She may be drawing her own cartoon fish characters but there is nothing fishy about Alexandra Stoyanova and her work at Devision. She knows exactly what it takes to make sure the users get optimal experience on their devices and she implements it ceaselessly as a UI/UX Designer. Alexandra is perfectly aware that the real measure of success is keeping your promises and getting the job done.
If you want to know more about Devision as a company, go on and read about her. She proudly represents some of our most fundamental values: finding your path, constantly growing, fulfilling your potential and then… growing some more.
What is your role at Devision?
As a UI/UX designer I usually take part in both the discovery phase and the early stages of development.
During pre-development I am engaged in collecting the required information on the project, the design interface elements and layouts. Then I illustrate those in wireframes, mockups or prototypes, depending on the needs and the scope of the project. My main job is to take away the tension between the users and the output that they experience on their devices.
When we begin development, I usually implement the basic structure of the application in HTML, CSS and JavaScript. This way I ensure that in the end my designs are displayed properly and the interactive touchpoints are applied correctly. This also accelerates the front-end development process, as the rest of the team can concentrate more on the functional implementation of the product.
Why did you join Devision and what has kept you here?
I’ve always been fascinated by human-computer interaction, so I began to learn HTML and CSS as a hobby. When I decided that I want to do this for a living, Devision gave me this opportunity, although I had no professional experience. They put their trust in me and gave me the chance to become the professional I am today.
I have been working here for 10 years now and during this time I was able to develop many skills as I went from QA to web design and front-end development. All the colleagues and the management team are great with me and have always been supportive and helpful. As the years passed, we have all grown as a team and that is what has been keeping us together.
In your opinion, what are the hallmark traits of a great UI/UX designer?
Empathy tops my list. The most important thing is to be able to step in other people’s shoes. In our field of work we have business owners, end users, developers and technology as fundamental factors and they could all have differing objectives.
Being empathetic in itself could lead to wrong assumptions though. So, another important trait is to be comfortable asking a lot of questions and be a good listener. A good understanding of the challenges and the needs of the project and the users is crucial when you have a problem to solve.
There are many others and the last one I’d like to mention is being good in handling criticism. We constantly receive feedback from different stakeholders and not all of it is positive. Some of the negative feedback can actually be constructive, so you should always take it into consideration and never take it personally.
How has Devision helped you in your career development?
Devision gave me a lot of freedom in my work. I’ve learned to plan efficiently my day and projects, but also made me more open to try new things – this gave me more control over my own work and development. The ability to change things around is an absolute must in order to continually get better at what I do and develop cutting edge skills.
Do you have any hobbies, go-to weekend activities, or long-term passion projects you’re working on?
Since my childhood days I have been a big PlayStation fan, so I dedicate most of my spare time to gaming. It does not sound very inspirational, I know, but it helps me to relax or pull myself together, depending on my needs. Moreover, I enjoy experiencing other people’s creative work and gaming is a great and interactive way to do that.
I also enjoy drawing my cartoon fish characters, when I have the chance. I love real animals too and it helps balance out the digital life that my Jack Russell Terriers considerately take me out for long walks in the urban nature.
What’s your next step or a few goals you’d like to accomplish in life or while with Devision?
Doing different things and discovering more skills that would fit me best.
How do you define success in life?
Success is all about keeping the promises you’ve made to yourself and to others.
Do you recall any embarrassing fun moment at work?
Those moments happen regularly at our office. On every birthday the entire team would gather to congratulate the birthday boy/girl. Somehow, I always happen to be the only one doing the goofy singing and dancing.
Do you have an office nickname? What is it?
Yes, many – Mando, Dinosaur, Shorty, Sashi, Ali, etc. Basically, my colleagues are very smart and fun and they constantly come up with new ones. Not all of them are self-explanatory, but I appreciate the meaning and the person behind each one.
What’s your favorite line from a movie?
“This is the Way!” – The Mandalorian
Get in touch with Alexandra and her peers at Devision
We are proud to have Alexandra as a UI/UX Designer because she epitomizes the creative spark of our company and the ambition to develop constantly.
Find the answers of all the questions that interest you by getting in touch with Alexandra and the rest of our custom software development team. Connect with us and mutual success will be one step closer.