May 17, 20205 life lessons from Sourabh ShankarYesterday (16th May), I lost a great friend and Sparklin lost its senior-most Sparkler to cancer — Sourabh Shankar. Perhaps he left us 10 days ago itself, on 6th May 2020, when he was put on ventilators and doctors had shared their neutral opinion on his diminishing vitals. They had…Sourabh Shankar4 min readSourabh Shankar4 min read
Published in Muzli - Design Inspiration·Nov 26, 2018Logo vs. Brand — what’s the difference?Apple vs Samsung, Nike vs Adidas, Coca-Cola vs Pepsi — these debates have been in existence since forever. Populations, not just mini groups, have defended their sides for long. There have been continuous attempts to strengthen the sides with supporters and more. …Branding5 min readBranding5 min read
Published in HackerNoon.com·Aug 4, 2018What is a User Persona and how is it relevant to UX?In this post, we will try to understand the concept of a User Persona, also at times referred to as a Buyer Persona, its relevance to your product’s UX and how to effectively take advantage of User Personas in the UX process. As a bonus, I will also share a…UX6 min readUX6 min read
Published in HackerNoon.com·Apr 13, 2018The Psychology of Rating SystemsUber, like other consumer services, has an interesting rating system, both for passengers and drivers. Arjun champions this passenger rating system with a score of 4.91, not because he strategizes but because he’s genuinely nice and loves to strike a conversation! He recently noticed one of the drivers throwing him…Uber7 min readUber7 min read
Published in Sparklin·Feb 28, 2018What if famous brands had regular fonts? Meet RegulaBrands!Last week, I was having a skype call with a friend in Italy, who also happens to be a designer. And like every other time, we took a detour to one of our favorite topics of discussion — ‘clients’. Call it coincidence, fate or a mutual observation, we both have…Design4 min readDesign4 min read
Published in Sparklin·Dec 15, 20165 UX tips to design better mobile appsA recent Google study shared that an average user has about 36 apps installed on their device and uses just nine of them on a daily basis. Statistically, only four percent of the apps will be used for over a year. A more usable app is high on user engagement…UX4 min readUX4 min read
Published in Sparklin·Dec 7, 2016Design critique of Rs. 2000 note — in aesthetics & functionalityThe new Rs. 2000 note has been widely criticised for its colour and design, or the lack of it. We felt that these opinions are a little too harsh and lack a wholesome perspective of the design. …Design5 min readDesign5 min read
Published in Sparklin·Nov 17, 2016How did the ban on Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes change the app & commerce usageMe: “Will you take Rs. 500 note?” Shopkeeper: “Only small currency please!” Me: “How about a card for payment?” Shopkeeper: “ I do not have machine.” Me: “Do you have mobile? Download the app!” Shopkeeper: “I don’t have those expensive phones.” *Shows an old Nokia phone* History was written as…Payments6 min readPayments6 min read
Published in Sparklin·Sep 28, 2016iOS 10 is possibly the biggest OS redesign from AppleApple is known to step up to bolder territories pretty often. The company did it with the introduction of AirPods this year. I was a happy man when, a few years ago, they introduced the MacBook Air minus the CD drive — no one I know used it, and I…Apple7 min readApple7 min read
Jun 14, 2014Virgin America rethought as a clean & focussed web appThe new phase of web products has begun — VirginAtlantic.com This article was originally published on Pixelonomics on 14th June 2014. Let me start by expressing my heartfelt appreciation for the new Virgin America web! As a UX designer, I’m aware of the challenges faced with the current generation of consumer centric web (or mobile) products. …4 min read4 min read