Andrea Nguyen, Program Manager | Spotify Design

Ah, tricked you! I’m truly a Program Manager throughout the Design Ops group. So, I’m not a designer, however my group and I work to construct the Spotify Design neighborhood via applications that improve our Design tradition, instruments, techniques, learnings, and inspiration. 

l have at all times surrounded myself with Art & Design and obtained a BFA in Photography, however had little consciousness of the Digital or Product Design world till I fell right into a job as Studio Manager of the product studio, ustwo. I spent 5 years at ustwo, transitioned to Agile Coaching and Project Management, and continued PMing at Square.

Being each a Studio and Program Manager made me notice how a lot I valued neighborhood, collaboration, numerous views, and human relationships. I similar to bringing pleasure to others. The function of Design Ops was one thing I had by no means heard of earlier than, however the extra I discovered about it, the extra I noticed it was an ideal intersection of my work expertise and fervour for folks. 

My group focuses on creating a worldwide neighborhood in help of people that have made and proceed to make Spotify the expertise it’s in the present day.

1. These are my two work views that I zone out to once I’m pondering. The portray is one in all my most prized thrift finds. The different is my fireplace escape the place I typically take sun-breaks on. There are wisteria vines filling in!

2. My each day aspirational glass of water.

3. *unhappy alert* An image of my lovely cat, Ducky, who handed away final month. 

4. I prefer to bodily write my notes, ideas, and checklists out. These good notepads are a bit wasteful, however my work journal has been quarantining on the workplace!

5. My cup of restaurant pens (the most effective note-taking pen) from a few of my favourite spots in New York like Estela and Cafe Altro Paradiso.

6. AirPods for conferences, EarPods for conferences when the AirPods die, and a Bose Bluetooth speaker for music when the conferences are over.

For me, in a Design Ops function, it’s been creating programming for a worldwide group of designers that work throughout completely different missions, groups, and even disciplines—whenever you your self should not a designer by commerce. A number of issues I’ve discovered is that: 

You can’t please everybody. This isn’t about giving up on making an attempt to please everybody, nevertheless it’s about letting go of that concept as a measurement of success. As lengthy as you do your due diligence in making an attempt to seize as many views, opinions, and concerns out of your viewers, you’ll be establishing a powerful basis on your program and initiative.

To iterate is to develop. Preparation is vital, however typically issues don’t go as deliberate. As Design Ops, we’re actually invested in our neighborhood, so when issues don’t work out it may be onerous to not take it to coronary heart. With COVID-19, we needed to transition nearly all of our applications to be digital. Some issues haven’t translated as effectively remotely (attempt turning an 8-hour in-person workshop right into a Zoom assembly! 😬), however we stayed versatile, collected suggestions, and iterated on the method. By iterating, you’re placing your learnings into actions and rising your program and your individual growth.

Empathy is de facto essential. This is a baseline life rule for me. It’s been one thing I carry with me into work as the largest consideration I’ve when planning issues that have an effect on different folks. Practicing empathy is very important throughout this time! Given the state of the world and the truth that our work life and residential lives have merged, I feel it’s much more essential to be delicate and understanding of everybody’s private scenario. 

Writer and activist James Baldwin

To me, his novels are timeless narratives which are so rooted in how issues really feel that once I’m studying I’m much less involved about how these issues got here to be. 

Felix Gonzalez-Torres

His minimalist installations and sculptures have an actual mild method and are seemingly playful (a pile of sweet you possibly can take from!), however the idea is heavy and current (the pile of sweet represents the burden of his lover who died of AIDS and by taking the sweet you might be eradicating him). I like that his works are merely introduced, visually accessible, and conceptually wealthy. 

Restaurants and everybody that works in them

Most all the pieces I like will be linked again to meals and the hospitality/service trade. These individuals are in a position to create areas and experiences which are harbors of tradition and neighborhood whereas additionally tending to a primary life necessity. When I stroll right into a restaurant I like, all the pieces is an inspiration! I miss you, eating places.

Thanks to my Design Ops teammates who’re an incredible group of clever, humorous, and type those who at all times encourage me to do higher and work smarter. 

Shout out to my previous Spotify deskmates in Sky Basement 🙂 !!

And for actually yummy Vietnamese recipes, try my good pal Tyna’s Instagram.