Ruben Cespedes

Senior Product Designer & Adobe XD Ambassador

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Michal
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Ruben
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Michal
What would you do, if you weren't working as a designer?
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Ruben
A doctor for sure.
What design tool do you currently use?
Adobe XD is my favorite one.
What's your favorite band or artist to listen to while designing?
I listen, dembow, classical, pop, reggeatton. I love music in general.
Your favorite font? :-)
Right now, Barlow.
Favorite book or movie (non-design related)
Avengers Endgame / Winter Soldier (Love action movies)
What's your favorite color in hex or RGBa? (gradients are allowed too)
I don't have a specific color but I really like black. #121D29
What was your first real/paid design project and when did you make it?
It was Photo Editing in Photoshop, I had to polish the photo of a model/dancer. (Color correction, white balance, exposure, hues, skin editing) so much fun, this was back in 2005.
If you could write something on the loading screen of all design tools, so all designers can see it, what would it be?
"You're Awesome"
Did you study design, or are you self taught? And how did that path influence your work style?
Yes, I did study Digital Media Arts and Graphic Design in two different colleges (I have 2 degrees). I think college really gave me the foundation but the real world experiences actually shaped and helped me become the Senior Product Designer I'm today.
The biggest innovation in product design right now is...
Augmented Reality and Voice UI
With all the current experience, what would you tell yourself when you were just starting out?
Learn from everyone and everything, there is ALWAYS something to learn.
What do you think is the biggest problem in the design industry right now and how can it be fixed?
People underestimate UX Design, some of them don't understand how important it is for a product to be successful. I think by educating people about how UX can have a positive effect on the product, the costumers and the businesses.
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 think this is a great opportunity for young designers to learn from big companies like Google, sometimes designers don't know what's out there or how things really work in the real world. Google would definitely help 1000s of young designer to achieve their dreams. That being said, does not mean that because you have a "Google Certificate" you'll get hired right away. It's all about YOU, how you portrait yourself as a designer, how you have your own design process and thinking. Education is important, I know amazing designers that are self-taught and they don't have a college degree neither a Google Certificate. They just put in the work and got it done.
What’s your favorite non-design activity?
Movies and hanging out with friends and family.
How can people learn design better? What should they focus on the most?
Nowadays there are so many resources, reading, online courses, networking, practicing. If you really want to learn something go for it. If you want to learn to design better master all design principles (color, typography, balance, proximity, hierarchy, contrast, harmony).