Vandana Pai, Senior Product Designer

Like so many designers, I’m drawn to creating issues. I discover satisfaction in pouring my vitality into creating one thing (tangible or digital) that’s helpful, useful, or inspiring. Though all of it started with the designs I made for my Neopets web sites (undoubtedly helpful). 

I redirected to one thing extra “traditional”, so I deliberate to enter medication, then biomedical engineering, and eventually public well being — clearly I used to be a bit misplaced. The widespread thread right here is that each one of those paths relate to serving to individuals. I believe at baseline, I’ve all the time been enthusiastic about connecting with others in a significant approach. I’ve beloved having the ability to study individuals’s issues and assist resolve them in artistic methods by design.

I think about myself to be an inherently curious one that likes to study, so being surrounded by lofty concepts, experimental visions, and technical design is necessary. Design is a gigantic and assorted discipline — there may be a lot expertise and a lot to study that it consistently pushes me to develop. It fulfils each the artistic and analytical elements of me.

Since becoming a member of, my focus has been to make sure the messages our listeners obtain all through their Spotify expertise are related, personalised, and fascinating. To do that, I create instruments that allow Spotifiers to do their job effectively and successfully. These instruments assist Spotifiers to prepare, handle, and create what they should attain hundreds of thousands of listeners seamlessly! 

Lately, I’ve been exploring what being a “top fan” means, and the way artists can higher join with their greatest supporters. I’m placing my analysis hat on to determine how we will strengthen the connection between creators and followers by enjoyable interplay alternatives. The purpose is to incentivize customers to interact with Spotify by rewarding particular behaviors.

1. Ergonomic mouse: Sometime in 2020 I began creating horrible wrist and forearm ache… it’s not “aesthetic”, however it’s completely mandatory.

2. Tea: I’m all the time consuming tea — no espresso for me (ew). Black tea within the morning, inexperienced tea or chai within the afternoon, and natural tea at night time. My sister, mother and I’ve these matching yellow mugs.

3. Pothos plant + candle: I like the white marbling on this pothos. I grew to become plant-obsessed through the pandemic, like everybody else. They add a lot LIFE. Also, heat woody scented candles, as a result of typically that you must work with a vibe.

4. Picture of my grandparents: I lived with my grandparents in Bangalore, India for about 2 months when my grandpa was sick. It’s the most effective choices I’ve ever made. I like this picture of us at one of many botanical gardens pretending to be monkeys.

5. Quirky face pots: I’m obsessive about these little face pots from Mexico. They’re so cute. This is unquestionably a mezcal shot glass I’ve repurposed for succulents.

6. Notebooks: For sketching, writing, and ideation. Figma and typing don’t all the time lower it.

7. Pens and markers: I’ve much more, however they’re there for after I truly do any lettering artwork.

8. Thunderbolt monitor: I simply preferred the aesthetic of this greater than an everyday monitor, so I hunted considered one of these down on eBay. I took this picture in Switzerland whereas mountain climbing the Hardergrat path.

9. Desk lamp with sensible mild bulb: This color-changing bulb is the perfect white elephant present I’ve gotten. Again, typically that you must create a vibe.

My most intimidating design problem comes from a earlier job after I was a junior designer. I used to be proudly owning a whole circulate that was one of the vital necessary actions a consumer may interact with on the platform. Needless to say, I felt lots of stress to create one thing excellent. The stress grew as numerous opinions weighed on my design choices, essentially the most intimidating coming from the C-suite. I used to be actually combating giving in to stress to appease individuals, versus the concern of claiming no and following what I knew to be the perfect route.

It was a lesson in not solely leaning closely on knowledge and analysis to show hypotheses but additionally following my instinct. I realized to search out the arrogance to say no and clarify why the proposals I had designed have been the perfect route, even when they went in opposition to what a CEO would possibly need. Especially early on in my profession, it was laborious to confidently stand behind my design choices when there have been way more skilled and educated individuals within the room — however that doesn’t imply you’re improper or that your opinion isn’t legitimate.

• Hans Zimmer: Without a doubt, he’s the best composer of our lifetime. I actually admire his skill to evoke particular feelings and create total worlds by his music. I’m in awe of his artistic genius. Drop me in any setting, from pushing pixels to mountain climbing by the mountains — and the otherworldly strings or booming brass of Zimmer’s orchestra will push me and drive my creativeness wild.

• Mrs Brasher: The one trainer who had the most important affect on me is Mrs Brasher from speech and debate. I’ve all the time been in awe of her vivaciousness and dedication. Her powerful love broke me out of my little, shy shell and helped me to search out my voice. She evokes me to all the time deliver that vitality and confidence into every little thing I do.

• My mother, amongst all different immigrant girls and moms: There’s a particular power that immigrants have, and extra particularly, the moms who’ve left their properties to reside and lift children in an unknown place amongst individuals who don’t appear like them and don’t communicate the identical language. I love the power it takes to be a powerful, impartial lady in patriarchal communities. Namely, it’s a every day reminder that I could be working 10x tougher.

Shout out to everybody in my life who has supported me and impressed me. Especially to my mother and father!

You can discover me on Instagram at @vandanapai_ or @lifeofpai.jpg, the place I submit designs often. Or, babbling randomly on Twitter.

I like studying, so listed below are a number of books I’ve learn not too long ago I wish to cross alongside which have impacted me: 

Design

1. 1. The Design of Everyday Things by Dan Norman — Probably the elemental design ebook I inform everybody to learn in the event that they’re fascinated by turning into a designer or wish to perceive that design is not only about aesthetics.

   2. Designing Your Life by Bill Burnett and Dave Evans — When I discover myself feeling stressed and misplaced, I exploit this ebook to reevaluate my life and objectives based mostly on design methodology!

Fiction

1. 1. A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara — I’ve a love-hate relationship with this one as a result of it’s so emotionally taxing. I’ve by no means been so consumed by one thing. It’s unbelievable.

   2. The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett — I actually loved the themes of biases, identification, and race on this. Great meals for thought.

Non-fiction

1. 1. Fashionopolis by Dana Thomas — One of the extra impactful books I’ve learn this 12 months that has fully shifted my perspective on quick trend, capitalism, sustainability, and the setting.

   2. A History of the World in 6 Glasses Book by Tom Standage — The variety of occasions I’ve referenced this ebook is embarrassing, however I like this distinctive lens on historical past by liquids.

Memoir

1. 1. Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner — Ugh, this one broke my coronary heart. Just a must-read, particularly when you’re first-gen.

   2. Let My People Go Surfing by Yvon Chouinard — I like Patagonia’s CEO telling his story about being a reluctant chief and the best way to run an environmentally-friendly enterprise.