This is not a story that would motivate you. This would make you think again and may make you Go with the Flow.
Hello! I am Raghu.
I am a Product Designer who brings a fresh perspective and creative problem-solving approach to create designs and experiences people love to use. I’m quick with my ideas and through my research. Observing and applying is my key to creating far-reaching designs.
Ok, that’s my LinkedIn bio.
It all started when the lockdown for covid began. Before the lockdown, I’m a guy who would just do things. I never thought of stuff like,
“What are the relative merits of using a side navigation bar versus a top navigation bar?”
Wait. I’m not gonna write this article as a Product Designer.
“What was the Past?”
If you aren't interested in my past you can jump into the
Anuugacchati Pravaha section to know about the solution to confusion in choosing the Career.
Coming back…
During my school days, I had a good interest in Networking and stuff like “How the Internet works?” “How do the computers work?”. But the sad part was I didn’t have a computer. My neighbor who’s working in Dubai bought a computer and asked me to set up skype for them to speak with their parents. A 14-year-old boy’s only taught was, Can I play GTA Vice city on this computer? Vice city was the first computer game I played after Contra. I started to play computer games like someone who’s gonna die tomorrow. The cheat codes, the crack version of games,... made to think about how do this even work. From that day, I was introduced to the fancy term called Hacking.
So, started to learn how the internet works, how the website works, and a lot more. Days passed and I joined an Engineering College as everyone does join an Engineering College around me.
During my first year, I was introduced to Bug-Bounty Programs. As the term hacking is famous, that made to start a club in my college. There was a decent amount of Audience before the lockdown for my Club sessions. My College placements started. I gave minimal importance to competitive programming which was the major required skill to get placed in college placements. Even though I had good achievements in bug bounty, I had the need to get placed in my college placements. I was interviewed by 3–4 companies, but due to my stuttering in my speech, I got rejected.
The Journey towards Product Design
I’m the kind of person who needs accuracy in doing things. Even if it is a PPT, the lines need to be aligned properly, the fonts, the colors and everything needs to be perfect.
When I started my club I need to send posters to students to make them know what the topic is for the week. I started to create posters every week and got a response from my Department HOD that,
(I said right, I need everything perfect. The fullstops in the above message are not properly aligned. That was my first notice🥲. btw this is not OCD)
This made me focus more on creating different posters. So, the next level.
I started to create UI for websites that received reviews like, the website gave good UX. Started to know stuff like Design systems, and the principles behind a design. That gave me a clear idea of a serious game other than drag and drop in Adobe XD or in any other tools. So everything on a website started to feel different in sense the way it looks. I got an interview for a Product Design role and got placed.
Yes sir, but where does the Passion for cybersecurity go?
The first week in my office was really crucial to do some UX exercises, it made me think about why I even do this. But after a week the UX exercises I do and the website I see every day had a great sync. I started doing this job with a lot of interest.
People around me: Yes sir, but still you’re the least important person in the company as your contribution is not much important.
The questions like these, the thoughts that ran through my mind made to think again and again why am I doing this UX.
The Reason: Please check this article about UX. Just Check it.
Link: https://www.nngroup.com/articles/ux-maturity-model/
The need for UX People is limited but limited for a reason.
“Anuugacchati Pravaha”
The reason I’m writing this story is, many may think the work they do is not related to what they think it should be.
The problem is not a lack of passion for the current career or something. The problem is productivity. The problem is perception. The problem is acceptance. The problem is the, “Oh, well that’s just not my option” or “That’s crazy, you can’t buy a BMW with the money you make doing that”.
The problem isn’t the passion. It’s never the passion.
It’s priorities.
The place you’re holding now is because that’s what you’ve been prepared for the past years.
Now I’m a Product Designer and also helping to fix some vulnerabilities in our Web Application.
Every work you do will reflect the work you’re going to do. Your passion already met you in your current Job.
Just tell “Anuugacchati Pravaha” and move on.
Anuugacchati Pravaha means, Go with the Flow.
The place you’re now is because of your Passion. You will get what you want by the Passion.
Thanks for the time. See yua.
