Welcome to Design People! We celebrate design people all around the world and share their insights. After reading this, we hope you can learn something or at least smile 😄.
Meet Talia
🔗 Linkedin | 💻 Portfolio | 👋 Open to connecting
Today we meet Talia Ayala-Feliciangeli.
Hi! I’m from Asunción, Paraguay 🇵🇾 and moved to New York earlier this year with my pup, Mochi.
Talia is currently on the UX Research team at MongoDB. Her work focuses on MongoDB’s educational resources such as University, Documentation, and the Developer Center.
Outside of work, she’s usually at the park - watercoloring, reading, or hanging out with Mochi and her friends.
A Peek into Talia’s Life
The influence of her mom and dad
“I grew up with the privilege of having parents who truly loved their jobs. Seeing them joyful and excited impacted how I view my work, and the energy I bring to my workplace.”
“My mom has a tendency to strike up a convo with everyone she encounters (be it strangers at the park or families in the elevator) and enjoys every interaction - her eyes literally twinkle. It’s shaped how I relate to people and a huge part of why I enjoy UX research.”
Her love for storytelling
“I’m constantly presenting my work and constantly asking myself ‘How can I make this interesting?’”
📚 Currently reading: “Anxious People” by Fredrik Backman
🎧 Currently listening to: Cinema by the Marías
🧠 Most recommended resource: UX & Usability Articles from Nielsen Norman Group
☀️ Q&A
What’s your favorite thing about being a UX Researcher?
Being constantly surprised by users! I tend to go into user sessions with a hunch about what users might say or how they may interact with a feature - and almost every single time, I am surprised. It’s a nice reminder of how every person has a unique thought process and approach, and it makes UX research very fun!
What’s the biggest thing you’ve learned since taking on your job full time?
You can be skilled at what you do and also still have a lot to learn (and vice versa). Coming in, I had a fear of “everyone expects me to know this” and it kept me from asking questions. I realized my team wants to give me feedback and help me grow, and embracing this has probably been the most impactful thing for my progress! Plus, the people I work with are so, so talented and I feel like I’m constantly filing things away for future reference 🙂.
What’s been your biggest work challenge so far? How are you overcoming it?
I think it’s been a challenge to figure out the right balance of being firm and friendly. I recently finished grad school, and this is my first full-time job in UX. Initially I had a fear of speaking out since I felt like I had much more limited knowledge than the rest of the team (+ a dash of imposter syndrome ✨). This translated into shyness when it came to answering questions regarding my research approach, for example.
But the more I learn, the more confident I am in my own skills and when describing my research choices. This also means it’s much easier to be open to feedback and implement suggestions in my work. Plus, having a strong mentor really helps!
P.S. Check out Happy Medium if you’re in NYC.
Thanks for reading this edition of Design People! If you liked what you read, please consider sharing it with a friend 😄. If you know someone who’d be perfect to feature next, please let me know!
- Allison