My Experience as an Experience Design Consultant: A Journey of Growth and Learning
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Hello everyone, my name is Ratta Kidakarn, and I am an experience design consultant based in Vancouver, Canada. Today, I would like to share my journey over the past year, detailing the transition from working as a flight attendant to embracing a career in the tech industry, and the valuable lessons I’ve learned along the way.
A bit about my background: My name is Ratta, but my Thai nickname is Yok. When the pandemic hit, I made the decision to leave my previous role as a flight attendant and enter the world of technology.
Despite the contrast between the two professions, I believed that my skills as a flight attendant would transfer seamlessly to my new role as an experience designer. My passion for creating functional and beautiful experiences drove me towards this career change, and I brought with me skills such as customer service, attention to detail, problem-solving, and adaptability.
What drew me to my current company was the flat organizational structure and open culture, which encourages collaboration and discussion among team members at all levels. August 2022 marked my first anniversary with the company. During that time, I’ve had the opportunity to work on various projects spanning diverse industries, such as global health insurance, multi-platform retail giants, social impact projects, and financial and non-profit organizations.
Working on such a wide range of projects has taught me the importance of adaptability, communication, and collaboration. It has also highlighted the need for continuous upskilling to stay on top of emerging trends and technologies in the field. However, the diverse nature of these projects also presented challenges, such as communication, resource constraints, cultural differences, and technical complexity. In order to overcome these challenges, I focused on proactive communication, prioritized tasks, remained culturally sensitive and adaptable, worked closely with technical teams, and sought opportunities to upskill myself through online courses, conferences, mentorship, and practice.
Throughout my journey, I have learned a great deal from others and discovered the importance of being self-driven, self-automated, and dedicated to self-development.
These principles have become the foundation of my professional growth:
- Self-driven: Investing in yourself and your skillset is essential for success.
- Self-automation: Being proactive and self-efficient is crucial in the fast-paced world of technology.
- Self-development: In an industry where change is constant, learning is a continuous process that never ends.
Embracing these values has helped me grow as a professional and contribute meaningfully to my team and projects. For instance, I have been able to apply my expertise in design to improve user experiences while also assisting my teammates in various ways, such as unblocking technical issues and providing feedback and support during presentations. In doing so, I have played a role in creating a safe and supportive space for my team members to develop and thrive.
For example: Mentoring a Graduate Developer
In another situation, a graduate team member joined our project team with little experience in user experience (UX/UI) design. They were eager to learn but felt unsure of how to begin and were hesitant to ask for help, fearing that they might be perceived as a burden on the team.
To help them overcome this obstacle and cultivate their skills, I took on a mentoring role. I initiated regular check-ins with the graduate team member, discussing their progress, addressing any questions or concerns they had, and providing guidance on specific tasks and assignments.
Additionally, I shared resources, such as articles, tutorials, and online courses, to help them deepen their understanding of UX design principles and best practices. This included a comprehensive introduction to Figma, a popular design tool, through a series of Figma 101 resources that covered the basics, collaboration features, and advanced techniques.
Furthermore, I encouraged a graduate team member to participate in team meetings and present their ideas and insights, fostering a sense of inclusion and belonging. By providing a safe and supportive environment, the junior team member gradually gained confidence in their skills and became an active and valuable contributor to the team.
Through these mentoring efforts, not only did the graduate team member grow professionally, but the entire team also benefited from the increased collaboration, diversity of perspectives, and a stronger sense of unity within the group.
One key aspect of our company culture is the belief that our people are our product. As a result, we prioritize cultivating our team members and providing the support and confidence they need to grow. This is achieved through hands-on learning experiences, collaboration, and teamwork, enabling everyone to gain valuable experience and contribute to finding solutions for clients.
In conclusion, my experience as an experience design consultant has been a rewarding and enriching journey. I have had the opportunity to work on a diverse range of projects, collaborate with talented professionals, and grow both personally and professionally. This experience has reinforced the importance of adaptability, continuous learning, and teamwork, and I am excited to see what the future holds as I continue to develop my skills and make a positive impact in the world of technology.
