{"id":13739,"date":"2017-11-30T12:25:17","date_gmt":"2017-11-30T12:25:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/marvel7077.wpengine.com\/?p=13739"},"modified":"2020-11-05T14:47:48","modified_gmt":"2020-11-05T14:47:48","slug":"strategies-thriving-first-product-design-role","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/marvelapp.com\/blog\/strategies-thriving-first-product-design-role\/","title":{"rendered":"Strategies for Thriving in Your First Product Design\u00a0Role"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"pageWrap pageWrap--s marginBottom-m paddingBottom-s c-slate lineHeight-l fontSize-l fontWeight-3 breakPointM-fontSize-xl breakPointM-lineHeight-xl\">Over the past year, I\u2019ve been mentoring students on <a class=\"link link--blue fontWeight-4\"href=\"http:\/\/trydesignlab.com\/\">Designlab<\/a>, an online bootcamp for new designers.<\/p>\n<p class=\"pageWrap pageWrap--s marginBottom-m paddingBottom-s c-slate lineHeight-l fontSize-l fontWeight-3 breakPointM-fontSize-xl breakPointM-lineHeight-xl\">During weekly 1:1 sessions, I help answer any questions that students have. One of the questions I get asked often:<\/p>\n<p class=\"pageWrap pageWrap--s marginBottom-m paddingBottom-s c-slate lineHeight-l fontSize-l fontWeight-3 breakPointM-fontSize-xl breakPointM-lineHeight-xl\"><strong class=\"c-slate lineHeight-l fontSize-l fontWeight-5 breakPointM-fontSize-xl breakPointM-lineHeight-xl\">What should I know to succeed at my first design\u00a0role?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"pageWrap pageWrap--s marginBottom-m paddingBottom-s c-slate lineHeight-l fontSize-l fontWeight-3 breakPointM-fontSize-xl breakPointM-lineHeight-xl\">Here are the things I wish I knew before starting my first design gig, years ago.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_13740\" style=\"width: 810px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a class=\"link link--blue fontWeight-4\"href=\"https:\/\/marvel7077.wpengine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/1rFNvMrjqXta09gDsWY4s7w.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-13740\" class=\"wp-image-13740 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/marvel7077.wpengine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/1rFNvMrjqXta09gDsWY4s7w.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" srcset=\"https:\/\/marvelapp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/1rFNvMrjqXta09gDsWY4s7w.png 800w, https:\/\/marvelapp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/1rFNvMrjqXta09gDsWY4s7w-600x450.png 600w, https:\/\/marvelapp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/1rFNvMrjqXta09gDsWY4s7w-768x576.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-13740\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><a class=\"link link--blue fontWeight-4\"href=\"https:\/\/dribbble.com\/kunchevsky\">Alex Kunchevsky<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"pageWrap pageWrap--s marginTop-xl marginBottom-l c-black lineHeight-xl fontSize-xl fontWeight-5 breakPointM-lineHeight-xxl breakPointM-fontSize-xxl\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\">Remember to ask the important questions upfront.<\/h2>\n<p class=\"pageWrap pageWrap--s marginBottom-m paddingBottom-s c-slate lineHeight-l fontSize-l fontWeight-3 breakPointM-fontSize-xl breakPointM-lineHeight-xl\">With each project you take on, remember to ask the important questions before you even think about opening Sketch.<\/p>\n<ul class=\"pageWrap pageWrap--s list list--unordered marginBottom-l lineHeight-l fontSize-l fontWeight-3 breakPointM-fontSize-xl breakPointM-lineHeight-xl\">\n<li>\u201cWhat problem are we solving?\u201d<\/li>\n<li>\u201cWhat role does this product play in the user\u2019s daily life?\u201d<\/li>\n<li>\u201cHow do they react emotionally and physically to it?\u201d<\/li>\n<li>\u201cHow does this new feature align with the business goals?\u201d<\/li>\n<li>\u201cHow are we going to measure success?