Silvia is the most demanding app user in the world, as an expert in UX and as a web designer, she knows what works and what does not and expresses it with the creative experience of a doctor in communication. We interviewed our web designer and UX, Silvia Polo, to discover her tricks and tips at work. Get to know her!
1.- What do you love about Wave?
What I like the most about Wave is being able to work on an innovative project that shapes the needs of the market and having the chance to see the company grow little by little, expanding the team and improving the product.
2.- You joined Wave in its earliest stage, how has your design evolved since then?
I come from an advertising agency. Although I had worked in a digital consultancy, I had not been involved in UX so much until I joined Wave, three years and a half ago. Since then, I have taken care of the design of UX and I have gotten fully into this world, while I have developed myself as a web designer. We all have been working step by step to understand the user and to develop the product in the best way possible.
3.- As a designer you impregnate the look and feel of Wave in all your designs in different formats and styles, so what are your tips to not lose this vision when innovating?
Well, above all, I know well who Wave’s target audience is and what are the design standards that we set ourselves at the beginning. Therefore, I try to maintain them while I set a young tone and I follow the current design trends. Besides, I always take in consideration our branding and make sure that we are not repeating ourselves so we don´t lose the users.
4.- What values of Wave do you use to create designs that connect with your audience?
Wave is an app that helps people to meet so they can be together, that’s why we focus on this concept a lot, and we bring up the concept of closeness, of being together, of going out to do things, to do sports or to enjoy a friendship. We especially try to use a carefree, young voice that can connects with our users.
5.- What trends do you find interesting in the field of lifestyle applications such as Wave?
Well, I see especially important the immediacy and the need to be connected at all times. What surprises me is that knowing this, there are still many apps that are not able to give the necessary tools and features to help users in their day to day. This is something that makes Wave stands out from others.
6.- Which part of the design process do you enjoy the most?
Well, for example, I really like the wireframe part, when step by step I start painting the application from some sketches. It is fascinating to see how something that was a doodling in a notebook ends up being a logical and attractive product. I love trying different styles, always within our guidelines, to see how we can innovate through design.
7.- How do you keep yourself fresh?
This is a profession in which you have to be up-to-date and I mean it literally. Every day new products, applications, websites, videos come out. We are hyperconnected and the startup world is very trendy and moves so fast. I read a lot, I’m into many newspapers and blogs, I follow designers to see what they are doing, I dive into a couple of social networks about creative work, especially to know what is being done to professional level in web design and UX.
I believe that is very important to keep myself informed of what is happening, not only at the UX level, but at everything related to creativity: advertising, art, podcasts, books, series… All of these sources are a great visual library to search for inspiration.
8.- You are a communication doctor and an expert in web and UX design, what inspires you the most to be part of a team like Wave?
My doctoral thesis was about advertising and creativity in social networks at the time that I was working on Wave. I was designing campaigns, so I was able to transfer part of my experience to my studies and enhance my experience.
What also inspires me on Wave is being surrounded by a large team of professionals from whom I can learn about areas that I do not control directly and I can take that knowledge both to work and to my personal life.
9.- Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
Aww, that is a very difficult question. I see myself working on the most innovative project of geolocation of the moment, I see that Wave will have evolved a lot. Hopefully, I will continue to be part of a team that grows every day and that is focused on goals that matter.
Pablo Clemente Pérez 