List of app defaults I am currently using:

* Mobile Design & Prototyping → Figma

* Web Design → Figma

* Mail Client → Gmail

* Notes → Apple Notes, Obsidian

* Writing → Apple Journal, Read.cv

* To-Do → Apple Reminders

* Calendar → Cron

* Contacts → Apple Contacts

* Browser → Safari, Google Chrome

* Chat → iMessage

* Bookmarks → Chrome

* Word Processing → Google Docs

* Presentations → Figma

* Shopping Lists → Apple Reminders

* Meal Planning → Notion

* Running → Nike Run Club, Any Distance 

* Cocktails → Mixel

* Budgeting and Personal Finance → lol

* News → Artifact

* Music → Apple Music

* Podcasts → Apple Podcasts

* Code → VS code

App Defaults 2023

Making this post had been on my brain for a while now. I'm still not sure how to even start. I guess the best way is to give a little bit of background about me.

I'm Rome, I'm a photographer turned product designer from Birmingham, Al. Why the switch? After about seven years of freelance photography I always knew I wanted to take my love for design more serious. Since high school I've independently ran a few different brands and taught myself everything from graphic design to photography. My thinking was that if i did everything in my head, something would eventually stick. In my case, photography hit first. It was great until the pandemic, and a host of other things, knocked me back down to earth. I knew I needed to build a better foundation for me and my family so I enrolled *back* into college courses to get my bachelors in design.

So about this post...well i've always thrived on my ability to "figure it out" but product design is different to say the least. I love whats happening right now but I am in very unfamiliar territory and I feel like I'm at a fork in the road. I have a good grasp on basic design principles, but I don't know what my next steps are. I've done the concept projects, copied good UI, and everything else people like to tell young designers to do but it feels empty. This empty feeling mixed with the fact that its time to start looking for internships, and obviously wanting to land a role, has me looking in all directions and its kinda overwhelming.

I want to learn how to serve the user, not just make beautiful designs. The design community, from what I've experienced, is very vague to new designers. This leaves room for the "design influencers" to give this empty information that ironically makes the design community hate new designers. Maybe I see through the fog because, although I'm a young designer, I'm not a young person. I know that it's more to it that the internet is selling. That is the part I want to understand better. The process of creating a solution. This is what excites me the most about product design but I'm unsure how to gain that knowledge.

In a perfect world, I would land a internship or junior role and learn from experience. But since the field is so saturated, I have to find these tools on my own. Don't get me wrong, I have no problem doing the ground work before i step into a role. In fact I wouldn't have it any other way. But there is a added difficulty when it seems like you're not exactly invited into the club because you're a "beginner"

To close, this is just an entry of thoughts.

I'd love to hear from other designers and their experiences as beginners. Input and feedback is always welcomed

\-Rome

Design Diary 001

Product Design

Cocktail Party

Legacy Credit Union

Legoin FC App

Website redesign

Planned and executed product photos for brands like Nike, Puma, and Adidas. Collaborated with a social media team to ensure images matched trends and brand style, meeting market and brand standards.

Lead Photographer

A Birmingham based multi-faceted product, design, and branding agency focused on developing consistent product branding and strategy across social.

Founder

Developed information architecture, user flows, and wireframes in Figma. Utilized Webflow to design and build a 9 page responsive and accessible website. Successfully launched the product on September 1, 2024 resulting in a 30% engagement increase. The site also saw a 50% increase in users on mobile devices.