Ask me anything

Can you introduce yourself?

My name is Mikhail Koloskov. I am from Saint-Petersburg (Russia). My current position is UI Engineer. I work at the product company. Here I can not only develop my own skills but also bring new fresh ideas in the work process.

I was hired as a HTML coder. Not too long ago I had a chance to work on different projects, using different skills and had an opportunity to challenge myself at the different positions. Currently I am working on developing the interface by using the living style of guides and components.

I concentrate my job on developing the main product of this company (desktop and mobile versions). It is a great opportunity for the future and experience in the field of the product designer.

What is your approuch about?

I am evangelist of Design in the Browser. It helps to connect different designers/developers and allows to use the eco system by adding new technologies in the base stack.

Ideas of design unification keep my mind occupied. I really avoid “hell of customizing”. It helps me to make my process clean. It’s actually strong side of my thinking. I feel comfortable by using this approach because all of my UI really ready for scale at any time.I don`t want to find something new helpful services and change my native tools at this time. I am going to boost(force) my approach to the next level after including some “killing” features.

I am not a big fan of UX. I think only tests can show the right way. Don’t be talk about it. My opinion is very long about it.

I don’t want to create an art, I want to make interfaces. I try to connect guides and prototypes using frontend technologies. Its my self-expression. I am trying to keep outside artist inside me. I don’t like the artist side in engineering process.

What are your hard skills?

I don’t try much of prototyping tools. Because I have a deep understanding of HTML/CSS and basics of JavaScript. I use some steroids like preprocessors, task runners and etc. I got understanding about responsive, quirks of screen, behavior of elements in different environment. And how to make engineering well.

What are your soft skills?

I am not afraid of getting the new responsibilities.

I am a team player. I can see strong side of people around me. I love to inspire and motivate people to do fantastic UI projects.

What is your strong side as a designer?

For me the most important part of design is efficiency. I don`t like to do something for fun. I try to do useful staff.

You should have not only good taste, also you must get perfect engineering thinking. It makes your UI better.

Collaboration is good but designer should be strong/confident member of team.

What is perfect UI for you?

I think perfect UI design consists of 3 main parts: visual part, structure and file architecture. It allows to make you UI reusable.

What is your daily routine?

I try not to deep to daily routine. I meet with more and more challenges every day. Instead of doing huge amount of crazy work I optimize my process.

I always incorporate with many different skills to reach a better results and to make a good assets for next steps of the development

What is your plan for the future?

Right now I invest my time to BEM methodology. Because it’s really good for making logic and scale-able interfaces by working in a huge team. It is really incredible.

I don’t like to invest my time to get the result (do everything for finish project). Because it’s very simple and unscale-able (non profitable). I prefer to invest my time to the process, making it’s flexible. Because I am really confident that good design can be available and fast making.

I grind my craft every day. I expect a lot of team work with some strong designers.

I don’t want to work on manager’s position because regular management often ditch any project. Regarding modern practice, I think that management is old school sh*t.

I want to invest time for increasing my skills. I do a lot of things every day and It helps people to get more clear opinion about me.

Sometimes I like to promote myself. I really want to start writing English version of my blog http://koloskov.kz. I want to get new professional connections with awesome designers/developers. Get more inspirations and provide my vision on “UI making”

I think design is kind of fun but on the other hand it is the main craft (deal) of my life. I am going to be more productive as a designer.

Feel free to write me on twitter @koloskofmadeit