\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"pageWrap pageWrap--s marginBottom-m paddingBottom-s c-slate lineHeight-l fontSize-l fontWeight-3 breakPointM-fontSize-xl breakPointM-lineHeight-xl\">Questions, whether directed towards the users or the business, should be asked <em>every step of the way<\/em>. By asking these questions right from the start, you can trace every product and design decision back to something tangible, in turn allowing yourself to create better experiences for your users.<\/p>\n<p class=\"pageWrap pageWrap--s marginBottom-m paddingBottom-s c-slate lineHeight-l fontSize-l fontWeight-3 breakPointM-fontSize-xl breakPointM-lineHeight-xl\">(Recommended read: <a class=\"link link--blue fontWeight-4\"href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Build-Better-Products-Successful-User-Centered-ebook\/dp\/B01M7XFIRB\/\">Build Better Products<\/a> by Laura Klein)<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"pageWrap pageWrap--s marginTop-xl marginBottom-l c-black lineHeight-xl fontSize-xl fontWeight-5 breakPointM-lineHeight-xxl breakPointM-fontSize-xxl\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\">Your job is to not only ship, but to\u00a0sell.<\/h2>\n<p class=\"pageWrap pageWrap--s marginBottom-m paddingBottom-s c-slate lineHeight-l fontSize-l fontWeight-3 breakPointM-fontSize-xl breakPointM-lineHeight-xl\">Getting stakeholders to understand and even care about design is pivotal to how designers work. I found early on that it\u2019s not only a designer\u2019s job to build great experiences, but also our responsibility to <em>sell<\/em> it\u2014knowing how to communicate our work to stakeholders, clients, and other non-designers.<\/p>\n<p class=\"pageWrap pageWrap--s marginBottom-m paddingBottom-s c-slate lineHeight-l fontSize-l fontWeight-3 breakPointM-fontSize-xl breakPointM-lineHeight-xl\">While there are a ton of methods and tactics to communicate designs effectively, I won\u2019t be able to even scratch the surface here. However, one of the things to remember is that <em>empathy <\/em>will go a long way. This means you are constantly empathizing with the people you work with\u2014knowing where they\u2019re coming from and what their needs are. Only from empathy will you be able to clearly articulate your designs, respond effectively, and follow through with value.<\/p>\n<p class=\"pageWrap pageWrap--s marginBottom-m paddingBottom-s c-slate lineHeight-l fontSize-l fontWeight-3 breakPointM-fontSize-xl breakPointM-lineHeight-xl\">(Recommended read: <a class=\"link link--blue fontWeight-4\"href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Articulating-Design-Decisions-Communicate-Stakeholders\/dp\/1491921560\/\">Articulating Design Decisions<\/a> by Tom Greever)<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"pageWrap pageWrap--s marginTop-xl marginBottom-l c-black lineHeight-xl fontSize-xl fontWeight-5 breakPointM-lineHeight-xxl breakPointM-fontSize-xxl\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\">Know your tools, but focus on the fundamentals.<\/h2>\n<p class=\"pageWrap pageWrap--s marginBottom-m paddingBottom-s c-slate lineHeight-l fontSize-l fontWeight-3 breakPointM-fontSize-xl breakPointM-lineHeight-xl\">When I first started my design career, Photoshop was the tool of choice. A few years later, Sketch rose to industry prominence. These tools will continue to evolve, and in five years the design tool landscape will grow and transform even more.<\/p>\n<p class=\"pageWrap pageWrap--s marginBottom-m paddingBottom-s c-slate lineHeight-l fontSize-l fontWeight-3 breakPointM-fontSize-xl breakPointM-lineHeight-xl\">My advice here is to focus on the design fundamentals that can <em>translate over time<\/em>: information architecture, visual design, <a class=\"link link--blue fontWeight-4\"href=\"https:\/\/marvelapp.com\/blog\/psychology-principles-every-uiux-designer-needs-know\/\">user psychology<\/a>, etc. Focus on asking the right questions and nailing down the right principles, regardless of what tool you use.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_6580\" style=\"width: 810px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a class=\"link link--blue fontWeight-4\"href=\"https:\/\/marvel7077.wpengine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/1TZh-C7nGGrnEVr0zVnA9GQ.