Ashley, Product Designer at Non-profit education company: Advize Career Interview

Ashley, a Product Designer at a non-profit education company, has a fascinating career journey from coding in the "wild west" of the early internet to shaping user experiences at major corporations.

Their work centers around understanding user needs through research and aligning them with business goals, a role that is both variable and challenging, requiring strong listening skills, patience, and technical knowledge.

A day involves many meetings to gather requirements from the business with the biggest challenge being gaining buy-in from upper leadership regarding the necessity of user research.

What Ashley enjoys most is user research, because they enjoy solving user needs through collaborative problem-solving. This ever-evolving industry is fundamentally about people, demanding curiosity, empathy, and strong communication skills.

While it's a demanding field requiring a "thick skin" and potentially facing disagreements with leadership, a UX designer role can be a valuable stepping stone, and demonstrating the value of design through user interviews is key to success.

Exposure to business, tech, psychology, and communication perspectives in college can provide a strong foundation.

A woman in tech acknowledges some unique challenges but finds that proving oneself in the field can ultimately unlock many opportunities.

Advizer Information

Name

Job Title

Company

Undergrad

Grad Programs

Majors

Industries

Job Functions

Traits

Ashley McWilliams

Product Designer

Non-profit education company

Arkansas State University

Engineering, IT, Math & Data

Education

Product / Service / Software Development and Management

Scholarship Recipient, Worked 20+ Hours in School, First Generation College Student

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Career Path of a Product Designer at a Non-profit Education Company

Ashley's career path began with coding in high school during the "wild, wild west for the internet" and evolved from an entry-level frontend developer at Dillard's, where they learned SEO, accessibility, and usability, to a user experience specialist, ultimately leading them to product design at a non-profit education company through roles at B2B companies, Verizon Wireless ("UX research 'cause they wanted to make sure what they were doing, the customers actually wanted"), and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Mississippi.

Career Path of a Product Designer at a Non-profit Education Company

Main Responsibilities Of A Product Designer At A Non-Profit Education Company

Ashley's main responsibility as a Product Designer centers around "understanding the user" through methods like interviews, surveys, and usability testing, all while aligning with business goals. This role also requires knowledge of web design best practices for wireframing and prototyping, with a focus on "inclusive design and development" to ensure accessibility for everyone.

Main Responsibilities Of A Product Designer At A Non-Profit Education Company

A Day in the Life of a Product Designer at a Non-Profit Education Company

Ashley, a Product Designer at a non-profit education company, describes the role as highly variable depending on the project type, which could involve research, design, or collaboration with developers, with "a lot of meetings" to gather requirements from the business. Finding dedicated time to actually execute the design work amidst these meetings is a key part of the daily challenge, especially in a remote work environment.

A Day in the Life of a Product Designer at a Non-Profit Education Company

Skills for a Product Designer at a Non-Profit Education Company

For a Product Designer at a non-profit education company, Ashley emphasizes "listening and understanding" to translate business needs into user needs, also stating that patience is key because "people don't know what they don't know." Furthermore, while creative problem-solving is important, tech knowledge is also beneficial for ensuring designs are feasible within the existing environment.

Skills for a Product Designer at a Non-Profit Education Company

Favorite Parts of Being a Product Designer at a Non-Profit Education Company

Ashley, a Product Designer at a non-profit education company, most enjoys conducting user research because "I like talking to people and solving their needs, figuring out what they need, what they want." This part of the role allows Ashley to directly connect with and address user needs through collaborative problem-solving.

Favorite Parts of Being a Product Designer at a Non-Profit Education Company

Biggest Challenges Faced By A Product Designer At A Non-Profit Education Company

The biggest challenge for Ashley as a Product Designer at a non-profit education company is getting "buy-in," especially from upper leadership, regarding the necessity of user research because they often believe "they know our users, so there's no reason to talk to 'em." Ashley believes direct user research is critical because while leaders might see what users do, they don't know why, and understanding the "why" is essential for truly improving the product and user experience.

Biggest Challenges Faced By A Product Designer At A Non-Profit Education Company

Favorite Parts Of Working In Non-Profit Education As A Product Designer

Ashley enjoys the ever-evolving nature of the product design industry, appreciating that "there's always something new to learn," yet at its core, "it's always about people in the end," which is what truly fascinates them about the career. The wizard-like perception others have when describing the work, due to the technical aspects, highlights the importance of understanding people within the user experience.

Favorite Parts Of Working In Non-Profit Education As A Product Designer

What Type Of Person Thrives In Product Design, According To A Product Designer At A Non-Profit Education Company

Ashley, a Product Designer in non-profit education, believes those who thrive are "curious" problem-solvers who are "empathetic" and able to translate between different groups, such as tech, business, and users. Being "open-minded to new ideas," creative, and "tech savvy" to synthesize it all also contributes to success in this industry.

What Type Of Person Thrives In Product Design, According To A Product Designer At A Non-Profit Education Company

What a Product Designer at a Non-Profit Education Company Wishes They Had Known Before Entering the Product Design Industry

Ashley wishes someone had warned that a "thick skin" is crucial in product design, as work will often be ignored or deemed unimportant. Furthermore, the career professional acknowledges disagreements with superiors are inevitable and something that one "just has to deal with."

What a Product Designer at a Non-Profit Education Company Wishes They Had Known Before Entering the Product Design Industry

Entry-Level Positions For Aspiring Product Designers

For undergraduate or graduate students seeking entry-level roles in UX design, Ashley notes that "UX designer roles" requiring minimal experience, such as a Google certificate, are common, especially those connected to web design or web development. Ashley's experience as a Product Designer at a non-profit education company suggests these roles can be a valuable stepping stone for students with limited formal training.

Entry-Level Positions For Aspiring Product Designers

Significant Career Lesson From A Product Designer At A Non-Profit Education Company

A key lesson learned as a Product Designer is that the value of the role is best understood through demonstration, particularly by sharing user interviews. "They will not understand it until they actually see it for themselves" and hear directly from users, which then illuminates the insights and impact of product design on the team's work.

Significant Career Lesson From A Product Designer At A Non-Profit Education Company

College Experiences That Helped A Product Designer In Non-Profit Education Succeed

To set up for career success as a Product Designer, Ashley focused on exposure to diverse perspectives, "from a business perspective and from a tech perspective." Psychology and communication courses were also beneficial, enabling effective communication and a deeper understanding of various people.

College Experiences That Helped A Product Designer In Non-Profit Education Succeed

How Identity Influenced a Product Designer's Career at a Non-profit Education Company

As a woman in tech, Ashley feels it's "definitely more of an uphill battle sometimes" due to preconceived notions about women's abilities in the field, but finds that proving oneself ultimately "open[s] a lot of doors" in the long run.

How Identity Influenced a Product Designer's Career at a Non-profit Education Company

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