A Journey of Growth as I complete a year at Branch
As I complete a year at Branch Metrics, I went back to my initial files to reflect upon my journey. Lucky for me, it has been a journey of growth, both professionally and personally.
I started out as a Product Design Intern in February 2022, and later got updated to full-time Product Designer in Aug 2022. During this time, I have developed a plethora of skills that have helped me become a better designer and team player. In this post, I will share my experience and the hard and soft skills I have acquired during this time.
Hard Skills:
- Presenting my work:
One of the key things I have learned is how to present my work effectively to a wide range of stakeholders. From clients to stakeholders and team members, I have developed the skills to articulate my design decisions and the reasoning behind them. This has helped me build trust and credibility with my team and stakeholders. - Building a design system:
I have been working on building a design system from scratch and this has been a fantastic learning experience. This has helped me understand the importance of consistency in design and how it can be maintained across various projects. - Improving in design:
I have been constantly trying to improve my design skills, be it prototyping or wireframing. I have been trying to push the boundaries of my skills and explore new design tools and techniques. - Moving from counting the screens to solving problems:
I have realized that the number of screens is not the only measure of success. It’s more about solving complex design problems and creating an experience that resonates with users.
Soft Skills:
- Presentation:
During my time at Branch Metrics, I honed my presentation skills, which have helped me communicate my ideas effectively and persuade others to see my perspective. - Thinking in depth:
I have learned to think deeply about the problems that I am trying to solve and understand the root cause. This has helped me come up with more informed and effective design solutions.
In addition to these hard and soft skills, I have also developed some essential skills that are required to work with a remote team spread across continents. - Communicating:
Communication is key to success, especially in a remote work environment. I have learned how to disseminate information to and among stakeholders, whether synchronously or asynchronously, digitally or in person. I have also learned the importance of setting expectations, whether it’s with team members, stakeholders, or clients. - Aligning:
One of the biggest challenges in a remote work environment is unifying stakeholders behind one decision. I have learned how to create common ground and align stakeholders by understanding their perspectives and concerns. This has helped me make decisions that are in the best interest of the project and the team. - Negotiating:
In a remote work environment, balancing business requirements, user needs, and stakeholder interests can be difficult. I have learned how to negotiate these conflicting interests and find a shared goal that minimizes risk and maximizes impacts. - Reporting:
Reporting progress on the project is one of the most important yet challenging aspects of remote work. I have learned how to share what has been achieved, what’s next, and the obstacles along the way. This has helped me keep everyone informed and on the same page, even when we are working in different parts of the world. - Documenting:
Documentation is key when working with a team that’s spread out across the globe. It helps save time during meetings and makes communication smoother. I learnt to keep notes in Figma which is simple and easy to access, instead of creating big, time-consuming documents. This way, we could quickly refer to what we needed and stay on the same page, all while keeping meetings short and sweet.
In conclusion, my year at Branch Metrics has been a journey of growth and learning. I am happy with what I have learnt so far and look forward to continuing to develop my skills and contribute to the success of the company. Whether you’re an intern or a full-time employee, I highly recommend taking the time to reflect on your experiences and what you have learned.
I am truly grateful for the privilege of having been part of the Branch Metrics team and for the experiences and knowledge I have gained over the past year. It has been incredibly rewarding to see my skills and understanding of product design improvements, and I am very much looking forward to continuing to refine and build upon my skills as I move forward in my professional development.
Special mention to Alok Dubey for being an exceptional manager and mentor who has helped me navigate through this exciting time and for being the reason for my growth. His guidance and support have been invaluable, and I’ve learned so much from him.
