Mindset is everything, because mindset allows you to explore your interests, experiment with your career and take bold decisions without worrying about failures !

Aishwarya Subramanian, our next pathbreaker, UX/UI Designer, designs digital products that enhance usability, functionality, and aesthetics.

Aishwarya talks to Shyam Krishnamurthy from The Interview Portal about starting her career in Product Design, focusing on home appliances & sustainable design, doing a Diploma in Baking & Pastry Arts, and transitioning from the comfort of an air-conditioned design studio to the bustling heat of a professional kitchen.

For students, your career trajectory is defined by the decisions you make and the risks you take to accomplish them !

Aishwarya, Your background?

Greetings! I hail from Chennai. My father oversees a monitor business, while my mother manages an art center and has her own venture dedicated to Tanjore painting.

From a young age, my affinity for the arts was evident. I learned classical Carnatic music and Bharatanatyam. I continue to pursue Bharatanatyam regularly.

I attended a school that nurtured holistic development and gave us the freedom to make our own choices and follow our interests. During my 11th and 12th standard years, my school offered the flexibility to choose four subjects from science, commerce, and humanities. I opted for two humanities subjects—art and home science—and two commerce subjects—accountancy and business studies.

Reflecting on those formative years, my passion for art evolved into a fascination with Product Design. Simultaneously, my interest in home science laid the foundation for my culinary pursuits in later years.

What did you do for graduation/post graduation?

I decided to pursue a three year Diploma in Product Design from NAFA – Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, Singapore and subsequently went on to pursue the add-on degree program -BA (Hons) from Loughborough University,UK in 3D Design. I also did a Diploma in Baking & Pastry Arts/Baker/Pastry Chef from Lavonne Academy of Baking Science & Pastry Arts, Bangalore.

I pursued an Internship during my second year of studies and was actively involved in college volunteering activities.

What were some of the drivers that influenced you to pursue a career in Design?

During a career counseling session at my school, the counselor helped narrow down two courses for me.

Faced with a decision between two paths, I found myself torn between Product Design and Hotel Management (Culinary). On the one hand, my passion for crafting products using various materials and creating functional designs appealed to me. On the other hand, my love for cooking, nurtured since a young age with inspiration from MasterChef Australia, tugged at my interests.

To gain clarity, I sought advice from someone who had pursued studies in a hotel management institute. She shared that while she enjoyed the course, the profession demanded physical endurance. Doing it as a career was distinct from occasional cooking for pleasure. She emphasized the challenging, long working hours and the gradual climb to a top position in a kitchen, unless you opened your own venture.

After thorough research and considering these insights, I opted for the Product Design course in Singapore. I decided to have a degree in design and gain some experience in this field and later on if I ever wanted I could try the culinary field. That way, I would always have something to fall back on if things didn’t go according to plan. 

It proved to be a fascinating journey, especially as I had the opportunity to study abroad and explore Asian design sensibilities. My classmates hailed from Indonesia, China, and Singapore. The first year provided a broad overview, covering disciplines like Jewellery Design, Product Design, and Spatial Design. Moving into the second year, we could specialize, and I chose to stick with Product Design. This involved delving into tools of the trade, including woodworking, material exploration, industrial design processes, and design thinking.

Tell us about your career path

In my second year of studies, I embarked on my first internship at a studio dedicated to fostering children’s innovation and creativity through play. Our focus was on designing games and engaging activities for kids. We organized events aimed at teaching children the fundamentals of electronics, enabling them to create their own circuits, among other interactive experiences. In this dynamic environment, I not only worked directly with children but also gained invaluable insights behind the scenes as we developed these educational and creative activities.

Post my graduation, I returned to India and was keen to do an internship at a design studio here. I applied to a few and went ahead with a multidisciplinary design studio, Foley Designs, based in Bangalore. Post an interview round, I got a six-month internship offer.

During this internship, I collaborated closely with their team to establish an in-house jewellery brand from its inception. This experience provided me with valuable insights into the comprehensive process of building a brand beyond the creative aspect. I delved into manufacturing processes, visited vendors involved in crafting the pieces, and gained an understanding of the intricacies of polishing.

Moreover, I was given the exciting opportunity to generate ideas for upcoming collections, exploring the use of diverse materials and prototyping the designs. As my internship drew to a close, I worked closely with the quality control team, gaining a thorough understanding of the metrics against which each jewellery piece is meticulously examined.

Following my internship, I was extended a full-time position at this design studio as an Industrial Designer

I started my journey with the Innovations Team. This team focused on R&D and introducing new products into the market. We also worked on a few client projects. The work done here was exciting and new. Every project brought with it its challenges within which we had to innovate. One of my initial projects was to build a toaster that would allow for toasting bread horizontally. Many prototypes later, we finally had a POC – Proof of Concept. 

I remained at this company for 5 years and 10 months after which I pursued my one year personal break in culinary. Alongside design, I also started my food blog – The Recipe Lab, to publish my recipes. 

What prompted you to get back to your early interests in cooking?

