Name: Shane O'Neill
Role: Product designer, Bazaarvoice
What does your typical day look like?
Well, we use a combination of Jira and Notion to plan and manage our workload, so typically I start from there. I work closely with the Product Manager and front-end developers, so if I need any more information I just reach out to those guys on Slack or in the office. The majority of my day is spent in Figma, designing flows, putting together prototypes and maintaining a design system.
What are you currently working on?
Currently, I'm working on improving the user experience on a part of our UGC app, Influenster.
What inspired you to join this company in particular?
Having worked for agencies and start-ups in the past, I wanted to work somewhere more established with processes already defined. There is a big emphasis on learning at BV and we are given the autonomy and space to do so, which was super appealing to me. I’m also surrounded by very talented people, who motivate and inspire me on a daily basis.
Did you always want to work in this industry (tech)?
I always wanted to work in Design in some shape or form and I was fascinated with computers and tech from the very beginning, so it was a natural fit to end up as a product designer for an app.
What’s your favourite part about your work?
Every day is different, it’s a constantly changing landscape. I enjoy learning new skills and working with talented people.
What would you say to other people considering a job in this industry (tech)?
How do you see this technology impacting our lives? It's a no brainer, as technology progresses it touches more and more parts of our lives - legacy industries are starting to change and evolve due to software advancements, if you wanna stay ahead and become part of the change, I feel a career in tech is the only way to do that.
Who inspired you to work in this field?
To be honest, I wasn't aware of any tech or design “heroes” growing up. I left secondary school in 5th year to study software development at a local technical college. It was actually my mum who convinced me to do so. It wasn't until I started university I got to learn all about those spaces and the key players within them. Discovering and learning at that level, as well as seeing what my peers were doing inspired me to pursue a career in tech and design, and ultimately led me to where I am today.
What do you consider to be the most important tech innovation or development in recent years?
For me it’s AI, specifically, GTP3 which can generate realistic human text breaking down the interaction barriers between humans and machines (think of the OS in the film Her 2013.) I think the possibilities and application of AI is going to be the next big shift in our lifetime, and will change the way we work, interact, design and build software in the future.
What tech gadget could you not live without?
Smartphones are the obvious choice, but I'll opt for my Airpods. The new pro 2's are a bit pricey, but considering I wear them 90% of the time I'm working they are well worth the investment. Active noise cancellation and transparency mode are a game changer for me, especially with Zoom calls. They connect with no issues and get out of my way, just like good design should do
