In our conversation with AND alumni Saiprasad Chandran Nambiar, we dive deep into his journey from an IT graduate to a UI UX designer. Read on to find out more about his experience and learnings as he takes us through his journey at AND Academy.
“The online classes at AND did not feel like online classes at all, because they were filled with activities and were very interactive.”
In this edition of Student Journey, we are in conversation with Saiprasad Nambiar, who completed his PG Diploma in UI UX at AND Academy. He shares his transformational experience of going from an IT graduate to a UI UX designer with us. Read on to find out more about his experience at AND and how it helped him carve a whole new path for himself.
Here is a stock of what we have discussed.
- Saiprasad’s Background
- How did he develop an interest in UI UX Design?
- Why did he choose AND Academy?
- What made him interested in UI UX Design?
- His career aspirations
- Walkthrough of his Capstone Project
- The thought process behind his project
- Top learnings from AND Academy
- His overall experience with AND Academy
- Advice for AND Learners
- Would he recommend AND Academy to others?
Without further ado, let’s dive in!
Q1. Let’s start with something easy - your introduction! How about you share a little about yourself and your background?
I completed my Bachelor of Science in IT from K J Somaiya College of Science & Commerce in Mumbai. Later, I joined the PG Diploma Course in UI UX Design at AND Academy.
It has definitely been a great journey for me. From my background in IT to my current professional interest in the design field, it was a very fun and interesting experience. I'm currently working as a UI UX and graphic designer. I really like this field and have an inherent appreciation for it. It’s because I think designing requires and fosters creativity. It really motivates me and keeps me on my toes. At work, I am always like, I have to do this and I have to do that. It really motivates me to keep going.
That’s great to know! It is also interesting to note you initially enrolled in our Communications Design course and then shifted to UI/UX.
Q2. What prompted this shift from Communications Design? How did you develop an interest in UI UX Design?
When I started my journey towards a career in design, I started it with the intent of exploring more about the UI UX field. I used to search the internet extensively and eventually, came across AND Academy. I saw a post about a PG Diploma course in Communications Design and the wide scope of the curriculum really interested me.
The course explored the entire field of design, not just UI UX. In Term One, we explored different fields such as graphic design, UI design, and even branding! It was all very exciting as I was exploring a lot of new things.
However, it soon struck me why I ventured into the field of design in the first place. It was to explore UI UX design. I wanted to know more about it specifically. I was fascinated with the idea of creating websites and wanted to learn more about it. So, I decided this was what I wanted to do and shifted to the UI UX Design course.
That's quite a journey you took, but we are glad you had fun along the way.
Q3. Now, I would like to delve a bit deeper into why you chose AND Academy. What stood out to you about the UI UX course offered here?
I actually don’t have a design background. As a result of that, I also don’t have anything to show for my interest or skill in the domain. This made me realize that I need professional supervision or an assignment to expand my skill set and learn the technicalities of the field. I needed to enroll somewhere and get a proper education. I needed someone who could help me understand what exactly is meant by the term ‘design’ and how to create one myself. Someone who could tell me, this is what you do and this is how it is supposed to be done.
When I came across AND Academy’s website, the information about their processes, teaching methodology, etc. made me really curious. It was all very well explained and that’s when I decided to enrol. The decision only solidified after the first call I had with an AND Academy representative.
That’s great to know!
Q4. At this point, I would also like to know if you always had an interest in Design. Was this always a career path you envisioned for yourself?
Yeah, I would say, I always sort of had an interest in design. I used to draw a lot in my school days. Also, whenever I would talk to my friends, they would always say that you can be a good designer or you will excel in animation. Even my mother used to tell me that animation or VFX could be a good field for me.
During my 10th and 12th grades, I also watched a few movies that were heavy on VFX and animation. That’s when I became really intrigued with the idea of these technologies and thought this is a field I would like to explore more.
Eventually, I started researching these technologies, how they work, what kind of processes they follow, and much more. I got to know a lot about animation, which led me to explore more about design. Ultimately, all this led me to UI UX Design and that’s how my journey began.
That’s certainly an interesting journey.
Q5. What are your current career aspirations like? Where do you see yourself heading forward?
