Devlin Cousins

Where are you based as a UX/UI designer?

I'm not exactly a UX/UI designer but I have an academic UX/UI design background. I am based in Canada — Elliot Lake is my hometown, but I am constantly moving around Canada.

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What led you to UX/UI design?

I immersed myself in UX/UI during my time at the University of Waterloo while I was studying Global Business and Digital Arts. I fell in love with the power of feedback and how we, as designers, can help make the world more inclusive.

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Why are you a UX/UI designer?

I do a fair amount of UX/UI design, but I would say I am more of a UX Facilitator & Strategist. I would say my main reason for this is to help others and understand people better.

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What does a typical day look like for you?

Every day is different for me, but a rough outline would be...

1. Wake up 🥱
2. Brush my teeth 🪥
3. Workout with my FitBod app 💪
4. Meditate 🧘🏻‍♂️
5. Breakfast (normally some type of cereal) 🥣
6. Work 😬
7. Lunch 🥕
8. Work 😬
9. Dinner 🍎
10. Relax & listen to podcasts 🎧
11. Brush my teeth 🪥
12. Sleep 😴

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What is your current desk setup?

1. Stream deck
2. Maono USB Mic
3. Cintiq 16
4. Late 2013 Macbook Pro 15 inch with Retina Display (I hope to be upgrading soon)
5. Apple Magic Trackpad 2
6. Dygma Raise with Kailh Silent Brown Switches
7. Skullcandy Crusher Evo Headphones
8. Elgato Green Screen
9. Two - Neewer Softboxes

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And your Workstation setup across devices?

My workstation set-up is always changing.

What work are you most proud of?

I am most proud of the SKATE app that I created with a group of 12 students in the third year of my Global Business and Digital Arts program at the University of Waterloo. I was able to hone my project management skills and learned how to confront inherent biases about users. It also helped me put my skills attained from Memorisely's UX/UI Bootcamp and Design System Bootcamp.

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Which Product recently blew your socks off?

Volley is an amazing alternative to traditional meetings and is a great supplement or replacement for Slack. The Founder, Josh, is super nice and the platform is very fun to use. It also works great for people trying to schedule meetings in multiple time zones because you can answer whenever you have time to answer.

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What challenges do you face as a UX/UI Designer?

The hardest part about working in the UX/UI field is not speaking up during a usability test. It can be so hard to sit and watch a person try and complete task using your prototype without giving away the solutions.

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What tunes do you listen to whilst designing?

I love listening to lo-fi beats and soft instrumentals as it helps keep me focused.

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Three suggestions for budding designers?

1. Join Memorisely — it will help build your network and you can make amazing new friends that will last a lifetime.
2. Document your process well.
3. Don't make assumptions about users before talking to them.

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