Noonies Nominee and Lead Product Designer Avrora Shuhalii on Writing, Tech, and More

Hey Hackers!

I’m Avrora Shuhalii and I’m the Lead Product Designer @Transcenda; I am glad to announce that I have been nominated for the 2022 Noonies Award.

A huge thanks to the HackerNoon community and staff for considering me worthy of this opportunity. I’ve been nominated in the following categories and if you like my writing, please do check out these award pages and vote for me:

HackerNoon Contributor of the Year- UI/UX: https://www.noonies.tech/

As a tech writer, I believe that the most exciting technology of the present is a combination of the business, technical side, and product design because it helps to build one plan and achieve great goals. Learn more about my thoughts and opinions about user experience design and my journey in the tech industry via the interview below.

1. Tell us about your journey. What do you do and what do you love about it?

As a lead product designer, my key responsibilities are to contribute to a product while maintaining a positive relationship and continue to keep the company culture through an ownership attitude approach. I mentor my teammates and help them apply appropriate design activities. I love to see how our team changes the product and helps the business achieve its goals.

2. Tell us more about your work. What do you make/write/manage/build?

I focus on communication with the design team and stakeholders. I write a lot of documentation. This is really what I love. The main goal is to build a comfortable work environment for my colleagues and ensure transparent communication between product owners and developers.

3. How did you start writing? What made you choose HackerNoon for publishing your work?

3 years ago I started mentoring designers. 2 years ago I started conducting design courses. From our conversations with students, I always know what topics are important for my audience. So, 2 years ago I realized that I have some helpful answers to people's requests. That’s how I started to write articles. I run a UX blog on Instagram, and there I found the Hakernoon account. I read the articles and decided that I can share my experience here ❤️

4. What excites you in tech? Tell us about your favorite technology and why you are passionate about it.

I like the AR theme. My work is not related to this topic in any way, but I read a lot of resources about this area. I believe that this is the future. Our life in many areas can become simpler, safer, and more interesting. I love reading new recommendations from designers on Instagram with the name Kim:

https://instagram.com/kimalban?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

5. What were some of the challenges you faced being a tech writer and how did you overcome them?

I always try to understand my reader's interests and needs. Sometimes, it is difficult to deal with it because there are usually a lot of ideas. But I found a way out: I present articles to 3-6 of the target audience before publication. It works!

6. What are you learning/reading currently? Any recommendations for our readers?

A few days ago I started reading a free book which is provided by Invision. The name is Design Systems Handbook. The first time I heard about this book was from Ukrainian designer Masha. She put a comment about this book on her Telegram account. I'm surprised there is such great content from world leaders with lots of links to useful resources.

7. What is your biggest achievement so far?

I have three achievements that I’m very happy to talk about:

1. My family. I’m the happiest daughter and wife in the world.
2. My Hackernoon article "How to Prepare for Usability Testing - Part I", which has 371 reads, and 7.14 hr reads. I love to talk about Usability Testing studies always. This topic is very unique to every project.
3. Figma file "12 UX Templates", which I published in the Figma Community. I made 12 templates for one of my projects, and with so many templates accumulated, I decided to show them to the whole world. My file has been duplicated 2,606 times.

8. If we gave you 10 million dollars to invest in something today, what would you invest in and why?

I would invest most of the money in the army of Ukraine. Russia attacked us on February 24. I would like to give the other part of the money to mothers and children who suffered from the war. I have heard many terrible and tragic stories; I would like to at least somehow drown out the pain that mothers feel. Also, I would sponsor the education of some creative people. I want peace and I want the world to know that in Ukraine are a lot of creative designers.

9. What advice would you give to someone just starting in this field?

Write a plan for the future article, and find useful links. Start writing, even if you don't think it will work. It may seem difficult, but you can come back to it in a week after you create a draft and refine it. Show the article to your family members or friends, and ask if it is written clearly and what can be improved. Believe in yourself, you have something to share with the world :)

10. What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?

Take a break and look around the world. I got these words from my husband when I was working very hard. I try to devote more time to my family, sports, friends, and nature. I am engaged in self-development, but there must be a balance in everything, and I am still in search of it.

That was all from our side, feel free to add anything else that you want to add for our readers.

Voting opens on 15th August 2022.

Below is your sign to vote for our amazing nominees 😉!

About HackerNoon’s 2022 Noonie Awards

The annual Noonie Awards celebrate the best and brightest of the tech industry, bringing together all who are making the Internet and the world of tech what it is today. Please be sure to check out our award categories, nominate, and vote for the people and companies who you think are making the biggest impact on the tech industry today.

The 2022 Noonies are sponsored by: BingX, and .tech domains. Thank you so much to these sponsors who are helping us celebrate the accomplishments of all our nominees.

Photo by Judson Moore on Unsplash