Understand a market, define a problem, iterate solutions, and validate. This is the four step process most product designers take to create products we use and love. Yet, most of the time we have no idea who created our favorite app or website. That’s one reason we decided to shine a spotlight on some of the world’s most interesting product designers. Product designers bridge the gap between humans and technology so let’s get to know the humans!
It’s apropos that one of the easiest ways to connect with product designers is through social media—aka digital products. Here are five designers we think you should follow if you’re interested in learning more about the field.
Don Norman
For many product designers, Don Norman is the father of UX. A prolific writer, Don is both a novelist and microblogger. Follow Don on Twitter to hear his thoughts on topics like community-driven design and human-centric design, and to stay-up-to-date on the innovative ideas coming out of his Design Lab at the University of California, San Diego.
Cathy Pearl
Over the past few years, conversation design—the subfield that applies to products like Alexa and Siri—has become a major force within product design. Cathy Pearl, Head of Conversation Design Outreach at Google is one of the most prolific “voices” in this emerging discipline. Follow her on Twitter to learn about voice user interfaces, smart assistants, and her experience as a woman in tech.
Jessica Robbins
Sometimes the best ideas come in bite-sized portions. It might be an aha moment you experience while on a run or in the shower. In the case of Jessica Robbins, Creative Director at Saxum, it's few words scribbled on a PostIt Note. Follow Jessica on Instagram to be inspired by her simple, yet powerful memos about UX design and brand strategy.
Luke Wroblewski
Product designers develop digital products end to end. They first focus on the macro—the market opportunity for a particular application, but spend an equal amount of time on the micro—for example, the way a user holds their phone in their hand. This unique combination makes them ideal entrepreneurs and Luke Wroblewski, whose companies have been acquired by Google and Twitter is a prominent example. Follow Luke on Twitter for witty memes that demonstrate the power of good design.
Steve Krug
Don't Make Me Think—that is the title of one of one of the most popular books ever written on web usability. It’s core message is simple, yet profound: the best products require users to do the least amount of thinking to get to their desired result. While the book was last updated in 2014, author Steve Krug continues to share his thoughts on usability via Twitter. Follow Steve to also find out about interesting UX events taking place around the country.
