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Meredith Johnstone's journey from a studio art major to the Director of Product Design at Alation is a testament to the power of following one's interests and embracing unexpected opportunities.
A Winding Road to Product Design
Meredith's career path was far from linear. She began as a studio art major at the University of Iowa in 2008, initially torn between computer science and art. Quickly realizing that she wasn't cut out for a traditional artist's life, Meredith added psychology as a second major, drawn to its scientific approach.
Her curiosity led her to join a research lab as a freshman, where she worked on speech perception studies using eye-tracking technology. This experience, combined with a fortuitous internship at Fidelity Investments, introduced Meredith to the world of usability research and user experience (UX) design.
Academic Pursuits and Early Career Moves
Transferring to the University of Edinburgh, Meredith focused on cognitive psychology, seeing its potential applications in UX design. After graduation, her path took several unexpected turns:
- A brief stint in sales (thwarted by visa issues)
- Returning to the U.S. to work as a waitress
- Finally landing her first job as a UX designer
The Versatility of Skills in Product Design
Meredith's diverse background highlights a crucial point for aspiring professionals: skills from various fields can be applied to new careers. She shares that her current team at Alation includes designers with degrees ranging from English Literature to Neuroscience, illustrating that there's no single "correct" path to a career in product design.
Life at B2B SaaS Startups
Meredith has spent most of her career at three different B2B (business-to-business) SaaS (Software as a Service) companies, each with about 100 employees when she joined. She outlines the pros and cons of working in such environments:
Advantages:
- High autonomy
- Low bureaucracy
- Opportunities for career growth
- Tight-knit company culture
- Easier alignment with personal values
Challenges:
- Less direction and structure
- Diverse responsibilities beyond job description
- Rapid decision-making with potential for mistakes
- Company growth tied to individual growth opportunities
- High visibility of both successes and failures
The Role of a Product Designer
As a UX generalist, Johnstone's work encompasses various aspects of product design:
- Problem Discovery (20%): Identifying issues that data analysts face in their work lives.
- Alignment and Realignment (40%): Collaborating with product and engineering teams to define problems and scope solutions.
- Solutioning (40%): Wireframing, prototyping, and iterating on designs based on user testing and engineering constraints.
Meredith's journey from studio art to product design illustrates the importance of embracing diverse experiences and being open to unexpected career paths. Her story demonstrates that with curiosity, adaptability, and a willingness to seize opportunities, one can build a successful career in the dynamic field of product design.