How Maria Went from Languages to Product Design at Conduktor

Not everyone takes a straight path into design. Maria studied languages, spent a year abroad in Seoul, and found her way to product design through curiosity and a love of visual craft.

Background

I'm a product designer who loves all things art and design. At Conduktor I obsess over UI details. At home I make jewelry and paint. When I'm not home, I travel. Asia is my favorite, Seoul especially. I did my year abroad there and I've wanted to go back ever since.

I grew up around a mix of cultures. My mum is Russian, so I heard two languages growing up. That sparked an interest in languages, which I went on to study at university. During my year abroad I discovered design. Korea puts real emphasis on good design. You see it everywhere: trains, street signs, book covers. I had always been an arty kid, so when I started learning about design careers, I got excited.

My Role at Conduktor

I work with the design team on our platform's UX/UI. We make sure the product is functional, easy to use, and visually clean. Recently I've been working on Chargeback, Notifications, and Alerting. When I'm not on bigger projects, I nerd out on our Design System.

Why I Applied

I found both the product and mission compelling. The brand is strong and it carries through into the product design language. I saw opportunities to learn from the team and grow as a designer.

What I Like About Working Here

The people. I enjoy coming into the office and working with everyone. There's a real willingness to collaborate. I've always felt supported and inspired to do my best work.

Advice for Aspiring Product Designers

There are many paths to the same goal. I didn't follow the traditional path. You don't have to either. Be passionate, take feedback seriously, and keep learning.

Cat or Dog?

Cat.

If you want to work somewhere that values collaboration and building great products, explore open positions at Conduktor.