ABOUT

Tell us who you are!

Natalie. I'm a Senior Product Designer. I design for Sky.

So what do you actually do?

In short I design TV experiences. If you're a fan of watching TV, product design and making peoples lives better it's probably up there with the best jobs you could do.

What has your career path been?

My career has been a squiggly one. I've always worked in design but not digital design.

I was good at art. My art teacher told my parents I was great at art and should go on to college to do art. So off I went to do a course in Art and Design. This is where my love for design became apparent. I loved it and got a place at university studying Graphic Communication. I went on to specialise in Printed media for the last year then graduated with a degree.

I went on to do roles as an Artworker and Creative Designer. Then became really interested in the digital world. A lot of printed media was going digital so I began to investigate what this meant for me. I ended up moving from a senior role at that time to a junior role so I could learn the basics of the digital world from the ground up.

It was incredibly challenging doing so, there were demons I had to get over within myself. But I'm glad it happened and I stuck with it. I learned a lot, met great people and it was the segue to the area of the design industry I'm in now.

What is the best part of your job?

Understanding the user and having empathy - it’s a human centred job that requires designing simple, beautiful inclusive experiences for your users.

I can't not mention the amount of collaboration and the people I work with. The conversation is so rich as I'm sure you can imagine.

Why do you do your job?

My job allows me to make peoples lives easier and more beautiful.

I get to bring joy to peoples lives, help people relax, escape, laugh, share moments, cry & remember. I get to solve problems, it's energising and extremely satisfying when you solve a problem.

I get to work with so many talented people from different disciplines - Motion, Industrial Design, Research, Design Operations, UX and UI.

One piece of advice for someone starting in your role?

Jump in!

Be a sponge, learn, listen, create repeat. Love motion design, consider all aspects of the experience you are designing for. Holistic thinking is key.

Don't judge your ideas, don't become married to your ideas. Have fun, laugh and raise your profile by shouting about the things you are great at. Work on building strong relationships. Get a mentor.

Check out Natalie’s socials below!

DAY IN THE LIFE

Pre pandemic I used to wake up at 6am, commute an hour, go to the gym on campus, do a spin class, strength class or run, take a shower, get dressed then head to the restaurant for breakfast - poached eggs, spinach and tomato and make it to my desk for 9. How I managed that I don't know. My team worked from home one day a week, usually a Friday.

Post pandemic my working week has flipped. I'm on campus one day a week. I wake up at 7, go for a run or Peloton ride, walk our dog, shower, grab breakfast, make a cuppa then head to my desk anytime between 09.00 and 09.30.

We have a team stand up, it's a regular online meeting that should be kept to between 5 and 15 minutes long. We give a brief update of what we're working on that day and any blockers. It's a good opportunity to hear what the team are working on and see if you can help with any problems.

A typical morning, I design and attend meetings with stakeholders of the projects I'm working on. I could be sketching the beginning of an idea low-fi, or working a design up hi-fi, prototyping, meeting with other designers to discuss designs and questions, syncing up with the motion team on interactivity and component animation.

I'll be thinking about inclusive design and what I need to do to be mindful of users with access needs such as hearing, motor, visual or cognitive impairments. My day can be broken up by workshops, unexpected meetings, talks from around the business & design community.

I have lunch, usually some kind of grains, chicken and avocado. Quick, easy and healthy usually motivates the lunch. Once lunch is over I spend the afternoon mostly doing the same as the morning. I like to manage meetings to the morning so I can get some focused design time in the afternoon with minimal disruption. It can become difficult to context switch and get back into the design flow, it’s important to me to have minimal disruptions. My communication channels end up on snooze for a while to allow me to get on - my favourite tip!

Everyday is different. It can be a fruitful as you make it. It's up to you to talk to people and get things done, seek feedback and support from you designer peers and leaders. Thats what keeps the creativity alive.

I don't think a designers job ever stops. As a creative person you are constantly thinking about ideas and problem solving even when you're not at work.

Our brains rarely switch off. Inspiration, something someone says, something you see or read sparks another idea or thought. I find myself using the notes app consistently to jot down these sporadic ideas I can explore tomorrow!

As a contrast I'm a sucker for a creative hobby away from the screen that allows me to use my hands to make things. I like the tactile aspect of ceramics, knitting and interior design.