Alessio Schettino

Where are you based as a UX/UI designer?

My UX/UI design job is remote, but I'm based in Milano for most of the year. During summertime I move to Sperlonga––a small town with a wonderful beach, where my farm is located––and work from there.

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What led you into UX/UI design?

I'm still a rookie in UX/UI design since my first approach was in 2020, when I was building the website for my holiday farm. Then I jumped into this fantastic world and decided to switch my career. It was not easy, as I needed to change my mindset. However, hard work always pays off, but I have to say that I would never achieved my goal without the support and help received from my friends and enthusiastic designers (who I can call them friends too) met around the community.

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Why are you a UX/UI designer?

I love to solve problems, no matter if they're not related to digital products. It's challenging sometimes (that's the fun part, actually), but it makes you feel super proud at the end.

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What does a typical day look like for you?

My habits have sensibly changed during the pandemic, and this let me appreciate way more the time spent with family and friends. When I'm in Milano, I spend most of the day at home, working at my desk. However, evenings are always filled with friends coming to my place (legally, of course) or, vice versa, me and my girlfriend invade our friends' homes to spend fun time together.

When I'm in Sperlonga my typical day is completely different, since I live in a farm. Most of the day is spent working at the desk, but after that, I dedicate lots of energy to gardening. It's tough sometimes, but it is more relaxing that I expected. During the weekends, I go to the beach and try to refresh my mind for the upcoming week.

What is your current desk setup?

Super minimal and clean: only my laptop, a small notebook, and my massive headphones, perfect for listening to music while working.

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And your Workstation setup across devices?

I try to keep it clean as my desk. Unfortunately, I cannot deal with notifications popping up anytime.

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What work are you most proud of?

I'm still a rookie, and I haven't much project in my portfolio yet. However, I'd say that my very first small redesign is my favorite because it allowed me to be admitted at my first Product Design academy. I did many mistakes and it's surely not perfect, but I can consider it my very first brick of my design career, and I'm so proud of it.

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Which Product recently blew your socks off?

I discovered Notion recently and it completely changed my life. No app or tool has ever captivated me as the versatility of Notion has. Since discovering it, Notion is always present in my workflow.

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

I'd say that the biggest challenges are procrastination, laziness, and being unproductive. Focusing can be hard, and it's crucial to understand when it's time to take a rest and unwind.

From my short experience working in UX/UI Design, I can say that challenges are always jumping on the table: new features to implement in a product, new tools to use, new deadlines to respect and so many others. But that's what makes it so fun, am I right?

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What tunes do you listen to whilst designing?

When I'm working, I usually listen at chill-out music. Sometimes only alpha waves help me to focus on my work.

However, I listen many different genres depending on the daily mood. Recently I'm into indie and funk. Sometimes I need a wake up call, so I raise the volume and put some rock vibes, such as Metallica, Aerosmith, Queen or Led Zeppelin.

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Three suggestions for budding designers?

1. Don't be afraid of asking for feedback. Feedbacks are crucial for a designer, and the more you ask, the faster you will grow. Nobody is perfect, and there is no reason to be worried about failures. You will stop making some mistakes and new ones will occur––it's a never ending loop, but it's the iterative process of improvement 😉
2. Contribute to your growth every day. Even a small step on a daily basis will contribute to big improvements in the long run. Reading an article or a page of a book, watching a video tutorial, or just chatting with someone who inspires you will boost your personal growth.
3. Be curious. Everything, even if doesn't seem related to design, may be an input for understanding people, needs, and pains. Being open to new experiences, talking with strangers, or even trying new food can enrich you first as a person, and consequently as a designer.