Michal/f/114628/440x440/94c198c1cb/przemyslaw-baraniak.png)
PrzemysławMichal What would you do, if you weren't working as a designer?
Przemysław I cannot imagine life without the ability to design/create stuff for others. However, after hours I might also be a gardener. ;)
What design tool do you currently use?
Mainly Sketch, but also After Effects, Figma, Flinto, etc... I love to explore design tools, find interesting stuff & write some tutorials on uxmisfit.com and show how to use them.
What's your favorite band or artist to listen to while designing?
I listen to a wide variety of music, from Rock to Classical Music (especially movie Soundtracks). So this may be Metallica & Hans Zimmer.
Your favorite font? :-)
Inter by Rasmus Andersson. If the Roboto & SF Pro would have a child, I am sure that it would be Inter. ;)
Favorite book or movie (non-design related)
Lord of The Rings (book & movies)
What's your favorite color in hex or RGBa? (gradients are allowed too)
I do not have one! Seriously. I love color combinations instead - how they interact with each other.
What was your first real/paid design project and when did you make it?
Long long time ago in a galaxy far away... I made my first money doing digital painting works- illustrations for games, books, etc.
If you could write something on the loading screen of all design tools, so all designers can see it, what would it be?
Design starts in your mind.
Did you study design, or are you self taught? And how did that path influence your work style?
Self-taught. I have a Master's Degree in Computer Science (Computer Graphics Specialty), so I know how digital things work - that's a huge advantage.
The biggest innovation in product design right now is...
Tools we use. I remember ages when Photoshop was used for web & mobile design. Look how it changed now with Sketch, Figma, or XD! I am also sure that the No-Code trend will give extra powers to the designers, so they will be able to build real things instead of just mockups & prototypes.
With all the current experience, what would you tell yourself when you were just starting out?
Don't give up. Start small, explore, experiment, and finally, you will achieve your goals.
What do you think is the biggest problem in the design industry right now and how can it be fixed?
Many companies still do not understand the true value of design. What's more, the industry is changing so fast, so it is hard to find the right way to educate young people to become designers. This is probably why it is so hard to find a job as a junior designer.
Conversation resumed: Jul 1 What do you think about Google starting their own UX Course? Do certificates like this look convincing if you ever planned to hire a junior designer?
I have never been a huge fan of certificates. When I recruit a designer, I want to know what this person has already done and how strong their skills are in practice. The portfolio is the first thing I would like to see (even if it includes "fake" projects), then a short talk and some practical tasks to see how the designer thinks. A certificate is just another point in a CV.
What’s your favorite non-design activity?
I love reading books. This is a great pleasure connected with education - the best “brain food.”
How can people learn design better? What should they focus on the most?
To design better, we have to learn how to validate our assumptions better. Designers are creative people full of brilliant ideas. However, without observation and evaluation skills, designers will not be able to choose the best concept. In the end, good design is all about finding the best solution for the right problem.
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