Developing expertise through professional wins: insights from our UI/UX designer

In this interview, we talk with Evgeny Dubitski, a UI/UX designer at EffectiveSoft, about his participation in the Telegram Wallet Contest for Designers, his professional journey, and his experience.

Congratulations on your third-place win in the Telegram Wallet Contest for Designers! Can you tell us a bit about the contest and what motivated you to participate?

Thank you very much! It was quite a challenge. The contest was organized by the Open Platform and Wallet in Telegram, a tool for transferring and storing cryptocurrencies via a messaging app. The principal idea of the contest was to redesign the main screen of the Wallet for iOS and Android. The prize was $30,000 in Toncoin, a cryptocurrency created by Telegram. About 300 designers took part in the competition, and I was very pleased to win third place.

For any designer, participating in such competitions is important because it helps maintain or even improve their expertise. It was a great opportunity for me to test my skills and try something new and adventurous.

Can you describe your project for the contest? What features do you think made it stand out?

I wanted to create a simple and accessible solution that would be clear to new users. There were many requirements for the home screen, including alignment with the Telegram guidelines, simplicity, user-friendliness, and more. The evaluation criteria were clarity, consistency, and completeness.

I think my project stood out because I paid close attention to every requirement in the technical design specification. In our work, it is important to consider the needs of the client, so I took that very seriously. I also added some useful features that were important for both newcomers into the world of cryptocurrency and those already familiar with it, such as information about cryptocurrencies, infographics on each available coin, two news blocks (about Wallet and about Cryptocurrency), and other helpful elements. I had a chance to see the work of some other contestants and I believe mine is the only one (or one of the few) that had the news block, which also played a part in my success in the competition. I made a bold move in relocating Wallet to the main navigation of the messenger, which not everyone had thought of. This makes it easier for new users to find and use the app.

In my work, I focused on consistency. I wanted users to find the app familiar, understandable, and clear.

In your opinion, why is participating in design contests important for professionals in the field? How does it help enhance your expertise?

Everyone has their own reasons for participating in these types of competitions. Some are after the prize, some want to preserve or enhance their reputation (like design instructors or bloggers), some simply enjoy the challenge. For me, it was about honing my skills and demonstrating my dedication. A full week of intensive work in the field of mobile development with a total of 63 created screens was a challenge. After this contest, I find that similar tasks in my work have become a lot easier, almost as natural as breathing.

In my opinion, every designer should test their abilities and skills to identify their strengths and weaknesses and understand where to focus their efforts and which direction to pursue. It’s essential to keep training your design muscles.

How does your role as a designer contribute to the success of a business? What value do designers bring to our company and our clients?

In a strong product development team, every role is important, with every member working together to create a powerful and high-quality solution. Designers take on a great deal of the work. Not everyone realizes that creating a functional design involves more than just moving pixels around or working with design tools like Figma. Designers must have a broad knowledge base across various subjects and systems, ranging from business processes to psychology. They need to cultivate empathy, since people are the main focus of any product, and continuously improve their technical skills to understand how everything works from the inside. When you encounter a product with excellent user-friendliness, you can be sure a great designer was involved.

My strong point is my technical background. I studied mobile app development at university and have experience in front-end development. I’ve always been interested in technology. I like to dig deep into how things work. This background helps me better understand a product, its underlying logic, and how it should work and feel.

Can you share some insights on how our design expertise translates into better service for our clients? Why is it essential for us to continually improve and showcase our skills?

Every designer in the EffectiveSoft team has something remarkable and valuable to offer. We share our experiences and learn from each other. Using our knowledge and skills, we can effectively communicate to our clients how to bring their ideas to life in the best way. We can also suggest designs that improve the final product, thereby gaining our clients’ trust. The goal of a UI/UX designer is not only to create an attractive interface and good user experience but also to protect our clients’ interests and provide powerful solutions that deliver real value.

The world does not stand still and new technologies emerge almost daily. By taking your expertise and qualifications in new directions, you become a more competent and highly sought-after specialist. As a result, your company expands its capabilities and attracts new clients. That’s why acquiring new knowledge and taking on new challenges is important for continuous improvement.