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AMA: I'm Cap Watkins, Product Design Manager at Etsy

9 years ago from Cap Watkins, VP of Design @ BuzzFeed

  • Mindy NamMindy Nam, 9 years ago

    Hi Cap, thank you for doing this AMA. Your article "The Boring Designer" made a big impact on my mindset couple of months ago.

    I wasn't planning on asking any questions but I was encouraged to see in your bio above that you don't have a formal design education. So here is a question:

    From your experience working with designers from various backgrounds, do you feel that there are certain things designers without a design degree need to work harder at to catch up to those who do?

    Thanks again!

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    • Cap WatkinsCap Watkins, 9 years ago

      Yes, absolutely. I actually wish I could go back to college (not back in time, just go to college again) and take a bunch of graphic design and design theory classes. Luckily, my wife did that and I'm able to glean a lot from her work and asking her why she makes certain choices. It's super helpful, but also pretty obvious to me how much tighter my work would have been earlier in my career had I had that sort of background.

      It's not something you can't teach yourself or find mentors to help with, it's just different than spending an immersive four years in that sort of training.

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