Welcome to the second edition of our MentorSpeak series, where we present a treasure trove of knowledge for aspiring designers. In our recent interview, we had the pleasure of speaking with Shiva Viswanathan, former Design Head of Ogilvy Pennywise, who shared with us his professional journey and important insights into AND’s UX UI Design courses.
Whether you're an established professional in the world of UI UX Design or just embarking on your journey, the wisdom and experience of an industry veteran are always invaluable. And that’s exactly what we’re bringing to you with this article.
Shiva Viswanathan, an alumnus of the National Institute of Design (NID), Ahmedabad, boasts an impressive track record with over three decades of design business acumen. He is the visionary behind Catenate and Apparatus Media Lab and has held prestigious positions with globally recognised firms, such as Executive Creative Director - Digital at Ogilvy & Mather, and Digital Experience Lead - Asia-Pacific at Brand Union.
Shiva's artistic journey has traversed a multitude of mediums, encompassing print, technology, and digital media. As a result, in this interview, we were able to have discussions on many interesting vertices.
Eager to dive deeper into his wealth of knowledge? Here’s an overview of the subjects we explore in this blog.
Contents:
- What exactly is UX UI Design, and how do UX and UI differ from each other?
- What skill set is essential to pursue a career in UI UX Design?
- What makes a career in UX UI appealing today, and what does the usual career path look like in this field?
- How will a course with AND Academy help me in my UX UI Design career?
- Please tell us about your journey in the design industry and UI UX Design in particular.
Q.1. What exactly is UX UI Design, and how do UX and UI differ from each other?
In the field of user experience (UX) design, the user interface (UI) is just one piece of the puzzle. User experience design, on a broader scale, is all about crafting tangible, usable, and valuable products from original ideas. It's about turning those ideas into reality. Moreover, there's a method for evaluating existing products and transforming them into something more useful and user-friendly. This transformation is guided by best practices, informed by user research, and aligned with both user needs and business goals.
To put it in perspective, envision user experience as a book – a complete journey with a structured narrative. As a reader, you engage with this narrative. The UI, in this context, is like a single page in the book. It's a vital part that contributes to the immersive world of the book. Remove that page, and there's a noticeable gap in the story. So, in simpler terms, the user interface is a subset of the broader user experience design. UX design is about crafting comprehensive experiences, each with a distinct beginning and end, composed of numerous user interfaces.
It's crucial to grasp that the user interface, while significant, mainly deals with information design, interface elements, and visual design – all aimed at enhancing the overall experience. Notably, interfaces are evolving. What was once primarily screen-based has shifted toward voice interfaces and gestural interactions.
Related - Fundamental UX Design Principles
Q.2. What skill set is essential to pursuing a career in UI UX Design?
Many individuals may question their suitability for a career in UI UX Design. I’d say there are three key traits to consider when faced with such a dilemma.
First, curiosity plays a vital role. Think back to times when you've dined in a restaurant and contemplated how the menu could be enhanced. Such curiosity is a solid foundation, indicating your knack for identifying usability issues and brainstorming solutions.
Second, diligence and organisational skills are crucial. If you find satisfaction in creating order and structure, whether it's crafting a well-organized table of contents or methodically structuring your thoughts with subheadings before writing, it showcases your ability to bring clarity to design projects.
And finally, empathy and a deep understanding of people are pivotal to a career in this field. UX and UI design center on the human experience, and being in tune with people is essential. For instance, if you're designing a user experience for a banking app catering to rural citizens, your ability to empathise with their needs, immerse in their world, and gain insights from their experiences is key.
These three traits – curiosity, organisation, and empathy – are the building blocks for a successful career in UX and UI design, and they can be cultivated and developed over time, making them valuable assets as you delve into the captivating world of user experience and interface design.
Q.3. What makes a career in UI UX appealing today, and what does the usual career path look like in this field?
Every product line you see nowadays includes a digital component and that makes the career scope quite vast.
As a student, you embark on a journey to acquire and develop your skills, transitioning from a learner to a practitioner and someone who can effectively apply one’s skills. When moving forward in your career, collaboration becomes key as you work alongside technology and business teams to create outstanding solutions. Your growth path then leads you to mentor others, share the knowledge you've gained, and eventually manage teams, providing support and fostering their growth. This is where managerial skills come into play.
As you progress, you'll step into the role of a design strategist, which is a highly sought-after position, since it involves guiding product development in the right direction. And, if all goes well, you may even embark on the entrepreneurial path or reach senior management positions.
Related: Aromal Jose Baby's Inspiring Journey through UX UI Design Course
Q.4. How will a course with AND Academy help me in my UX UI Design career?
The UX UI Design course at AND Academy centers around transforming abstract concepts into tangible products and places emphasis on an individual's capacity to envision a product before it takes physical form - as this is what shapes the strategy, scope, and structure of the entire design process.
Throughout this course, learners gain the ability to adeptly structure workflows, which are informed by thorough research and leverage user insights. These workflows are then presented to users for feedback. Additionally, learners also become skilled in creating prototypes using cutting-edge tools and converting them into distinctive brands throughout the length of the course.
This comprehensive approach ensures that students enrolled in AND’s UX UI Design Courses not only become proficient in design tools, but also grasp key concepts like Content Management Systems (CMS), e-commerce engines, and the application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools. Ultimately, this well-rounded training equips students to contribute effectively to product start-ups and technology companies alike.
Q.5. Please tell us about your journey in the design industry and UI UX Design in particular.
I began my journey in UX UI Design with a course and moved into print design right after, mainly because most design opportunities at the time were print-based. Digital design entered the scene slightly later and I immersed myself in it as soon as I saw the opportunity.
My initial exposure to digital design involved working on CD-ROMs, which required interfaces and multimedia elements to be integrated into a cohesive resource, serving as a valuable learning tool. This is where I entered the space of “design for technology”, now known as user experience design. From here, I transitioned into web design, which necessitated adaptations based on available tools and how people use the web.
As the web continued to evolve, I also had to adapt alongside it. This evolution included various milestones, such as the introduction of computers, the Internet, websites, e-commerce, social media, feature phones, smartphones with their interfaces, tablets, and most recently, AI-driven interfaces like Alexa and Siri. I've grown and evolved with each technological advance.
At present, I'm actively working on my own AI and ML (Machine Learning)-based interface. This interface assists individuals in identifying their soft skills, enabling them to further develop and create value for themselves. Moreover, it offers enterprises a valuable tool for assembling high-performing teams based on a combined evaluation of both technical and soft skills in individuals.
What next?
We realise that you’d like there to be more to this interview, but that’s all we have for now. For more such insights, consider reading our blog where AND Mentors answer Design FAQs.
We also recommend that you watch the interview with Shiva on our official YouTube page. In the interim, we trust that this article has provided clarity on certain matters that might have previously left you pondering and contemplating your foray into the field of UI UX Design.
For those seeking in-depth knowledge, our Design Blog offers a comprehensive exploration of topics such as UX UI Design, Graphic Design, and Interior Design. If you require further assistance or additional information, please do not hesitate to reach out to our course advisor
Note: All information and/or data from external sources is believed to be accurate as of the date of publication.
