One of the most concrete ways users experience a modern startup is through the design of the app itself. Small choices in design and implementation can sway a user from becoming a fan or never opening the app again. Our guest today is Robin Rotman, Director of Design and Founder of ARE TOO, a design agency that focuses on UX/UI and Branding.
About Robin Rotman:
Robin Rotman is the Design Director and Founder of ARE TOO. She previously worked at Atlassian on the Trello team. Prior to that, she was at GrubHub Agency, where she started as a Visual Designer and ultimately became their Lead Product Designer and Developer. Designing and developing their core product offerings such as the home screen native app navigation, the Agency web SDK, branded email campaigns, and more.
She graduated from Boston University with a BS in advertising.
In this episode we discuss:
(01:28) Robin’s path to opening ARE TOO
(05:02) Why she decided to focus on Product Development and Design
(06:51) How remote is impacting creative work and collaboration
(08:22) What she took from her time at GrubHub Agency
(10:14) The role of the GrubHub Agency
(11:39) How Sweetgreen used her platform
(12:29) What it was like working on Trello at Atlassian
(14:35) Issues she faced at Atlassian
(18:00) Are there ever bad signals from users you should ignore?
(20:25) MVPs for individual features within an app or experience
(21:52) Why she started ARE TOO
(24:20) Robin’s process for developing brand identities and apps
(26:26) The role of data in the design process
(28:56) Balancing form and function of apps
(31:22) Robin’s experience being lecturer at her alma mater Boston University
(33:13) Advice to aspiring product designers
(34:48) Does she recommend college
(36:59) The longterm vision for ARE TOO
Fast Favorites
🎙- Favorite Podcast: Dear Gabby
📰- Favorite Newsletter /Blog: Reformation
📲- Favorite Tech Gadget: Tesla
📈- Favorite New Trend: Going back to maximalism to logos
📚- Favorite Book: The Giver
🤔- Favorite Life Lesson: So much can be accomplished to give space to choose again, Do your best to leave people better than you found them
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Unlocking User Value with Robin Rotman of ARE TOO Design