Summary
Let's talk about design careers--and about doing design work under the influence of just the right amount of caffeine. These Compass design leaders guide you through a discussion of a day in the life of product designers at a fast-growing enterprise. And they'll also talk about their journeys getting there. Hear about design and career opportunities in a technology company that is bringing meaningful disruption to real estate. See what it's like to design beautiful productivity tools for real estate agents and an industry that seems to thrive on complexity. Get insight into how your own career path is reflected in the many paths that lead to good product design.
Key Insights
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Compass agents provide brutally honest and vocal feedback, enabling precise user-driven design.
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Working on the listings team involves complex backend data integration requiring delicate UI presentation.
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The design system team navigates multiple stakeholders and platforms (web, iOS, Android) to maintain consistent design principles.
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Real estate agents exhibit a range of tech preferences, from pen-and-paper to advanced digital tools, demanding flexible design solutions.
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Compass strongly supports internal career transitions, demonstrated by Amina's rapid move from content strategist to product designer.
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Designers at Compass come from diverse backgrounds including marketing, film, architecture, and more.
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The startup environment at Compass offers faster pace and greater opportunity to push ideas compared to larger companies like IBM.
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Leadership at Compass emphasizes both career development and personal well-being with creative culture initiatives.
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Open, supportive team culture reduces imposter syndrome, with designers freely sharing feedback and mentorship.
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No meeting Fridays and controlled meeting loads support heads-down work and reduce burnout.
Notable Quotes
"I’m like a dinosaur at Compass because I’ve been here three and a half years which is long around here."
"Our agents are so honest and brutal with feedback, which I love because we don’t have to pull the truth out of them."
"On the listings team, accuracy and speed of update is paramount because agents rely on the data for their bottom line."
"Working with other product designers as stakeholders lets you get to the point really quickly."
"A lot of our agents still use pen and paper, which is our main competitor when designing task and CRM features."
"Compass supported my career transition from content strategist to product designer in just one month."
"Architecture is like the original UX because it teaches you about user experience through spatial design."
"At IBM, I felt like I was following a script; at Compass, I get to promote my ideas and see how they work."
"Design leadership here cares deeply about personal health and growth, not just career milestones."
"Imposter syndrome is real but talking about it openly with mentors and peers helps a lot."
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