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Meet the Creative Minds: Our Remote Design Team Members

June 14, 2023

Kathy Banach

In the world of design, there’s more than meets the eye. Our remote design team members wear different hats, each contributing to the overall design process with their unique skills and expertise. 

Making things look great is only one aspect of design. Through designs, we convey information, express ideas, and solve problems. 

Effective design requires a thought process that considers various factors, including:

  • Needs of the user
  • Context of the design
  • Intended message

By understanding these factors, we can create designs that are both visually appealing and functionally effective.

At OnTheGoSystems, our design team members have different roles – UX design, graphic design, and front-end development. But, they all share a common goal: to bring ideas to life. 

We’re excited to give you an insight into their world and show you how they collaborate to deliver user experiences that stand out.

Breathing Life into Designs: Julia’s Journey with Animations

Julia Kovaleva,

Graphic/UI Designer

As a graphic designer, Julia Kovaleva specializes in creating visually appealing content that effectively communicates information to users of our WPML and Toolset plugins and PTC (Private Translation Cloud) software translation tool. Recently, she unearthed a new interest – incorporating animations into her work.

Julia, what are some of the benefits of using animations in web design?

Research and experience have shown us that users are usually not inclined to read text on websites and applications. This is why short and meaningful headlines and texts are so important. Users can “scan” the page and quickly decide whether this information helps them or not.

Besides bold headings and formatted lists, users usually pay attention to graphic content (icons, images, photos, videos, and animations). Such elements are able to convey information faster and more successfully due to the human characteristics of perception.

Animation, in turn, provides even more options than a static image. It allows you to tell the story simply and graphically. Users do not need to carefully read all the texts to understand the essence. An animation is enough to get the user familiar with your offer. The main goal is to generate interest that will make the user learn more and make a decision to use the product. For this purpose, I created some animations for PTC  explaining how the Free Resource Files tool works.

What advice would you give to other designers who are interested in incorporating animations into their work?

Less is more. Minimalism and a simple plot is the most effective and safest way to be understood by the majority of people.

The point of using animation is lost if the page is overloaded with text and/or graphics.

What other design trends or techniques are you currently exploring or interested in learning more about?

There are a few of them – minimalism, main characters, simple plot, defined color palette, simple and consistent animations, and illustrations within animations.

How do you stay up to date with the latest design tools and trends?

I am just starting to explore animation, but I can already say that specialized portfolio sites for designers and artists can be a useful resource for anyone who wants to keep up with trends and draw inspiration.

Transforming Designs into Code: Jason’s Approach to Front-End Development

Did you know that when you visit a website, the designs that you see were brought to life by a front-end developer?

Jason Omemu,

Front-End Developer

As a front-end developer, Jason’s main focus is on implementing visually stunning and high-performing designs. Working closely with other developers and UI/UX designers, Jason ensures that our designs come to life on the web while maintaining a high level of accessibility.

Jason, how do you ensure that the designs you implement are both nice-looking and perform well across different devices and browsers?

Lots of tests. I have 4 major browsers downloaded – Chrome, Safari, Firefox, and Brave. I test in different screen sizes in all of them. I also use my mobile phone’s Chrome, Brave, and Safari browsers to check performance and style for some slightly to really complicated changes.

You work closely with other team members, such as UI/UX designers. What challenges come with turning these designs into code?

On rare occasions, it can be a bit tricky to find a responsive solution for a particular bit of the design. I put my thinking hat on and if I’m still stuck, Julia comes up with great solutions I can then implement.

What is the most rewarding part about working as a front-end developer?

Making sure that our carefully thought-out designs are met and that these intentional changes are actually making an impact on our clients. Personally, I love it when I’m able to maintain a high level of accessibility while implementing designs or fixing issues.

Are there any front-end technologies or trends that you’re excited about or interested in working with?

I’m excited to check out Svelte. When I first heard of it a few years back, it hadn’t gained much traction. Now though, it seems the community is budding and I’m excited to check it out. Angular is making a comeback as well, maybe I’ll take a look there. :)

Shaping User Journeys: A Glimpse into Michelle’s Design Philosophy

Michelle Tucci,

UX Designer

As a UX designer, Michelle blends innovation with a human-centric approach. Her focus on user experience and technological interactivity breathes life into designs, making them both engaging and impactful.

Michelle, as a UX designer, where do you get your inspiration from?

I draw inspiration from various interactions I observe in the world. From architecture, nature, my pottery studio, and airports to applying for a visa in France, I am always thinking about how the user experience is being impacted positively or negatively. 

When I am working through a project at work, I draw inspiration from applications and products which I admire and which I feel take a human centric approach to building out the user journey.

I also try to carve out time each week to review newsletters from Medium, Dribble, Fast Company, and Sidebar to stay current on design trends and discussions. The design community loves to share their knowledge and experiences so there are many accessible resources.

What methods or tools do you use to understand user needs and preferences and then to create the designs?

I use different tools depending on project specifics.

I start by understanding the design ticket in YouTrack (our project management tool) and creating a design brief. I outline the project objectives from a user, business and technological perspective. 

I then use ChatGPT to optimize the design cycle. My design process is based on the design thinking double diamond methodology.

The main tools that I use are Google docs, Google sheets, Notion, Figma, Draw.io, ChatGPT and various Figma plugins such as Stark, Annotate it! and Autoflow. 

What advice would you give to aspiring UX designers?

Building relationships with team members who interact with users and implement your designs is crucial.

The most important aspects to getting a design right is understanding your product, knowing your users, focusing on business goals, and maintaining open communication with stakeholders. Stay educated, as UX design is an ever-evolving field.

Finally, an important piece of advice that I received early on is to try to instill design thinking within the culture at a company so that everyone is able to provide valuable insights to improve the user experience.

Creating Impactful User Experiences Together

At the end of the day, our design team members work together not only with each other but also with other teams across the company. By combining our unique skills and perspectives, we are able to create cohesive and impactful user experiences that help set OnTheGoSystems’ products apart.

Come Work With Us

Are you interested in working with a globally distributed team that encourages growth and advancement? Are you ready to harness the power of technology for a better future?

Take a look at our open positions