What was your first impression of Layerise?

I knew I wanted to work here the moment I walked into the office. It wasn't just another boring office. People were conversing with one another, music was playing, and the atmosphere was alive! I was understandably nervous for my interview but that stress disappeared almost instantaneously.

Instead of having the typical sitting-in-a-stuffy-meeting-room-interview, we went for a walk to the nearby park. The conversation felt so natural like I was speaking to a friend, therefore I wasn't stressing or overthinking my responses, which allowed me to be my truest self. The following day I received a call from Ervin (CEO) and this conversation was also a pleasant surprise. We talked about the last book I read, my personality, and design. I was surprised about how out-of-the-box the last part of the hiring process was, which in my head was built up as the most stressful part. We had a great conversation and the rest is history.

How would you describe the Layerise journey so far?

When we changed offices, I was initially afraid that people's attitudes might change, and that we would become more estranged as the company grew. But it didn't happen that way; instead, I've noticed that people's motivation grows as the company evolves. Seeing Layerise’s progress makes me and those who have been with it a long time even more proud to be a part of its journey because you know you have not just been a passenger but an active contributor.

What is your role at Layerise and how has it evolved over time?

I began as a part-time Graphic Designer, creating article illustrations; however, my responsibilities grew more diverse and expanded over time. Now I work as a full-time Junior Product Designer. My knowledge and skill set had to be nurtured in order for this change to occur; they trusted me and gave me the time I needed to learn; as I gained confidence in my abilities, I was given more responsibility; and there's a lot more coming, and I couldn't be more excited.

What makes Layerise a great place to work at?

I like having a daily routine and come to the office every day; I become more energetic when working around people. In previous jobs, I had "total freedom to do whatever I wanted," which sounds nice in theory but translates into a lot of loneliness in practice. Finding motivation was difficult for me because I had no mentor and no connection with my coworkers. After few months of working, I was the same person as when I first arrived; there had been no huge growth.

In Layerise my growth is both expected and supported. I am being held to high standards while also being given responsibility and held accountable. There is faith in your abilities and skills. My manager has always been open to hearing me and understanding, what are the things that excite me in life, so he can integrate those things into my tasks. The knowledge that Layerise is interested into my professional, as well as personal growth, motivates me to a great extend.

What does an average day in Design look like?

When it comes to daily blog posts, I work on my own. After I have read the article, I decide on what is the best way to visualize this idea, I work the concept and design, and if I get stuck or need help, I seek advice and some design tips from my manager.

When it came to larger projects, such as our company value posters, having regular brainstorming sessions was a lot of fun. We would begin by having open conversations and comparing our ideas. I love it when my voice is heard and my creative opinion is seen as equal to my supervisor's; we are partners in the creative process, and so I am always encouraged to speak up and challenge his perspective also because that is where great things happen- when your worldview is challenged by a fresh perspective and ideas are discussed. Those are my favourite days because standing up with my own ideas, workshopping the designs, and deciding on the details give me a proper adrenaline rush and excitement.

How would you describe your coworkers?

They keep my daily life fun. This office is a place where can have a connection with anyone who works here and build different relationships.They are encouraging and supportive and different form one another in the best ways. My coworkers are the most fun people in the Friday bars, but at the same time very hardworking. 

People here love to be innovative and disruptive, so I would also describe them as open-minded and creative. There is always a fresh way to look at things, a new perspective, and that is something I've really taken advantage of while working here. They have played an important role in my development. For instance, I can sometimes get a bit stubborn and don't want to ask for help and do perfectly everything on my own, but every time I do it, and reach out, it does help me so much to hear a new perspective, so I keep on telling myself that that’s something I should overcome.

Any advice to young designers out there?

Keep an open mind; anything has the potential to inspire you. Whether it's the colour of your daily cup of coffee, a fallen leaf of an interesting shape, or a remark made by one of your coworkers during lunch time. You can even find inspiration in things you dislike. The things which make you annoyed or stressed- maybe that’s a path you simply haven’t tried it and there is a huge potential for inspiration and a new perspective. Find things you enjoy doing, things that keep you energized. Never stop exploring. I am very lucky to create designs for Layerise, as their visual identity is influenced by a design and architect movement I love- Memphis Design, which emerged in the 80’s. That means lots of colors, geometric shapes and patterns, which is someting I enjoy exploring even outside of work. 

Don't take the feedback about your design personally. You must be able to scrap your design, no matter how many hours you have spent on it and move on. Having multiple feedback sessions during your working process can help, but don't get too attached to the work. 

Consider whether you are comfortable being alone for long periods of time. During previous interviews, at other companies I applied at, I was told that my personality was too extroverted to work in the design field. But I’m too stubborn to listen to that, so I kept going, applying for more places to give it a try.

Afterwards, what I found out from my experience is that I love the balance of having some conversations during the day with my colleagues and then put in my ears my favourite music and get into “the zone”, and fully emerge myself in the flow of work and creativity. 

You get more confident and stable as a person also, having to brainstorm and execute tasks by yourself. You trust yourself more and more that you are able to this. Even if at the beginning you had no idea what the final design would look like. That’s the beauty of design- you need to go through many steps and experiment in different ways to move forward, and make something great at the end.