• Making decisions
• Defining problems
• Offering clear, thoughtful solutions
• And believing in yourself
📌 When I graduated from University, I wanted to be a designer.
I didn’t know how — there was no guidance.
I ended up somewhere else.
But years later — I made it here.
One step at a time. One decision at a time.
🎯 If you're dreaming of something — start learning, start building, and trust yourself.
💬 If this resonates with you — let’s connect.
