Hi all!
My name is Nadia, and I’m a Product Designer based in Toronto. I’ve been in the design industry for 1 year now; I got my start in UX from working at a small, scrappy start-up called Foko Retail (which got acquired by WorkForce Software). On the side, I help out with the world’s largest online design community called Design Buddies – something I’ve been doing for almost 2 years now!
And, I have a few goals for 2022. One of them is to start writing again, particularly through expository and creative means. (Not to mention I think I forgot half of my vocabulary…)
In a past life, I used to maintain a blog linked through my own personal website (RIP). I’m going back into full gear again by writing on Substack, and occasionally, Medium for more nuanced, in-depth topics.
The reason why I’m starting this Substack is because of 3 things:
In a past life, I studied Communication Studies at Simon Fraser University. I did two internship/co-op stints at SAP and Rangle.io, before ultimately deciding to go back into design once and for all. I mean, for roles that encompassed on marketing & communications, I always found a way to incorporate design in my work…
Throughout my undergrad, I wrote a lot! Obviously, I wrote 6-8 page academic papers, but I also have experience writing lifestyle articles and corporate emails & press releases. If you know me, I truly say what’s on my mind, and I miss having an outlet to let everything out. And that is why I made a Substack account. Which leads me to my last point:
Before starting my first full-time design role at Foko in December 2020, I asked some mentors on Design Buddies on what I should do or prepare before starting my job. One mentor suggested to keep a work diary. As I begin my new role as a Product Designer at Corus Entertainment in less than a week, I plan on evolving my work diary into something much more. Through my Substack, I hope to document a repository of happenings, collections, and resources that also overlap with other facets of my life, as I try to navigate the real world each and every day. While this is a space for me to dabble, learn, and reflect, I would be happy if this helps a budding designer too.
You can find me on Twitter @nadiahle - the one social media platform that has never let me down ❤️