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-6580\" class=\"wp-image-6580 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/marvel7077.wpengine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/1TZh-C7nGGrnEVr0zVnA9GQ.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-6580\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><a class=\"link link--blue fontWeight-4\"href=\"https:\/\/dribbble.com\/kunchevsky\">Alex Kunchevsky<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n<p class=\"pageWrap pageWrap--s marginBottom-m paddingBottom-s c-slate lineHeight-l fontSize-l fontWeight-3 breakPointM-fontSize-xl breakPointM-lineHeight-xl\"><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"pageWrap pageWrap--s marginTop-xl marginBottom-l c-black lineHeight-xl fontSize-xl fontWeight-5 breakPointM-lineHeight-xxl breakPointM-fontSize-xxl\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\">Open up your work\u00a0often.<\/h2>\n<p class=\"pageWrap pageWrap--s marginBottom-m paddingBottom-s c-slate lineHeight-l fontSize-l fontWeight-3 breakPointM-fontSize-xl breakPointM-lineHeight-xl\">Juggling feedback and criticism from so many perspectives, personalities, and job titles can sometimes be overwhelming. However, separating yourself from your work, and showing your work early and often is key to iterating effectively. Critique, when executed properly, can be extremely valuable at every step of the process.<\/p>\n<p class=\"pageWrap pageWrap--s marginBottom-m paddingBottom-s c-slate lineHeight-l fontSize-l fontWeight-3 breakPointM-fontSize-xl breakPointM-lineHeight-xl\">Also, don\u2019t just solicit feedback from other designers. You\u2019ll find that product managers, researchers, engineers, and other stakeholders can bring unique knowledge and perspectives to the table.<\/p>\n<p class=\"pageWrap pageWrap--s marginBottom-m paddingBottom-s c-slate lineHeight-l fontSize-l fontWeight-3 breakPointM-fontSize-xl breakPointM-lineHeight-xl\">(Recommended read: <a class=\"link link--blue fontWeight-4\"href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Discussing-Design-Improving-Communication-Collaboration\/dp\/149190240X\/\">Discussing Design<\/a> by Adam Connor and Aaron Irizarry)<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"pageWrap pageWrap--s marginTop-xl marginBottom-l c-black lineHeight-xl fontSize-xl fontWeight-5 breakPointM-lineHeight-xxl breakPointM-fontSize-xxl\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\">Change is the only constant.<\/h2>\n<p class=\"pageWrap pageWrap--s marginBottom-m paddingBottom-s c-slate lineHeight-l fontSize-l fontWeight-3 breakPointM-fontSize-xl breakPointM-lineHeight-xl\">When shit hits the fan, you\u2019ll quickly learn that you can\u2019t always get too attached to our designs because change is inevitable\u2014 and we quickly learn to be okay with that. Sometimes business priorities shift 180 degrees, sometimes a company re-org can move teams around. Either way, you need to be adaptable in how you work \u2014 always ready to jump head first into new problems and contexts.<\/p>\n<p class=\"pageWrap pageWrap--s marginBottom-m paddingBottom-s c-slate lineHeight-l fontSize-l fontWeight-3 breakPointM-fontSize-xl breakPointM-lineHeight-xl\">One thing I encourage is to focus on the <em>relationships<\/em>. Building trust with the people you work with and creating close ties is what usually pays off in the long run, no matter what challenges are thrown your way.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"pageWrap pageWrap--s marginTop-xl marginBottom-l c-black lineHeight-xl fontSize-xl fontWeight-5 breakPointM-lineHeight-xxl breakPointM-fontSize-xxl\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\">Allow your teammates to inspire\u00a0you.<\/h2>\n<p class=\"pageWrap pageWrap--s marginBottom-m paddingBottom-s c-slate lineHeight-l fontSize-l fontWeight-3 breakPointM-fontSize-xl breakPointM-lineHeight-xl\">Whenever I\u2019ve started a new job, I\u2019ve found myself eventually asking each person I\u2019ve met the same question:<em> \u201cWhat do you outside of work?