A Day in the Life of a Product Designer: Exploring Design, Meetings, and DIY Projects

🎨A product designer's day involves a diverse range of activities, from attending meetings to working on DIY projects.

📆Starting the day with lightweight tasks on an iPad can help reduce morning stress and increase productivity.

📊Being data-driven is essential in making design decisions, balancing qualitative feedback and quantitative analysis.

💼Reviewing design portfolios requires looking beyond deliverables and focusing on how designers think and their impact.

🖌️Exploring interior design can be a creative outlet for product designers, turning a new place into a blank canvas.

What does a product designer's day typically involve?

—A product designer's day can involve various activities like attending meetings, collaborating with team members, working on design tasks, and reviewing user feedback.

How can lightweight tasks on an iPad help reduce morning stress?

—By focusing on lightweight tasks like accepting calendar invites or emails on an iPad before diving into heavier work like opening a laptop, one can create a less stressful morning routine.

Why is being data-driven important in making design decisions?

—Being data-driven allows product designers to make decisions based on objective insights rather than personal biases. It helps in understanding user behavior and optimizing designs for better user experiences.

What should be considered when reviewing design portfolios?

—When reviewing design portfolios, it is important to look beyond deliverables and navigate through the thought process behind the designs. Pay attention to the impact the designer has made and whether their work showcases innovation and problem-solving skills.

How can exploring interior design benefit product designers?

—Exploring interior design can be a creative outlet for product designers, allowing them to apply their design skills in different contexts and create personalized spaces that reflect their style and personality.

00:01Introductions and setting the tone for the day.

00:07Beginning the day with a 6:30 a.m. exercise class to step outside of the comfort zone.

01:10Prioritizing lightweight tasks on the iPad to reduce morning stress.

02:12Attending a community meeting to discuss user feedback and impact on design decisions.

02:57Exploring edge cases and their impact on user experiences.

04:13Using data-driven approaches to make design decisions.

04:59Reviewing design portfolios to assess the thought process and impact of designers.

06:14Engaging in a DIY project to explore interior design creativity.