Transforming Grocery Savings
From Designer to Director at Quotient
My journey at Quotient Technology showcases a transformative career in the media and promotions industry, where I played pivotal roles in delivering grocery savings to users. Starting as a UI Designer, I advanced to Lead Product Designer, then to Director and Senior Director of Product Design. I led the design of consumer-facing experiences and B2B SaaS applications, driving significant increases in user engagement, efficiency, and revenue. My leadership expanded the UX department globally, enhancing our media capabilities and fostering innovation through data-driven and user-centered design.
Transformative Career at Quotient Technology, a summary.
Roles and Progression: Started as a UI Designer, advanced to Lead User Experience Designer, then to Director and Senior Director of Product Design.
Design Leadership: Led the design of consumer-facing experiences and B2B SaaS applications.
Impact Achieved: Drove significant increases in user engagement, efficiency, and revenue.
Global Expansion: Expanded the UX department globally, including locations in the Bay Area, India, Tel Aviv, and Paris.
Innovation and Enhancement: Enhanced media capabilities and fostered innovation through data-driven and user-centered design.
What is Quotient Technology?
Quotient Technology bridges brands, retailers, and consumers with innovative media and promotional solutions, offering targeted grocery savings and enhancing customer engagement.
As a Product Designer and later on Director at Quotient Technology, I transformed media and promotional solutions to deliver targeted grocery savings and boost customer engagement. Collaborating with major retailers like Target and Safeway, and top CPG brands such as Procter & Gamble, I ensured accessible, innovative promotions for users across digital platforms.
UI Designer to Design Lead
Starting at 2015, I started out as a UI designer. The gig involves making things look good and user-friendly, picking the right colors and fonts, ensure everything is readable. I occasionally run user tests, working with other design team and engineers, and keeping up with the latest design trends for a smooth and snazzy user experience.
During that time, I have introduced a lot of useful concepts to the group like animations and transitions, when we were designing the very coupons app.
I primarily worked on the UI designs of consumer facing products for retailer.com and CPG partners, from their weekly ads to their digital coupon gallery.
A couple years later, my UX counterpart and mentor, Tony DeSylva, left for greener pastures. I ended up absorbing his work and became the Lead UX Designer for Quotient’s consumer facing applications.
I then worked with Mr. Kel Wu, a super talented product manager, and became the lead designer for product and coupon galleries and weekly ads sections on various retailer.com websites. I also designed the Quotient experience manager, a user-friendly editor for creating CPG brand pages.
Coupons.com Design Crew (2016)
Kel and myself flexing some savings at the store
Text 2 Rebates CPG Brand Solutions
A hybrid SMS and web-based solution that served millions of shoppers across the United States to unlock grocery savings across CPG brands
Over the course of my lead designer position, one of the best and giving experiences is mentoring a designer. Mentoring a fellow designer is deeply rewarding. Guiding them through their creative journey, sharing insights, and watching their growth is fulfilling. It's a two-way learning process that enriches both sides, fostering personal and professional growth.
At Quotient, I was privileged to mentor an intern that eventually landed a career in the company as a designer in my team.
Meet David, a Quotient intern who became one of the best B2B designers in my team
Coupons.com Grocery App
Evolution from Store-Centric to Cash Back model: Coupons.com has undergone significant changes in its mobile app strategy over the years.
Design Director during the pandemic
In a nutshell, I got promoted to a design director in Feb 2020. Then the pandemic hit, and instead of working comfortably in the office, I had to figure out how to do my new job from home.
The importance of mental health during the pandemic cannot be overstated. The prolonged uncertainty and isolation have led to increased stress and anxiety. We also had to get use to a new setting, masks and running out of toilet paper. Prioritizing emotional well-being through open conversations to your team and promoting self-care is crucial. We have to mindful about how your team and your stakeholders are feeling individually and collectively.
I was given additional responsibilities. I now take care of not only the consumer facing experiences like retailer.com and shopping apps but also the B2B aspects that power these experiences. Managing a team that is responsible for the Coupons.com app, campaign setup and analytics.
To be an effective remote director, I feel clear communication is crucial. It's important to create open channels for team members to ask questions, get guidance, and give updates. Regular check-ins, both individually and as a team, help everyone stay connected and in agreement. It's also necessary to set clear expectations about availability and response times so that everyone is on the same page.
Masks and long hair were a must during the pandemic. Seen here picking stuff up from the office.
Quotient Grocery Business Platform
The Promotion and Media Platform that powers the campaigns behind the grocery coupons for Quotient Technology
How I Manage Design Teams
I believe that effective leadership requires a multifaceted approach that balances innovation, collaboration, and user-centricity.
Promotion of a strong team culture could not be overstated. I have encouraged social interactions among the design team, even in a virtual environment, to build camaraderie. We have become closer when we got out of the pandemic. We double downed on recognizing and celebrating achievements, milestones, and birthdays to boost team morales, we leaned on each other.
By combining effective communication, trust, resource support, and a positive team culture, remote managers can create an environment conducive to productivity and success.
Our design team has continued to produce at a high-level. We have produced multiple projects on our B2C and B2B products. I could have not been more proud of what our team has accomplished during this tough period for the entire world.
Leading the Global User Experiences team
After being a director for 4 years, I got promoted to head the company's worldwide user experience team. In addition to managing the promotions side of the company's B2B and B2C products, the design team has grown twice as big by merging it with the media design team.
I am now the design director of 3 different offices housing talented designers; United States (a hybrid work environment), our France office, and the Tel Aviv office.
The goal for me is to get the team together and establish our true design values as a team and create a culture that we can knowledge share, exchange ideas in a safe judgment free environment.
The design team testing out different apps and stores during our shopping field trip
Since it is multicultural due the number of countries that are part of the design organization, we have found some common ground having collaboration and empathy towards our users.
Ahighlight for me during the early stages in my new role has undeniably been the opportunity to meet new designers in-person. It's always an enriching experience to connect face-to-face with individuals who share the same passion for creativity and innovation.
In an exciting turn of events, we were able to fly our designer in France all the way to San Francisco for the Figma conference, not to mention test out a few of consumer applications. Believe it or not, users want savings at the end of the day but EU and U.S. have different ways of delivering it. Witnessing that shopping field trip firsthand was truly inspiring and reminded me of the boundless possibilities that collaboration can bring.
Shopmium grocery mobile app
Get exclusive cash back offers for your everyday grocery purchases, whether you shop in store or online.
Sharing kosher meals in Tel Aviv with our design
Additionally, I had the chance to embark on a journey to Tel Aviv, where I got to know our exceptional product design team in Israel. Exploring the vibrant city and exchanging ideas with our talented colleagues provided deeper insights into their captivating work culture. These encounters have given me an even greater appreciation for the global reach and impact of the design community, reinforcing the importance of fostering genuine connections to drive our shared vision forward.
Quotient Grocery Platform Design System
Leading the overhaul of Quotient's Grocery Business Platform design system and introduced the Campaign Builder tool, enhancing our SaaS Promotions Platform