\u201d<\/em> You\u2019ll quickly learn that people come from all sorts of backgrounds\u2014anthropology, architecture, computer science. You\u2019ll learn that they have all sorts of passions and interests. They travel extensively, are experts in typography, do pro-bono work for non-profits, and have even built their own homes from scratch. They are people who never stop <em>learning, tinkering, <\/em>and<em> experiencing<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"pageWrap pageWrap--s marginBottom-m paddingBottom-s c-slate lineHeight-l fontSize-l fontWeight-3 breakPointM-fontSize-xl breakPointM-lineHeight-xl\">I loved my time in both my previous and current roles mainly because I was constantly surrounded by interesting people. Allow yourself to learn from and be inspired by them.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_6580\" style=\"width: 810px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a class=\"link link--blue fontWeight-4\"href=\"https:\/\/marvel7077.wpengine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/16W_-WWSQQYMdvscxlL8z9w.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-6580\" class=\"wp-image-6580 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/marvel7077.wpengine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/16W_-WWSQQYMdvscxlL8z9w.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-6580\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><a class=\"link link--blue fontWeight-4\"href=\"https:\/\/dribbble.com\/kunchevsky\">Alex Kunchevsky<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"pageWrap pageWrap--s marginTop-xl marginBottom-l c-black lineHeight-xl fontSize-xl fontWeight-5 breakPointM-lineHeight-xxl breakPointM-fontSize-xxl\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\">The learning never\u00a0stops.<\/h2>\n<p class=\"pageWrap pageWrap--s marginBottom-m paddingBottom-s c-slate lineHeight-l fontSize-l fontWeight-3 breakPointM-fontSize-xl breakPointM-lineHeight-xl\">No matter if you have a formal design education, or you\u2019re entirely self-taught, having a beginner\u2019s mindset will be one of your most important assets. I\u2019ve told myself over and over: <em>you\u2019re not your degree<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"pageWrap pageWrap--s marginBottom-m paddingBottom-s c-slate lineHeight-l fontSize-l fontWeight-3 breakPointM-fontSize-xl breakPointM-lineHeight-xl\">Seeking out new things to learn and do helps you stay curious, introspective, and aware of what you\u2019re striving to grow towards. The best designers I\u2019ve worked with are constantly learning new ways of doing things, and infusing those learnings into their work. Luckily, there\u2019s a million ways to grow: podcasts, books, meetups, conferences, and even Slack communities.<\/p>\n<p class=\"pageWrap pageWrap--s marginBottom-m paddingBottom-s c-slate lineHeight-l fontSize-l fontWeight-3 breakPointM-fontSize-xl breakPointM-lineHeight-xl\">By staying curious about new skills and technologies, you can keep yourself and the product you\u2019re working on relevant.<\/p>\n<p class=\"pageWrap pageWrap--s marginBottom-m paddingBottom-s c-slate lineHeight-l fontSize-l fontWeight-3 breakPointM-fontSize-xl breakPointM-lineHeight-xl\">(Recommended read: <a class=\"link link--blue fontWeight-4\"href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Mindset-Psychology-Carol-S-Dweck-ebook\/dp\/B000FCKPHG\/\">Mindset<\/a> by Carol S. Dweck)<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"pageWrap pageWrap--s marginTop-xl marginBottom-l c-black lineHeight-xl fontSize-xl fontWeight-5 breakPointM-lineHeight-xxl breakPointM-fontSize-xxl\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\">For mentorship, embrace \u201cPlus\/minus\/equal.\u201d<\/h2>\n<p class=\"pageWrap pageWrap--s marginBottom-m paddingBottom-s c-slate lineHeight-l fontSize-l fontWeight-3 breakPointM-fontSize-xl breakPointM-lineHeight-xl\">There is a strategy that legendary mixed martial arts coach, Frank Shamrock used to train his fighters called \u201cplus\/minus\/equal.