My Journey
I'm a 26-year-old curious, trilingual lifelong student of design thinking, raised in an academic family of engineers. My path to product design has been anything but linear.
With a background in computer engineering, I spent years building systems at The Linux Foundation as a Google Summer of Code contributor and working with tech startups as a DevOps engineer. I built secure OTA update systems, architected cloud infrastructure, and automated deployment pipelines. The technical challenges were fascinating, but I found myself increasingly drawn to a different question: Why?
Why did users struggle with certain interfaces? Why did technically perfect products fail to gain adoption? Why were we building features that nobody asked for? These questions led me to pursue a Master's in Engineering Design with a specialization in Product Design at McMaster University.
2016-2020
Bachelor of Computer Engineering
Mumbai University - Foundation in engineering principles and systems thinking
2020 & 2022
Google Summer of Code - The Linux Foundation
Contributed to Automotive Grade Linux and Uptane projects. Built cloud-native systems and secure OTA update platforms under mentorship of Linux Foundation hackers.
2021-2022
DevOps Engineer - Multiple Tech Startups
Architected infrastructure and deployment systems for Resurface Labs, Rug Pull Index, and Tattle. Managed Kubernetes clusters, built CI/CD pipelines, and implemented security monitoring systems.
2023-2024
Master of Engineering Design - McMaster University
Specializing in Product Design. Studied Human Centered Design, Design Thinking, IoT/IIoT, and Manufacturing Systems. Completed projects ranging from digital health platforms to physical product prototyping.
This journey taught me that the best products emerge when you understand both what users need and what's technically possible. I'm not an engineer pretending to be a designer—I'm a designer with superpowers.
Design Philosophy
"The best solutions emerge when you deeply understand not just what users want, but what they fear, and bridge that with what's technically possible."
I believe:
- Empathy drives innovation. Understanding user fears and pain points is as important as understanding their desires.
- Constraints spark creativity. Technical limitations, manufacturing realities, and budget constraints aren't barriers—they're design parameters that lead to elegant solutions.
- Process matters. Good design isn't about the final mockup—it's about the research, iteration, testing, and learning that gets you there.
- Design is a team sport. The best work happens when designers, engineers, and stakeholders collaborate from day one.
What I Bring to Teams
Technical Fluency
I can read engineering specs, understand API documentation, and speak the language of developers. When engineers say "that's not possible," I can have a productive conversation about what is possible and design accordingly.
User Advocacy
From conducting interviews with new parents for mental health platforms to stress-testing espresso machine prototypes, I ensure user needs drive every design decision. Research isn't a checkbox—it's the foundation.
Systems Thinking
Years in DevOps taught me to think in systems. I understand how components interact, how changes cascade, and how to design for scale. Whether it's a digital platform or a physical product, I consider the entire ecosystem.
Scrappy Execution
From prototyping espresso machines on 3D printers to building full Figma prototypes with user testing, I move fast and iterate. I'm comfortable with ambiguity and can ship MVPs that validate hypotheses quickly.
Skills & Tools
Design
Research & Testing
User interviews, surveys, usability testing, A/B testing, competitive analysis
UX
Journey mapping, information architecture, wireframing, prototyping, user flows
UI
Visual design, design systems, responsive design, accessibility (WCAG)
Tools
Figma, Adobe XD, Miro, FigJam, Maze, UserTesting
Engineering (Complementary Skills)
CAD & Manufacturing
Fusion 360, 3D printing (Prusa), CNC, FEA analysis, design for manufacturing
Technical Understanding
API design, system architecture, databases, cloud infrastructure basics
AI/ML Product Design
Prompt engineering, model evaluation, ethical AI considerations, ML moderation systems
Development
HTML/CSS, JavaScript basics, React fundamentals, Git version control
Note: I position my technical skills as "I can speak engineering" rather than "I am an engineer." My superpower is bridging the gap between user needs and technical implementation.
Outside of Work
When I'm not designing, you'll find me tinkering with espresso recipes (yes, the project was personal), exploring new cities on foot, or diving into science fiction novels. I'm trilingual (English, Hindi, Gujarati) and love connecting with people from diverse backgrounds.
I'm also passionate about making design education more accessible. Having bridged the gap from engineering to design myself, I know how intimidating that transition can feel.
Let's Work Together
I'm currently seeking product design opportunities where I can bridge engineering and user experience, particularly in:
- AI-driven products and intelligent systems
- IoT and connected devices
- Physical-digital product experiences
- B2B/enterprise products with technical complexity
- Startups needing scrappy, versatile designers