Navigating the Design Landscape: Insights from Anjali Deswandikar’s Masterclass

ATLAS SkillTech University is committed to providing its students with cutting-edge insights and industry-relevant knowledge. Recently, ATLAS ISDI – School of Design & Innovation had the privilege of hosting Anjali Deswandikar, Design Team Lead at Lollypop Design Studio & Design Director at Terralogic Inc., USA, for an enlightening masterclass titled ‘How to beat AI with UX.’ This interactive session not only delved into Anjali’s inspiring journey from a non-design background but also explored essential aspects of UX design, including growth stages, the power of user research, the design process, and the challenges faced by designers. In this blog, we’ll take a closer look at the key takeaways from this enlightening session.

Growth Stages of a Designer

Anjali began by elucidating the growth stages in the life of a designer. From ‘Unconscious incompetence’ to ‘Conscious incompetence,’ ‘Conscious competence,’ and finally ‘Unconscious competence,’ each stage reflects the evolving skills and knowledge a designer gains over time.

What Makes Someone a Designer?

One of the most pertinent questions addressed during the session was, “What makes someone a designer?” Anjali emphasised that anyone who influences what design becomes is a designer, including developers, project managers and even corporate legal professionals. The key lies in identifying your unique ability to solve problems effectively.

Creating a Great User Experience

Anjali stressed the importance of delivering a great user experience, emphasizing that when users experience something exceptional, it leaves a lasting memory. She highlighted the chain of ‘Experience-Emotions-Behavior-Perception’ and how a pleasant experience builds trust, while an unpleasant one leads to avoidance.

The Design Process

The design process was a central topic of discussion. Anjali shed light on its flexibility, stating that there is no strict industry standard to follow. It comprises four essential phases: ‘Discover-Define-Design-Develop,’ which together help achieve the business goal while providing value.

Challenges in Design

Design is not without its challenges and Anjali shared valuable insights into overcoming them:

Convincing Stakeholders

Sometimes, convincing stakeholders about your design vision’s benefits can be a battle. Anjali advised the use of data, user opinions, and market best practices to support your ideas.

Teamwork

Design is a team sport, and working in silos won’t yield results. It’s essential to understand your strengths and weaknesses and collaborate to maintain a common vision.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

Working with various teams, including product managers, artists, and developers, is crucial. Effective hand-offs to these teams are key to success.

Tips for Aspiring Designers

Anjali wrapped up the session with valuable tips for those aspiring to become designers:

• Network: Connect with people at all levels to expose yourself to diverse stories and possibilities.
• Resilience: Don’t take feedback personally, and learn to extract constructive insights from it.
• Learn from Bad Experiences: Bad experiences can be the best teachers. Use them as opportunities for growth and improvement.
• Prioritise Skills: Focus on developing skills over job titles. Skills are your most valuable asset in the design industry.

About Anjali Deswandikar

Anjali A. Deswandikar is a seasoned Design Director with over 20 years of expertise in the field of design and research. Currently serving as the Design Director at Terralogic Inc. in the USA, Anjali specialises in scaling startups through design consultation and mentoring. She is a renowned keynote speaker and a Design Team Lead at Lollypop Design Studio. With a track record of delivering user-centric digital solutions across channels, Anjali has a knack for enhancing customer experiences. Her extensive experience includes setting up and nurturing design teams, developing talent and delivering world-class products and experiences. Anjali’s strength lies in translating client briefs into creative solutions, overseeing design teams and adeptly troubleshooting design challenges.

The masterclass by Anjali Deswandikar was a transformative experience for the students at ATLAS ISDI – School of Design & Innovation. It not only provided valuable insights into the world of UX design but also offered guidance and inspiration for those embarking on a journey in this field. The session emphasised that with dedication, a growth mindset and a commitment to delivering exceptional user experiences, anyone can thrive as a designer, regardless of their background. ATLAS SkillTech University will continue to bring such enriching experiences to its students, bridging the gap between education and industry reality.