InvestEngine
Over the course of one year and 10 months, I managed 7 designers and a writer. I built a strong team and established effective processes whilst the company was experiencing rapid growth.
I arranged for the ineffective marketing designer to be smoothly replaced by a new AI enthusiast I had hired, who set to work with great enthusiasm.
The product designer had become burnt out by the department’s previous processes, but I helped her to recover somewhat, make friends with the new team members and share her accumulated knowledge of the product. She left the company of her own accord, as expected, and remained on good terms with her former colleagues. This is very important for the company’s reputation.
2 middle designers, 1 writer, and 3 senior designers were hired. It took me some effort to convince the management that we needed to hire more stuff. In the end, everyone agreed that it was the right decision and that we had waited far too long to make it. None of the designers I recruited left the company – my department was, I suppose, unique in that respect.
Around 70 portfolios were reviewed and around 10 interviews were conducted by me to recruit just one designer (and yes, AI was used to speed up the process and form the review on a hiring platform). This shows just how much importance I attach to the professional qualities of candidates.
I also ran training sessions for HR staff to help them better distinguish between good and bad portfolios, and between suitable and unsuitable LinkedIn profiles.
Ingos Investments
As a lead designer, I introduced the practice of morning briefings and took it upon myself to review mockups before sending them out for development. I also established a practice of short on-demand calls with developers to make product decisions quickly.
When we needed a lot of copy for our products, I ran training sessions for marketing writers to teach them the principles and best practices of writing interface copy.
I also managed an outsourced team (a business analyst and 2 designers).
Open Investments
At the company, I mentored two designers, teaching them the theory and practice of information architecture, as well as how to create a design system.
On my initiative, a new team was formed, dedicated entirely to the design system.
What people are saying
As a designer and mentor, Alexander is very creative, empathetic and always eager to help when needed. I've always been amazed at how his minimalistic design sense and user centric approach really helps in dissolving the barrier between a product and a user. Also he always present unique and informed solutions. It was truly a pleasure working at Open Investments with a talented design lead like him.
I have been working with Alexander for a year in the InvestEngine design team, and I can honestly say he is the best team lead I have worked with so far. He is not only a team lead but also a mentor. He gives thoughtful and actionable feedback, helps people grow, and creates a warm and comfortable atmosphere in the team. He genuinely cares about how each team member is doing, and it is always easy to come to him for support or design advice.