During my internship, I focused mainly on designing UI and social media posts. Now, as a Junior Designer, I also work on creating UI UX designs and get to work on brands as well as their branding strategies. I like to dwell on things like, what a brand can do to stand out, how it can impact the audience, and how we can create the message that conveys the exact brand values we want to convey.
Before I entered the design field, I had a very singular focus on becoming a UI UX designer. However, after completing the course at AND Academy, I want to work in a role where I can also explore branding.
I know it sounds crazy, but I would really like to be in a role where I can indulge in everything related to designing and branding. I want to do everything that comes within the purview of design. I would also like to add that I am grateful to AND Academy for awakening this interest in me. I wouldn’t know all this about my interests and skills if I didn’t enroll in the course.
I enjoy being a UI UX designer and creating websites. If I ever get the chance, I would also love to redesign the queue management system in our country. I travel a lot by train and I feel that queueing system is something I would like to change if I could. But that’s a long shot. Till then, I am focused on becoming the best UI UX designer that I can become.
It is great to know that you could find your true career interests through AND Academy!
Q6. Now, let us talk about your Capstone Project. Would you like to take us through your journey of brainstorming and creating it?
This was quite a fascinating and engrossing project for me because it was a continuation of the branding project I did earlier. We were given this tagline, “Big Pop and Downstone.”
I took forward the branding project and turned it into a complete UI UX case study. Inspired by the tagline, I created a brand called Yeng. It's a hypothetical footwear brand and I made it into an e-commerce platform. My target audience was the age groups between 20 to 35 belonging to middle and upper-middle-class families.
The main values of this brand included fun, energy, and usefulness. My idea was to present the brand’s personality through the website. For this, I used youthful fonts and colorful images. I focused on ensuring that the typography represented the brand values. It was a bit of a challenge because I did not want the users to get overwhelmed by the bold colors, but I eventually figured it out.
While planning this project, my mentor asked me to add the brand USPs so that the users would be encouraged and feel motivated to check out the website So, I added the USPs that included the fact that the shoes are soft, comfortable, fashionable, and perfect for all occasions. I wanted it to be a versatile brand.
USPs of Yeng shoes
After defining the USPs, the actual design process began. It included research about the target audience, competitive analysis of existing or similar brands, analysis of their websites, their approach towards UI and UX, how they created features and functionalities, etc. Most importantly, I analyzed how brands like Adidas and Nike communicate with their audience.
For the user research, I followed the standard process I use for all my branding and UI UX projects. I conducted interviews and made two personas to start with- one Preferred online shopping and the other preferred offline shopping.
Design Process for the Yeng Website
After this, I got to the visual design part, and that's when I made the complete design inception sheet for the first time. By now, I was applying a lot of the concepts I had learned during the course. I was thinking of various questions such as - What will the brand’s personality be? What are the specific audience moods I need to consider? After all these considerations, I made the UI kit. I created the UI design and exported several wireframes. After finalizing one, I made a prototype and started the testing
Then I started working on the site map key. I made this with the intent to ensure that consumers were entering into a comfortable space to shop. I wanted it to be a familiar and simple e-commerce platform that would be easy to navigate for the customers. Also, for users to understand easily what kind of options they have. I kept the approach to my sitemap simple and minimal.
Visual Design Guide for Yeng website
Now, moving onto the visual design which I created according to the branding I had decided on. I wanted the brand to have a youthful personality. So, I went with bright colors that represented the young energy I wanted to represent. I also designed a simple preview option wherein users can hover over the image if they want to. On the final home page, they can also use this feature to check out the product’s USPs.
Visual Design Guide for Yeng website
My aim was to ensure that users connect with the brand. The homepage also has a banner about why users should choose my brand. The products are categorized according to the shop view and then, there are other sections including social media. Some other pages on the website include the product list page, the product display page, and the final shopping cart.
That was very comprehensive! You seem to have some very interesting features on your website.
Q7. Would you like to further share your thought process behind this project? What inspired you to have such interesting features on your website?
I wanted to create a brand that engages the audience and builds their trust in online shopping. So while interviewing my personas who preferred to shop offline, I came across a few interesting insights. There was anxiety about not being able to return the product and sharing personal information for log-in purposes.
