Wahi @ Work : Veronica Vasquez

1. Give us the 30-second elevator pitch about what you do at Wahi.

Think of the product team as mapmakers, carefully crafting the user experience journey on the app and website. My role at Wahi leans more towards the aesthetic side, how each screen is going to look. I take care of the smaller details, the ones that make the experience crafted by the product team stand out.

2. How and why did you get into your industry?

I worked for 10+ years in advertising as an art director. When ads decided to jump ship to social media, I stumbled onto UI (user interface) UX (user experience) design, which aims to create a more engaging experience with a product. Shifting gears from the traditional “sell it with a campaign” approach was a real challenge at first. No more flashy campaigns; now, it’s all about letting the product do the talking. I find that pretty fascinating.

3. What do you love most about your job?

What really gets me excited is connecting directly with the user. A product is this dynamic entity, always evolving to suit each user’s needs. Think of it like those mapmakers I mentioned. I’m fascinated by how each user takes hold of this “map” and embarks on their unique journey. It’s like giving everyone the same map, but watching each person choose their own adventure.

4. What does your typical day look like?

My day is spent working on small or medium sized improvements, helping the senior product designers with how the different user interfaces might look, and presenting solutions to problems. I also work on improving our design system and keeping it updated.

5. What podcast are you currently listening to?

I love the podcast Creative Pep Talk hosted by Andy J. Pizza. Since we are problem solvers, I like to learn about how different creative types from different [industries] try to solve problems.

6. Do you have any advice for people who want to be a product designer?

Be curious, ask questions, and get to know the user. There is a phrase by the 19th century British textile designer William Morris that I really like that has helped me as a designer: “Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.”