My 1st year at Presto as a product designer has been quite a journey, especially stepping into the realm of corporate work for the first time.
I’ve been fortunate to have had a special experience with Libya’s top delivery company, alongside an exceptional team, every day brought surprises and lessons that made me appreciate the journey.
This past year, even though it might not have seemed like a significant experience (as my colleague has pointed out), has taught me a lot. These lessons have shaped not only my professional role but also my perspective as a person. Here are the top 8 insights I’ve gained from this exhilarating journey.
1. Iterate & seek feedback
One of the things that has fundamentally shaped my understanding of the product design world is iteration. When I first started working on design tasks, I used to feel agitated when I couldn’t come up with a good design solution, I didn’t understand the value of iteration and saw it as a sign of weakness and lack of creativity. However, after researching the design process of other successful designers, I realized that it’s part of our process to design, iterate, until you reach something you’re satisfied with.
Another thing not many people pay close attention to is feedback. Share your designs with colleagues, and listen to diverse voices, it’ll help you refine and improve your design.
2. Balancing Academic and professional commitment
Juggling between assignments, exams, and design tasks was quite challenging at first, until I figured out how to efficiently allocate time to study, design sprints, and personal well-being.
I successfully achieved this during the Presto challenge, where we had 3 days to brainstorm and implement an idea. On the same day as the competition, I also had an exam. I found myself balancing between studying for the exam and working on the project to secure a win. In the end, I managed to excel in both — I got a high score on my exam and secured 1st place in the challenge. ✨🏆
It’s important to take care of yourself both physically and mentally to balance your work-study-life.
3. Connecting with designers
Reaching out to designers from various countries and backgrounds has been a key factor in my journey as an entry-level designer. Initially, I delved into design blogs on Medium, and later, I shifted to LinkedIn. It was on LinkedIn that I connected with a senior product designer who introduced me to ADP List, a platform that has proven to be invaluable.
Through ADP List, I’ve been able to schedule sessions with mentors in the field. These mentors have provided not just guidance but real insights, helping me navigate the complexities of my new job, gain a deeper understanding of my role, and establish realistic career expectations. I’m genuinely thankful for taking those initial steps — it has truly made a significant difference in my professional growth.
4. The people
I read a blog by a Medium staff member who often gets asked, “What’s your favorite part of your new job?” His consistent response has been “the people.” On my first day there, my foremost anxiety was meeting my colleagues — the individuals I would be spending half of my day with. To my surprise, they were incredibly kind and didn’t hesitate to help me with anything.
Team culture, values, and mutual support enhances not only your day-to-day work, but also influences your overall job satisfaction and professional growth.
5. Overcoming chains of imposter syndrome
You’ve probably had this constant nagging doubt about whether your accomplishments are a result of genuine skill and competence or mere luck. No matter how many accolades or positive feedback you receive, a part of you questions your worthiness.
I’ve experienced that feeling, and I still do. However, what I did differently is recognize that the imposter feeling is common, and many successful individuals go through it too. Everyone feels the same way that you do, and one of the ways to overcome it is to share your feelings. Suddenly, that voice whispering “you’re a fraud” becomes a shared chorus of “we’ve all been there.”
6. Learning the business way
This experience has been and continues to be one of the best I’ve had. I’ve learned a bevy of insights from it. I had the opportunity to work on a project with our CEO, who taught us a great deal about investment, venture capitalists, angel investors, and business in general. It opened my eyes to their worldview. So, I want to express my gratitude to them for this invaluable experience.
7. Things change
Nothing is going to stay the same, people will come and go, even you yourself will change, the only thing you could do is adapt to it.
“The Only Constant in Life Is Change” — Heraclitus
8. Just say it
If you want something, ask for it. If you feel uncomfortable with anything, discuss it openly and work towards a solution. What’s the worst that could happen? Remember, even if you don’t get exactly what you ask for, the act of speaking up can open doors to new possibilities.