Reflection
Takeaways
Move together.
In addition to an organized final handoff file with detailed development notes and a style guide to allow developers to jump in and implement our designs, constant communication was the key to our smooth development stage. We came together to work within limitations, address edge cases, and distill complex problems into simple, elegant solutions. We quickly passed ideas and rationale back and forth between designers and developers for the entirely of the development stage.
Why is it called a handoff file? Forget the idea of the ‘handoff’ and instead, work hand-in-hand. Adapt workflows to align timelines, touch base and offer insight, be flexible and open to input, be straightforward and ask for what’s possible, be specific about each request, down to the last pixel, and most importantly, drop encouragement, appreciation, and celebration.
Acting as the bridge, I learned it's less about what you do, but how you bring people together.
Entering the development stage was a pivotal moment in my design career. I learned the value of the technical perspective as I led communication between design and technical teams. Developer input is not a barrier but offers a new perspective that pushes me to refine my design for inclusion and efficiency.
The technical team went above and beyond to bring each of our visions to life, working around tight schedules, technical difficulties, and deadlines. Our final products are a confluence of our unified goals, time, effort, and collaboration.
Shoutout to the amazing team of developers who made this such a memorable experience — Alex Long, Justin Rusit, Trishna Sharma, Eric Ni, Cameron Yee, Alec Atienza
Look ahead.
I came into the role thinking I would only be the designer at the end of the ladder that receives deliverables. But I learned to be proactive throughout each step of the process to drive our vision and identity: by offering input, proposing new ideas, initiating conversations, and updating stakeholders. I asked questions to foresee roadblocks and make cross-collaboration more productive and efficient. Working cross-functionally, I learned to anticipate change and adapt to it.
Be stretchy.
We each bring a unique, invaluable perspective to the team, especially in the midst of our growth. When I hit a creative block, my Design Lead, Cheryl, helped me view things from a different angle: that when I’m uncomfortable, I’m actually in the best position to grow.
Discomfort is actually a catalyst for growth.
You can either be comfortable and stagnant, or be uncomfortable and stretchy. Take risks, think from a different perspective, dive in, play, and grow. Seek out fresh experiences, and build up your creative and emotional resilience. I learned to approach challenging problems boldly, and make critical design decisions with confidence. In turn, I hoped to help hesitant hackers be confident in their unique perspectives and skillsets. It’s not easy to embrace the discomfort. It’s exhausting … but incredibly rewarding.
Stretch yourself, and you might like what’s possible.
Our adventure is just beginning
I have honed my passions for design and cultivated a deepened understanding and appreciation for collaboration and teamwork. Two things are certain: I love working with people + I love design.
I absolutely love it. I want to run after it, and dive deeper into it.
It was a privilege to work alongside such driven and talented directors, a melting pot of diverse interests and expertise. Organizing HackDavis 2022 felt like diving headfirst into the deep end, but I'm so grateful that I found a group of such truly amazing people that I can navigate through the deep end with and explore the depth of knowledge and experiences it has to offer.
I want to thank the incredible team of directors I had the privilege to work alongside this past year. Thank you for supporting me, affording me confidence and trust, and leading me to who I am today. You all made team meetings and Slack channel threads... not feel like work at all.
HackDavis 2022 holds a special place in my heart because it was my first time being a part of something so big, and I can't wait to do it all again.
First team photoshoot on campus!
Last family photo before all hands were on deck cleaning up the stadium after the hackathon
