About Event

The job search has become increasingly challenging for product designers. With stiff competition and companies becoming more selective, what does this mean for designers actively seeking new roles?

​In this session, we’ll cover two key parts:

1. ​Portfolio Review: Our career coaches will provide actionable feedback on two designers’ portfolios. 

2. ​Q&A + Strategy Session: We’ll answer your burning questions and discuss strategies for turning your job search into a winning approach.

​If you'd like to submit your portfolio for review, please include your portfolio link (and password, if applicable), if applicable, on the registration form. We will randomly select two designers' portfolios to review during the session. The session will be recorded and may be uploaded to our social media channels.

​The Education Team

​Maryam Ndope

​Maryam is a seasoned UX designer at Apply Digital, specializing in accessibility and business strategy. As a mentor at ADPList and Liftyz and a former design educator at Dribbble, she is dedicated to guiding career changers in the design field.

​Before becoming a UX designer, Maryam worked as a microbiologist, where she developed strong problem-solving skills in research science that she now applies to her design projects.

​She enjoys collecting and savoring different teas, baking, and creating new recipes in her free time.

​​Kristina Volchek

Kristina is a Senior Product Designer and Mentor with a digital marketing background, previously working with Flooz and Sweatcoin. She believes great design should be both visually engaging and problem-solving, creating meaningful user experiences.

Since 2022, Kristina has taught UI and Product Design at Dribbble and mentored designers at Liftyz. Returning to freelancing in 2024, she now focuses on helping content creators and solopreneurs while also teaching at Growth Design School, where she brings her passion for impactful, community-driven design.

Janus Tiu

​Janus is a design lead in tech and a program lead at Liftyz. She has extensive experience designing B2B and B2C digital products for EA, BMW USA, Volvo, McKinsey, and BNY Mellon across multiple platforms. Having a cross-cultural background, I celebrate cultural differences in design for today's globalized world.

About Event

​During this webinar, Lorraine will present an evolving perspective on career development. She will share a framework aimed at assisting designers in their progression in both individual contributor and management tracks, from mid-level positions to senior roles, and beyond.

About the Speaker

Lorraine Liu, a seasoned leader in Product Design and Research with more than 15 years of experience.  Lorraine has held key designer and management positions across a range of industries, with roles at Flybits, Rogers, Fleet Complete, and Sony Mobile. She is specialized in building, scaling, and coaching design teams. Throughtout her career, she has overseen various UX teams in multiple regions across industries. In addition to her leadership roles, she mentors the next generation of designers and researchers and shares her wealth of experience.

About Event

​Join us for an insightful session where personal anecdotes and strategies for building strong relationships with key stakeholders will be shared:

• ​Learn effective collaboration techniques with managers, product specialists, PMs, and developers, especially valuable for those pioneering as the first UX designer in their team.

• ​Discover how to conduct impactful 1:1s with your manager, highlighting your UX design impact and distinguishing yourself in your role.

• ​Gain insights into fostering trust and respect among diverse roles as a UX designer, while championing UX principles within cross-functional teams.

About the Speaker

​Sajani Lokuge is a Senior UX Designer at IFS, specializing in enterprise asset management, aviation and defense design. She is revolutionizing the landscape of user experience at IFS by leading strategic initiatives to elevate the UX maturity of the organization. She has extensive experience collaborating with end-users and customers across diverse industries. Through meticulous user research, she dives deep into understanding user behavior and delivers impactful solutions tailored to user needs. Her unwavering dedication is driving IFS towards user-centric excellence.

​Sajani's Linkedin Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sajani-lokuge/

About Event

Join our live interactive, small-group workshop for product & UX designers, where you will:

• ​Learn the basics of accessibility and inclusive design

• ​Discover best practices for evaluating your design accessibility holistically with tools and frameworks

• ​Collaborate with other designers to apply these theories in practice

About the Speaker

The workshop will be hosted by Jiani Wang, who is a seasoned product designer at a fintech startup based in London. With a Master of Disability, Design, and Innovation from UCL, Jiani has spearheaded the accessibility audit for an NGO in London and boasts extensive experience in promoting inclusive design practices in the workplace. She's passionate about devising innovative solutions to ensure her designs meet the diverse needs of individuals with varying abilities.

About Event

Are you currently searching for a UX or product design job? Are you curious about how tech layoffs and the rise of AI have impacted the job market and how you should navigate these changes?

Join the career coaches and instructors from Liftyz in a virtual Q&A session. They are ready to answer your burning questions and help guide you in your strategy.

About the Panel:

Maryam Ndope

​Maryam is a seasoned UX designer at Apply Digital. Known for her innovative problem-solving skills, exceptional listening and mentorship abilities, and collaborative approach to design, Maryam has a proven track record of designing successful products in various sectors, including SaaS, B2B, healthcare, consumer goods, cybersecurity, and e-commerce. Before becoming a UX designer, she was a microbiologist.

​Kristina Volchek

​Kristina is a senior product designer and a design mentor/instructor at Gigantic, Dribbble, and Liftyz. Previously at Flooz and Sweatcoin. She believes that great design should not only look good but also solve real-world problems and create meaningful experiences. She is always on the lookout for new opportunities to learn, grow, and make a positive impact on the design community.

Embark on a journey to masterful communication with "Presenting Like a Pro," a dynamic workshop designed to transform your public speaking abilities.

This session is led by the accomplished Kristina Volchek, a Senior Product Designer and esteemed Career Coach at Liftyz. Join us and unlock the secrets to compelling presentations that resonate and inspire.

This lecture is intended for current students at the University of Waterloo. Janus is bringing us a special coaching session to our UX class, where she breaks down the UX design job interview process and timeline. She'll also share real interview questions and some actionable tips and tricks to help designers prepare for each type of interview.

Ever been curious about the life of a product designer in big tech? Join us for a heart-to-heart with industry gems: Lesley Wang from Microsoft, with past experiences at Shopify and Manulife, and Julia Wong, who adds her creative touch to Spotify and once influenced the Windows 11 design. Together, they'll share their journeys, their day-to-day lives, and the qualities tech giants look for when they hire designers.

Are you interested in becoming a Product/UX designer? If you've been considering a career in product/UX design but aren't sure where to start, we have an exciting event for you! Join us as we invite two seasoned product designers and career coaches from Liftyz to share their inspiring stories of breaking into the field and discuss the various paths to enter the product/UX industry in 2023.

Interested in learning more about Web3 and what it's like to design Web3 products? We invited our career coach and senior product designer, Kristina Volchek to share her wisdom with the community. In this webinar, she will be sharing:

-‍ A general explanation of Web3 & Crypto world
- What is the next biggest Web3 community goal
- What do you need to know about crypto as a designer
- How to get started in Web3 as a product/UX designer