The main focus of my idea was to get offline shoppers to explore the website. I conducted user interviews to understand their goals and needs. I investigated what motivates them to shop offline and what their fears or pain points while shopping online are. I similarly interviewed the online shoppers to understand why they prefer online mode.
After understanding the user's pain points, I started working on features and functionalities. I wanted to add features that would make this website stand out as well as the ones that all major brands were using. So, I decided to add features like guest checkout and quick view to my website.
For the quick view feature, I took inspiration from offline shops. Just like we can see the footwear on the display, I wanted the audience to have a complete view of the product so they knew how it looked from all angles. It helps users see the product and its various variations easily.
I incorporated the guest checkout feature for new users who may be hesitant to buy my product and enter their personal details. With this feature, you get a checkout option where you only need to add a few details.
One of my favorite features of the website is the micro-interactions- the several moving elements that make it interactive. The main thought process behind this project was to create a website that would be memorable for the users. I wanted browsing and purchasing to be an enjoyable experience. My aim was to create a website that was simple, useful, and easy to navigate on desktop and mobile.
Your thought process and focus on improving the user experience is really inspiring!
Q8. What were the top learnings you gained from working on this project?
I learned a lot from working on this project. My top learning, I would say, is that it’s always essential to understand what the user wants. Do your user research thoroughly- not just at the beginning of the project but throughout the lifecycle. Consider their needs, pain points, and challenges, and remain mindful of the same.
Another learning was that it’s important to strike a balance between what the user wants and what the brand represents. User is important but should not be the singular focus. It is crucial to consider the brand personality as well.
The third and most important learning I gained was an understanding of how to use different software.
These are some great learnings, thank you for sharing them with us.
Q9. How was your experience at AND Academy? What were the top three aspects that had the most impact on you?
One of the best aspects of AND is how well the courses are structured. While being part of the PG Diploma course, I got to know about various types of designs such as Print Design, UI UX Design, and Graphic Design. I learned about how they are different and how each has its own importance.
Also, the classes were very interactive. It didn’t feel, I’d say for the lack of a better term, “too online” because of all the interactions I had with my batchmates. We used to catch up regularly and I have made some great friends. Even though I couldn’t, a lot of my classmates also visited Delhi and the IIAD campus. As part of the first batch, I can confidently say the course is very much worth all the effort I put into it. It didn’t feel like a typical online course. We had a lot of workshops and interactive sessions that made the whole course a very fun experience.
Glad you had such an enriching experience at AND!
Q10. If you could offer advice to someone starting a similar journey, what would it be?
One advice I would give to all aspiring designers is - jot down all your ideas on paper. Do not wait till later, put your ideas down on paper as soon as you get them. No matter how crazy or random the idea is, always record it. Carry something with you where you can scribble, draw, sketch, or write.
Another piece of advice is to always keep brainstorming and researching. One thing I have learned about design is that curiosity is very important. Keep researching to find out new ideas.
The most important thing I have learned at AND Academy is to always be open to exploring new styles. My style of design has always been minimal. However, after venturing into the professional space, I have realized the importance of trying out new styles. Explore all types of designs and try to create things that are out of your comfort zone.
While it is important to have your own style, having the adaptability to do what your client wants is also important. So, keep yourself updated with the trends and experiment with different styles. Practicing constantly is the key!
These are some very overlooked yet important pieces of advice. We are sure the readers will benefit a lot from them!
Q11. Before we wrap up, would you recommend AND Academy to your friends and peers based on your experience?
Yeah, definitely! I'm already getting many inquiries on Linkedin and also a few from Instagram. I am being asked questions like, how is AND Academy? What do they teach? Should I join? The course has been of great benefit to me and I also liked my overall experience. So yeah, I always recommend AND Academy to anyone who reaches out.
That’s great to know! Thank you so much Saiprasad for sharing your experience with AND with us. It was a delight to know about your journey and we wish you all the best for your future endeavors!
Do you aspire to become a UX UI Designer like Saiprasad? Then, we encourage you to explore the UX/UI Design courses offered at AND Academy. Our flexible, stackable courses enable you to start with an 18-week Certificate course and smoothly progress to a Diploma or PG Diploma course to gain more expertise and knowledge.
If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to our Course Advisors.
Note: All information and/or data from external sources is believed to be accurate as of the date of publication.
