Why is Community so important to me as a Product Designer?

Mumbai's bustling streets has served as both my playground and classroom, shaping my understanding of resilience within a community. Now I am based in Atlanta, continously learning and networking.  

During my bachelor's in computer engineering, I engaged in college committees such as ACM and attended seminars with alumni which introduced me to the world of UX.

Professionally, I began interning at a school management startup as the sole UX professional, where I learned to navigate design constraints and diverse user needs.

Wearing multiple hats, I learned to rely on my abilities and recognized the importance of seeking help when needed.

At Georgia Tech, I am immersed in a community that celebrates diversity. Collaborating with peers from various backgrounds has broadened my perspective, not just in technology and human-centric design, but also in life.

A pivotal moment in my UX journey was enrolling in a class led by Amy Bruckman. This course not only made me realise the importance of good community design on the internet but also how it plays a role in my life and how it could play a role to help me improve as a designer.

Observing my grandmother, who found solace in learning through YouTube videos after losing her companion, highlighted the vital role of technology in the lives of older adults. This realization led me to explore how technology can address financial capacity challenges among the aging population, aiming to design solutions that enhance their quality of life.​

In my recent collaboration with Discovery Education, I delved into projects emphasizing the importance of engaging multiple stakeholders—edtech creators, educators, ELA Experts, students, parents, peers and so on. This experience showed me that involving diverse community members leads to more relevant and impactful solutions.