What do you do at Virtusize?

I currently work as a Design Lead at Virtusize where I manage all aspects of the design process for each product. This includes everything from idea generation and user research to design delivery. In addition to supervising the design team, I collaborate with stakeholders from various teams, especially with the Head of Product, to develop the best product design strategy for each project. Besides product design, I also oversee the design direction for Virtusize's marketing and branding communications.

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Please tell us about your background and how you ended up at Virtusize ?

I have an educational background in visual communication design, and my past work experience was primarily in traditional graphic design areas such as print design and branding. After earning my master's degree, I worked at a digital agency in Tokyo. While working on various projects, I developed a strong interest in shifting my career towards digital mediums, specifically digital product design. I discussed this plan with my university mentor who introduced me to the Virtusize design team. After a few rounds of interviews, I decided that Virtusize would be a good place for me to transition my career due to the team’s open approach to design and team building and my previous knowledge on graphic design can further support the team. In the end, I accepted the offer and joined Virtusize as a Jr. Product Designer.

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What do you like most about working at Virtusize?

I would highlight the collaborative learning aspect of Virtusize, especially since Virtusize comprises members from diverse backgrounds, skills, and interests, each bringing something unique to the team. Even during my early days as a Jr. Product Designer, I had numerous opportunities to work on different types of projects and directly interact with key stakeholders. This helped me quickly understand the roles of different teams, how they can assist each other, and how I can utilize my skills and interests to contribute to each project. Even now, as a more experienced member and key stakeholder, I keep learning new things because I believe that the best ideas and solutions come from the collaboration of teams with a wide range of social and professional backgrounds.

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What are you excited about in the next year?

The word "Expansion" can summarize the things that I'm most excited about moving forward. Firstly, we aim to extend our product's reach to global clients and users. I'm excited to see the solutions we can offer to different markets, and how they receive our service. Secondly, I'm excited about the growth of the design team as we strive to enhance the UX aspect of our product. With the design team currently undergoing restructuring, I’m looking forward to having the fresh perspectives and dynamics that new members will bring to the team. Lastly, once the team stabilizes, I look forward to expanding our presence in the product design scene in Tokyo. I believe that our design team boasts a mature design system and valuable knowledge in localizing designs for the Japanese market, so I'm excited about the insights we can both share with and gain from Tokyo's design communities.

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What’s most important to you in building your team ?

I believe that the ideal design team has to be open and collaborative, with trust as the key ingredient. Because Virtusize's design projects are interconnected and fast-paced, it's crucial to make sure that each team member to contribute and collaborate. I aim to create an environment free of unnecessary self-deprecation or hierarchical barriers, where everyone feels safe to share their ideas. So I take a lot of importance to spend a lot of time on 1to1s, team building, individual experimentation, and even casual banter time, allowing the team to connect on a more personal level. I believe in the importance of understanding and trusting each other's strengths and interests as the baseline to make collaboration more comfortable, task delivery more efficient, and innovation comes more frequent.

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Message to future colleague:

In my experience, the Virtusize design team is an excellent place for personalizing your career path as a designer, regardless of the background you come from. You'll have plenty of room to shape your career based on your skills, interests, and preferences, in addition to many opportunities to work closely with other members and stakeholders from various teams. Your own preferences and uniqueness can bring a fresh perspective to the team and as the lead I’m always looking forward to have a positive and progressive improvement within the team. So if you’re interested in working with the Virtusize design team, stay curious and “steal” as much inspirations as you can from your teammates! And I'm sure you're going to have a lot of lingering questions about us, so feel free to reach to me for a coffee or virtual discussion! See you soon. Adi

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