As a Senior Product Designer with experience in UX, research, AI, and scalable systems, I have had the opportunity to work on various projects and collaborate with different teams. However, one of the most valuable experiences in my career was teaching a course on Product Design to 200 students. This experience not only allowed me to share my knowledge and expertise with others, but it also taught me valuable lessons about product design that I could not have learned otherwise. In this article, I will share my insights and key takeaways from this unique teaching experience.
The Importance of Understanding the User
One of the first lessons I learned while teaching was the importance of understanding the user. As product designers, it is easy to get caught up in our own ideas and assumptions about what users want and need. However, teaching 200 students from diverse backgrounds and with different perspectives made me realize that there is no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to product design. Each user is unique and has their own set of needs and preferences.
During the course, I encouraged my students to conduct user research and gather feedback from potential users before starting any design work. This not only helped them create more user-centric designs but also taught them the value of empathy and understanding the user’s perspective. As a result, their final projects were more successful and well-received by their target audience.
The Power of Collaboration
Teaching a large group of students also taught me the power of collaboration. In product design, collaboration is crucial as it allows for different perspectives and ideas to come together and create a better end product. While teaching, I encouraged my students to work in teams and collaborate on their projects. This not only helped them learn from each other but also taught them important teamwork and communication skills.
As a product designer, I have always believed in the power of collaboration, but teaching 200 students reinforced this belief. Seeing my students work together and come up with innovative solutions through collaboration was truly inspiring. It also reminded me of the importance of fostering a collaborative environment in the workplace.
The Value of Iteration and Feedback
Another key lesson I learned while teaching was the value of iteration and feedback. In product design, it is essential to continuously iterate and improve on designs based on user feedback. Teaching 200 students allowed me to see this process in action. As my students worked on their projects, I encouraged them to constantly seek feedback from their peers and make necessary iterations based on that feedback.
This not only helped them improve their designs but also taught them the importance of being open to feedback and continuously striving for improvement. As a product designer, it can be easy to get attached to our designs, but teaching taught me the value of being open to feedback and constantly iterating to create the best possible product.
Scalability and Accessibility
Teaching a large group of students also made me think about scalability and accessibility in product design. As a product designer, it is important to create designs that are not only visually appealing but also scalable and accessible to a wide range of users. Teaching 200 students from different backgrounds and with different abilities made me realize the importance of considering scalability and accessibility in every design decision.
During the course, I encouraged my students to think about how their designs could be scaled to accommodate a larger user base and how they could make their designs more accessible to users with different abilities. This not only helped them create more inclusive designs but also taught them the importance of considering scalability and accessibility from the beginning of the design process.
Key Takeaways
Teaching 200 students about product design was a rewarding and enlightening experience. It not only allowed me to share my knowledge and expertise with others but also taught me valuable lessons that I will carry with me throughout my career. Some key takeaways from this experience include the importance of understanding the user, the power of collaboration, the value of iteration and feedback, and the importance of scalability and accessibility in product design.
Conclusion
Teaching 200 students about product design was a unique and valuable experience that taught me important lessons that I could not have learned otherwise. It reinforced the importance of understanding the user, collaboration, iteration and feedback, and scalability and accessibility in product design. As a Senior Product Designer, I will continue to apply these lessons in my work and strive to create user-centric, collaborative, and scalable designs. If you would like to see some of my work, please visit my portfolio or connect with me on LinkedIn.