Why I pursued product design

As a Customer Success Manager, I met with customers daily to understand their goals and help them get more out of the product. I'd then take what I learned and develop programs, like webinars, to more proactively support them. I loved that feedback loop! And the more I helped customers in the product, the more I wanted to understand how it was made.

Then as a Growth Marketer, I got exposure to different types of customers and practiced supporting them at scale. I created data-driven programs and measured their impact based on how they set up users for success in their workflows. And over time, I was hungry to make an impact in the product itself.

So I got closer to the product. I started showing up in product development conversations, initially contributing as a marketer. But it turned out that my insights about users and the product resonated beyond marketing. I belonged in the room in a new way.

The more time I spent with the product, the more I noticed my pull toward design. I saw how designers worked with similar ingredients to me (user needs, business strategy), and then shaped the product. Interface design opened up a new vocabulary and understanding of the "why" for things I'd sensed but couldn't articulate before. Soon I was tearing through design books, taking classes on weekends, and practicing in Figma.

After landing a design internship, I was energized by how collaborative design was. I enjoyed inviting different people and perspectives into my process. And I loved the responsibility of establishing shared context, making design accessible, and deciding what to incorporate. It was another feedback loop that reinforced this was the right work for me.

Writing this down, the dots connect easily! But at the time, I was pulling on the threads of my curiosity, without being preoccupied with where they'd lead. I'm so grateful I did.