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"pageWrap pageWrap--s marginBottom-m paddingBottom-s c-slate lineHeight-l fontSize-l fontWeight-3 breakPointM-fontSize-xl breakPointM-lineHeight-xl\"><span class=\"long-quote\">\u201cEach fighter, to become great, needs to have someone <strong class=\"c-slate lineHeight-l fontSize-l fontWeight-5 breakPointM-fontSize-xl breakPointM-lineHeight-xl\">better<\/strong> that they can learn from, someone <strong class=\"c-slate lineHeight-l fontSize-l fontWeight-5 breakPointM-fontSize-xl breakPointM-lineHeight-xl\">lesser<\/strong> who they can teach, and someone <strong class=\"c-slate lineHeight-l fontSize-l fontWeight-5 breakPointM-fontSize-xl breakPointM-lineHeight-xl\">equal<\/strong> that they can challenge themselves against.\u201d<\/span><br \/>\nThis approach to learning can apply to one\u2019s progress towards mastering almost anything, but I\u2019ve found it helpful in my own growth as a designer. As you start your next role, who are the people you can make your plus\/minus\/equal?<\/p>\n<p class=\"pageWrap pageWrap--s marginBottom-m paddingBottom-s c-slate lineHeight-l fontSize-l fontWeight-3 breakPointM-fontSize-xl breakPointM-lineHeight-xl\">Teaching your \u201cminus\u201d reinforces what you already know. Working alongside an \u201cequal\u201d ignites challenge and prevents complacency. Seeking a \u201cplus\u201d gives you the opportunity learn from someone more skilled\u2014and more importantly\u2014 <em>shows you what\u2019s possible<\/em>. This strategy will constantly remind you there is always so much more to learn.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"pageWrap pageWrap--s marginTop-xl marginBottom-l c-black lineHeight-xl fontSize-xl fontWeight-5 breakPointM-lineHeight-xxl breakPointM-fontSize-xxl\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\">Gravitate towards situations you think you\u2019re unqualified for.<\/h2>\n<p class=\"pageWrap pageWrap--s marginBottom-m paddingBottom-s c-slate lineHeight-l fontSize-l fontWeight-3 breakPointM-fontSize-xl breakPointM-lineHeight-xl\">A mentor once told me that a successful career is one where you keep on attempting things you think you\u2019re <em>unqualified<\/em> for. What does that mean?<\/p>\n<p class=\"pageWrap pageWrap--s marginBottom-m paddingBottom-s c-slate lineHeight-l fontSize-l fontWeight-3 breakPointM-fontSize-xl breakPointM-lineHeight-xl\">It could mean leading a cross-functional design workshop when you\u2019ve never done so before. Or it could be speaking at a design conference about a topic in which you don\u2019t have a formal academic background in. One thing I\u2019ve embraced at every step of my career is not asking for permission to try something radically different from what I\u2019m used to. Only from experience can you truly learn what you suck at, what you excel at, and what needs improvement; the only way to move forward is to try.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"pageWrap pageWrap--s marginTop-xl marginBottom-l c-black lineHeight-xl fontSize-xl fontWeight-5 breakPointM-lineHeight-xxl breakPointM-fontSize-xxl\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\">Be fearless.<\/h2>\n<p class=\"pageWrap pageWrap--s marginBottom-m paddingBottom-s c-slate lineHeight-l fontSize-l fontWeight-3 breakPointM-fontSize-xl breakPointM-lineHeight-xl\">When I first started out, my <a class=\"link link--blue fontWeight-4\"href=\"http:\/\/www.vanschneider.com\/the-imposter-syndrome\">imposter syndrome<\/a> stopped me from speaking up. The thinking that I was a fraud of a designer made me the quiet designer hiding behind my laptop screen most of the day. Other days, I thought that showing I was always in control and that I knew my shit was the only way to be successful.