Design at Red Hat

Describe your core responsibilities at Red Hat.

I understand user needs, create user-friendly designs, and collaborate with teams to develop and improve products. I also make prototypes, ensure accessibility, and focus on design quality to provide a positive user experience while staying updated with design trends.

How do you get inspired first thing in the morning?

A cup of masala tea and setting a goal for the day motivate me to start my day with enthusiasm.

Customer support
A customer support interaction for customer portal where users can get help troubleshooting.

What makes designing at Red Hat unique?

At Red Hat, the design arises from a creative and innovative blend of original concepts, a deep understanding of context and audience, a harmonious balance between form and function, meticulous attention to detail, an iterative refinement process, storytelling elements, cultural sensitivity, and considerations for sustainability and ethics.

How are you incorporating open source principles into your designs or design processes?

My design process is centered around transparency, collaboration, and accessibility, open for scrutiny, fostering a collaborative community where everyone can contribute improvements and innovations.

Sumit Ingole

Design is a dynamic and ever-evolving field that thrives on creativity, collaboration, and adaptability. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or just starting your journey, the key is to embrace a mindset of continuous learning and exploration.

How do you prioritize collaboration across teams in your design process?

As a senior product designer, prioritizing collaboration involves organizing cross-functional workshops, including stakeholders early in the process, establishing shared design systems, utilizing collaborative tools, and fostering a culture of inclusivity and continuous feedback. Regular check-ins, educational initiatives, and celebrating successes collaboratively contributes to a cohesive and successful design process that integrates diverse perspectives from various teams.

How do you think diverse voices and perspectives make the design process stronger?

Diverse voices and perspectives strengthen the design process by fostering creativity, inclusivity, and cultural sensitivity. A diverse team brings a broader range of ideas, skills, and empathy, resulting in more innovative, user-centric, and globally-relevant design solutions.

Experience platform
The user interface for Red Hat Experience Platform, where users can develop, deploy and manage their apps.

How does your design work contribute to the creation of helpful and accessible experiences?

My work centers on creating helpful and accessible experiences by incorporating inclusive design principles, adhering to accessibility standards, conducting user research, and testing with diverse user groups. I prioritize clear communication, responsive design, and consistent UI patterns while collaborating closely with development teams and stakeholders on the importance of accessibility. Through these efforts, I aim to ensure that the products I design meet the needs of a broad user audience and provide a positive user experience for all.

What does open design mean to you?

Open design encourages sharing ideas, feedback, and progress openly, fostering a culture of inclusivity, continuous improvement, and community involvement. This approach prioritizes accessible design assets, documentation, and decision-making processes, allowing stakeholders, team members, and sometimes end-users, to contribute and provide valuable insights.

Any last thoughts?

Design is a dynamic and ever-evolving field that thrives on creativity, collaboration, and adaptability. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or just starting your journey, the key is to embrace a mindset of continuous learning and exploration. Stay curious, be open to diverse perspectives, and remain attuned to the evolving needs of users and the broader community.