Sean Ritzie, Design Director | Spotify Design

I take pleasure in fixing puzzles. Human thought and conduct are among the most fascinating and difficult puzzles that exist.  I really like the truth that my work entails not solely making one thing that individuals discover interesting or engaging but additionally that it’s on me and my staff to unravel that puzzle of the underlying WHY to make the perfect expertise attainable.

You know how you’re feeling once you purchase a brand new digital gadget and also you’re anxious that will probably be actually difficult to arrange? But once you undergo the setup screens and begin utilizing them, it feels very easy, easy, and even enjoyable? If my staff does our job, you’ll really feel the identical method going by way of the screens, flows and interactions on Spotify.

I haven’t used a standard desk in ages, so my workspace is wherever I’m that I’ve entry to my laptop computer. These days I work loads from my couch subsequent to my pet so we might be shut to 1 one other and I can hold my eye on her. She ensures that I’m taking the fitting variety of (potty) breaks throughout the day.

When I used to be making use of for my first design administration function, I used to be extraordinarily nervous and didn’t assume I’d be seen as prepared for the job. While I had led small groups beforehand, I didn’t have official folks administration expertise, so it was difficult for me to interrupt into managerial roles at first. During my interviews, moderately than specializing in my lack of individuals administration expertise, I selected to focus extra on how I used to be capable of lead small groups. By serving to my groups perceive objectives/goals, planning mission work, and main them by way of design workouts, I used to be capable of display management capabilities that ready me for administration. Additionally, I used to be capable of converse to the outcomes and affect we have been capable of drive. By proudly owning the story of how I used to be capable of affect and persuade others, I used to be capable of acquire the arrogance of my hiring supervisor and I ultimately received a job as a Design Manager.  So my recommendation is, worth your expertise (in no matter kind it’s) and leverage it as the inspiration to make a case for the job you need.

I really like the work of organizations like The Hidden Genius Project and ONE School, each of whom have Black design leaders amongst their founding members. These organizations have been created and are run by Black creatives, technologists and entrepreneurs to mentor and supply mission alternatives for Black college students who’re curious about product design and improvement careers. What impresses me most about these organizations is that they noticed wants of their communities and moderately than ready for one thing to be created by another person, made one thing of their very own.

Prince — eclectic, intense work ethic, experimental

Nina Simone — fearless, nontraditional, activist

Bill Withers — easy, soulful, tons of coronary heart

For me, the best celebration of Blackness is consciousness, recognition and appreciation of Black tradition, with out situation or comparability to every other… seeing and having fun with it for its personal intrinsic worth.

I used to be formed into who I’m right now by sturdy Black girls. My mom and my grandmother offered two of essentially the most wonderful examples of power, intelligence and resilience I’ve had in life. They’ve helped make me conscious of, recognize, and rejoice the marvel and energy of Black girls on this planet.