<\/p>\n<p class=\"pageWrap pageWrap--s marginBottom-m paddingBottom-s c-slate lineHeight-l fontSize-l fontWeight-3 breakPointM-fontSize-xl breakPointM-lineHeight-xl\">When I admitted this to my former manager, he passed along the quote,<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"pageWrap pageWrap--s position-relative marginTopBottom-l breakPointM-marginTopBottom-xl\"><div class=\"blog-quote-before position-absolute bg-marvel\"><\/div><div class=\"tweet-quote blog-quote-after position-absolute bg-marvel cursor-pointer transitionDuration-l transitionProperty-all transitionTimingFunction-cv-easeOutCircular scaleUp--hover zi-weak\"><svg class=\"fill-white opacity-0 pointerEvents-none position-absolute pinCenter transitionProperty-all transitionTimingFunction-easeInOut\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"20\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 20\"><path d=\"M24,2.37a9.64,9.64,0,0,1-2.83.79A5,5,0,0,0,23.34.37a9.72,9.72,0,0,1-3.13,1.23A4.86,4.86,0,0,0,16.62,0a5,5,0,0,0-4.8,6.2A13.87,13.87,0,0,1,1.67.92,5.13,5.13,0,0,0,3.19,7.67,4.81,4.81,0,0,1,1,7a5,5,0,0,0,3.95,5,4.82,4.82,0,0,1-2.22.09,4.94,4.94,0,0,0,4.6,3.51A9.72,9.72,0,0,1,0,17.73,13.69,13.69,0,0,0,7.55,20c9.14,0,14.31-7.92,14-15A10.17,10.17,0,0,0,24,2.37Z\"\/><\/svg><\/div><p class=\"blog-quote position-relative textAlign-center c-marvel\"><span class=\"blog-quote-text transitionDuration-l transitionProperty-all transitionTimingFunction-easeInOut\"><em>\u201cIf you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, bring\u00a0others.\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/span><\/blockquote>\n<p class=\"pageWrap pageWrap--s marginBottom-m paddingBottom-s c-slate lineHeight-l fontSize-l fontWeight-3 breakPointM-fontSize-xl breakPointM-lineHeight-xl\">Don\u2019t feel afraid to admit you don\u2019t know the answer. Don\u2019t be ashamed when you think you\u2019ve made a mistake. Rather, trust your gut, and find the confidence to open up your flaws and insecurities to other people. You might find that they have similar insecurities, no matter how long they\u2019ve been in the industry. Opening up will help you connect with people, and they can help you push you farther than you\u2019ve ever been.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"pageWrap pageWrap--s marginTop-xl marginBottom-l c-black lineHeight-xl fontSize-xl fontWeight-5 breakPointM-lineHeight-xxl breakPointM-fontSize-xxl\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\">Don\u2019t forget to have\u00a0fun.<\/h2>\n<p class=\"pageWrap pageWrap--s marginBottom-m paddingBottom-s c-slate lineHeight-l fontSize-l fontWeight-3 breakPointM-fontSize-xl breakPointM-lineHeight-xl\">It\u2019s an exciting time to be a designer. Just remember\u2014 we\u2019re all in this crazy ride together.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Over the past year, I\u2019ve been mentoring students on Designlab, an online bootcamp for new designers. During weekly 1:1 sessions, I help answer any questions that students have. One of the questions I get asked often: What should I know to succeed at my first design\u00a0role? Here are the things I wish I knew before starting my first design gig,&#8230; <a class=\"link link--blue fontWeight-4\" href=\"https:\/\/marvelapp.com\/blog\/strategies-thriving-first-product-design-role\/\">Read More &#65515;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":192,"featured_media":13750,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-13739","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-viewpoint"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v15.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/marvelapp.com\/blog\/strategies-thriving-first-product-design-role\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Strategies for Thriving in Your First Product Design\u00a0Role | Marvel Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Over the past year, I\u2019ve been mentoring students on Designlab, an online bootcamp for new designers. During weekly 1:1 sessions, I help answer any questions that students have. One of the questions I get asked often: What should I know to succeed at my first design\u00a0role? Here are the things I wish I knew before starting my first design gig,... 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