Interview with Simon Pan, Designer at Google, Medium, Uber & Amazon
Simon Pan is currently an interaction designer at Google. He is is originally from Australia and previously worked as a UX designer at Uber, Medium, and Amazon. Simon has a BSc in Computer Science (Human Computer Interaction), from UNSW. He currently lives in California with his dog and partner. You can follow Simon on Instagram, Twitter, Medium and see his work on his website.
If you have any questions or are interested in being interviewed, feel free to DM me on Instagram or reach out on LinkedIn!
How did you get into design and UX?
I was failing all of my University computing courses, so I elected HCI (Human-Computer Interaction) — the only non-computing course — to save myself from getting kicked out. I instantly fell in love with Human-centered design thinking and haven’t looked back ever since. I have taught myself mostly from books and worked my butt off to progressively land more challenging and fulfilling work. If I can do it, SO CAN YOU (seriously).
Do you have a design philosophy?
Great design is the practice of envisioning a better future for all, and working towards it with purpose, intelligence, and thoughtfulness.
What do you think makes a great designer?
Curiosity, wonder, skepticism, an appreciation for beauty, intuition, emotional intelligence, critical thinking and imagination.
What do you think makes a bad designer?
Ego and ideology. Designers that aren’t willing to put aside their preconceived notions to question why they believe the things they do are the quickest to stop imagination and progress.
What are some of the challenges/obstacles you’ve faced at work?
How much time we spend building technology, in spite of recognizing a need.
How do you see UX evolving in the future?
The world today is over-optimized for sight and this is reflected in how we work and what we make. I’m excited for how sound and conversation design will continue to influence the way we solve problems. It’s not a panacea, but a more human way of thinking about how people interact with information — which I believe will lead to creating better user experiences.
What are the most common mistakes you see in UX portfolios?
I think the biggest mistake is a lack of intentionality in people’s work. A lot of portfolios show process for the sake of showing process. But what’s interesting to the hiring manager is seeing how you think. How did the design activity or output move your thinking or the team forward? Always show the why behind your decisions.
What’s your biggest design pet peeve?
Outright copying a solution from somewhere else without considering the underlying principles or context that determine if the solution is appropriate.
Do you have any tips for anyone looking to grow their career in UX?
Like anything worthwhile, your career grows over time with care and intention. It will not be easy and it won’t be quick. There are no big breaks, only tiny drips that you need to nurture into waves of momentum. To grow your career in UX, leave behind self-centered concerns about whether your job is “just right,” and instead just focus on getting really damn good by building your skills. No one owes you a great career…you need to earn it.
