Product Design: Why Good Design is Good Business

In modern technology companies, the Product Designer is an exciting, central and ever-evolving role. Product Designers identify, investigate and validate the real problem solved by a product. They craft, design, test and ship solutions. They understand users problems and goals, and help uncover the solutions that customers want. They have a good grasp on the business value behind decisions. They’re constantly informed by data, using research to confirm their assumptions and measure success through engagement metrics. The role of Product Designer is way more complex than “making things pretty” - they’re champions and curators of excellence in user experience.

This month, we’ve invited two awesome speakers to help us get excited and curious about the role of Product Design in building top notch software.

Introducing our November speakers:

Huda Idrees - Head of Product & Design, Wealthsimple

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Huda is a problem-solver with a passion for efficiency. She has a background in Human Factors Engineering from the University of Toronto and lives to build products people love. Before coming to Wealthsimple, Huda jump-started the design team at Wattpad and led the invoicing and accounting products at Wave Accounting.

What role does design play in the world of business? Huda will talk about the foundational importance of design in driving success and growth for businesses of all shapes and sizes.

Fatima Remtullah - Agile User Experience Designer/Developer, Rangle.io

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Fatima is a technology enthusiast on a journey to positively empower users. She strives to create a synergy between design and development throughout her process. Fatima holds a B.A. from the University of Waterloo, and pursued post-graduate studies at Sheridan College in Interactive Media and Web Design. Her specialization in Business and Technology at the University of Waterloo sparked her interest to further explore how user experience can impact individuals and society as a whole.

Designing With Diversity: The Designers Role on Agile Projects
In this talk, Fatima will walk through the adaptable and flexible world of being a designer on an Agile team working with an array of clients. She will discuss rapid prototyping in a Scrum environment, where to draw the line or push for features, and the importance of user insights and how they drive product development.

SYPA (Stuff You'll Probably Ask):

You: What time do the presentations start?

Us: Doors open at 6:30pm and we begin the talks at 7:00pm. Before and after the talks, there are opportunities for conversations, and the enjoyment of refreshments and hors d'oeuvres.

You: Hors d'oeuvres, you say? Is there dinner?

Us: We always organize food and beverages for everyone, be it sandwiches or hot appetizers. Come hungry.

You: Are guys allowed to come?

Us: Yes. Our group is accessible to all women and men while maintaining a strong support for women in technology.

You: Why the $10 fee?

Us: All monies collected go directly to bringing you a top tier experience with notable speakers each month. Some months we get help with sponsorship and others months we do not, so the small fee balances out over the year and ensures that the events can continue to grow. Food and refreshments are provided each month and vary based on the venue. Your $10 directly goes towards covering the costs of food, drinks, hosting of our web spaces and other costs incurred to run events. We are a non-profit group run by volunteer organizers and we do not make money through this group.

You: Are you taking pictures at the event?

Us: Please note that we may take photographs or videos of the event, including attendees, individually or in groups. These photos or videos may appear in future publications, on our website, social media channels, or other promotions. By participating in the event, attendees consent to have their photograph taken or for any video to be recorded and subsequently shown.