Wow! It’s thrilling to be back in a full-time role after spending almost a decade as an independent designer.

I always believe that design can shape people's lives and improve humanity as a whole and that's why I love working on innovative products. My friends call me Human Happiness Designer and I like to believe so too :) So when I learned about Kula and its vision to revolutionize the recruiting space, I knew this is the place for me. 

Becoming a Kulanaut 

I have been impressed by the company's strong leadership and clear direction. One of the things that I appreciate most about Kula is the company's culture of innovation and collaboration. Kulanauts, as we call the people of Kula, are encouraged to bring their unique perspectives and ideas to the table, and there is a strong emphasis on continuous learning and personal growth. This, again, made me decide to do the switch and join for the long term as I value personal relationships above all else.

Making a difference in the lives of Kula customers through design

I believe that design plays a critical role in the success of our product and the satisfaction of our customers.

Working with marketing and engineering teams, design is an essential part of the product development process. We collaborate closely with the teams to ensure that the product is not only functional and effective but also user-friendly and visually appealing. This collaboration allows us to create a product that truly meets the needs of our customers, stands out in the recruiting space, and actually makes a difference for our customers.

Through careful research and user testing, we strive to create a product that is intuitive, efficient, and easy to use. We are always looking for ways to improve the user experience and make the recruiting process smoother and more effective for our customers.

Even when it comes to our marketing side of things, we lay a proactive focus while designing our web pages, guides, images for the blog and all other assets. We like to keep things simple yet enthralling for our audience to really enjoy going through everything that we create.

Setting the stage for future designers at Kula 

I strive to bring structure and organization to our design team. This includes setting clear goals and objectives, establishing processes and best practices, and providing guidance and support to our designers. By fostering a collaborative, structured environment, we are able to deliver high-quality designs that drive the success of our product and the satisfaction of our customers.

When we’re hiring designers, I seek out designers who are imaginative, original, and not afraid to think outside the box helping us to stand out in the recruiting space and deliver an exceptional user experience. I also look for designers who are able to produce high-quality work that maintains consistency across our design system and is as future-proof as possible. And finally, designers who are able to work well with others, share ideas, and provide constructive feedback. 

These are expectations from the designers. I am also careful about some of the things that I would do for the designers at Kula. These include 

1. Providing guidance and support: I will be available to provide guidance, support, and mentorship to the designers on my team. This will include helping them to develop their skills and knowledge, providing feedback on their work, and offering advice and support as needed.

2. Setting goals and objectives: I will work with the designers on my team to set clear goals and objectives for their work. This will include defining specific deliverables and deadlines and establishing metrics for measuring success.

3. Creating a collaborative, supportive environment: I will strive to create a collaborative, supportive environment within the design team. This will include fostering open communication and collaboration, providing opportunities for team building and professional development, and promoting a positive, inclusive culture.

4. Advocating for the design team: I will strive to be the primary advocate for the design team within the broader org. This will include representing the team's needs and interests to other teams and departments, and ensuring that the team has the resources and support necessary to be successful.

A word for the future designers 

Read. Learn. Grow. Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there and invest in the community. Read again. And again. And Again. And please don’t do another Facebook redesign.

The way ahead 

Besides product design, there’s ample stuff planned for the design team at Kula. We’re defining our brand guidelines more sharply, we’re bringing order to our day-to-day tasks and planning, and as always, we’re hiring. If you’re a designer wanting to join a highly-collaborative and innovative startup, drop a line on antonio@kula.ai or apply via our careers page. 

Cheers!