With a lingering interest in culinary arts, I decided to take the plunge. This decision materialized just after the COVID pandemic when I felt it was the opportune moment to explore this passion. Aware that not trying would be a regret later in life, I enrolled in one of the top Pastry Arts and Baking schools in Bangalore, Lavonne Academy of Baking Science & Pastry Arts, committing to a rigorous six-month diploma. Upon completion, I would earn a Diploma in Baking & Pastry Arts/Baker/Pastry Chef.

The course proved to be intense but immensely enjoyable. I cherished every moment as we delved into creating exquisite pastries and breads, experimenting with intriguing flavor combinations. Eager to bridge the gap between academic knowledge and practical experience, I pursued an internship in the field. The opportunity led me to a recently opened restaurant (Lupa, Bangalore), by a celebrity chef, offering a wonderful yet eye-opening experience. Despite the long days and absence of weekends, I embraced new challenges, swiftly transitioning from the comfort of an air-conditioned design studio to the bustling heat of a professional kitchen.

With prior professional experience in design, I made the decision to return to the field. Recognizing the evolving landscape, I proactively transitioned into the UI/UX (User Interaction/User Experience), shifting from designing physical products to digital products. While not a major transition, it is a fairly common shift in the design landscape.

However, I acknowledged the need for specialized UX tools and research methods, prompting me to pursue further education at IIIT, Bangalore. 

How did you get your first break?

I firmly believe that, for any designer, the portfolio holds greater significance than the resume alone. Although the educational background, including the institution you attended, is not to be understated, the portfolio carries substantial weight. In the creative realm, hiring managers and senior designers evaluate your capabilities based on the work you’ve executed, scrutinizing its alignment with their specific requirements and expectations. The portfolio becomes a visual narrative of your skills and creative achievements, speaking volumes about your proficiency and suitability for the role

I would consider my Internship at Bangalore to be my first break. I sent in my portfolio and was given an offer subsequently. I stayed at this company for 5 years and 10 months after which I pursued my one year personal break in culinary. 

What were some of the challenges you faced? How did you address them?

Challenge 1 – Finding a Job

Post my graduation, I was looking to apply for jobs directly as a fresher. In my experience, I have found that instead of searching for a job right after you graduate it’s wise to do an internship with the company you’re looking to work with and then prove your worth and secure a job. 

Challenge 2 – Career Transition

Many times in life, things don’t go as planned – and that’s okay. While initially leaving the field of design to pursue my passion for culinary arts, I believed it would be a lifelong pursuit. However, after gaining work experience, my perspective shifted. I made the decision to professionally pursue being a chef.  Anytime you choose to make big changes in your career, have a plan and a solid foundation you can fall upon if things don’t work out as you expected it to.

Where do you work now?

I am currently finishing up my UI/UX specialization course and excited to join the industry again. What I enjoy is, design is an ever-evolving field. Product designers have the opportunity to stay on the cutting edge of technology and design trends, ensuring a continuous learning journey throughout their careers. Moreover, I have the opportunity to unleash my creativity and contribute to innovative solutions. 

The process of designing a product starts with the 5W1H – What, Who, Where, When, Why and How. It’s important to understand who you’re designing for. What the user’s needs and goals are? After thorough research, you start to brainstorm ideas keeping the user’s needs in mind. Post this, you sketch rough ideas and build mock-ups and prototypes. Design is an iterative journey – you keep going back and forth modifying and tweaking along the way. The last step is to test. Test with the user, get feedback and insights and build them into the product. Every designer may have their own design thinking approach, but broadly this is what is followed. This laid a solid foundation in the career transition that was to come from Industrial Design to User Experience Design, seven years later. 

How does your work benefit society? 

Product designers shape the tangible and digital products people use every day. Designing products that enhance usability, functionality, and aesthetics can significantly impact and improve the daily lives of users. We are problem solvers. We identify challenges in the world and develop tangible solutions, addressing issues ranging from usability to sustainability. Well-designed products often have a global reach, impacting users across different cultures and regions. 

Tell us an example of a specific memorable work you did that is very close to you!

There is one project that stands out – I worked on a material exploration and research project where I was developing an alternative to polypropylene plastic, heavily used in packaging of FMCG goods. This involved developing numerous bioplastic samples to use in industrial processes to manufacture sustainable design solutions. We aimed to develop a material similar to plastic sheets but made from natural sources.

Our R&D process of making these samples included the use of a combination of a starch, acid, plasticizer, and solvent. 

This project holds a special place in my memory due to its meaningful intent. Prioritizing sustainability in design is crucial, ensuring the creation of ethical products that have a tangible and positive impact on the real world. 

Your advice to students based on your experience?

Make sure whatever path you choose, you grow. Learn, explore and experiment. When you’re reaching a point of no growth, when it’s getting stagnant and saturated, explore other avenues. Secondly, make sure you love what you do. You have passion for it and want to pursue a particular course/career. And lastly, always have a back-up plan/contingency plan. This is useful to pick yourself up and get moving again. It is crucial for navigating the uncertainties of life, providing adaptability, reducing stress, and fostering personal and professional development. 

Future Plans?

I enjoy being a UI/UX Designer. My immediate future involves settling down back into design and hoping to still pursue my culinary interest in the form of posting recipes on my food blog and continually doing food photography and styling. I also want to design free resources and put them out in the public domain for other designers to use.