Orientation and First Weeks
The first week was primarily spent watching mandatory training videos and attending online meetings scheduled for trainees. These sessions provided detailed tutorials and instructions on designing with the existing components of the design system library. The company-wide training videos were helpful for understanding the the organization's common rules, policies, and overall company culture. I was also assigned an onboarding task that allowed me to personally test the design systems libraries and use them to create an application interface.
Day to Day
As a member of the Nokia Design System Components Team, my daily tasks include managing our component library in Figma and their documentation on our website. This requires close collaboration within the team. We hold weekly stand-up sessions to discuss our progress on monthly tasks and share updates on individual contributions. Currently, we are preparing for the public launch of our documentation website; therefore, most of our efforts are focused on thoroughly reviewing and refining the content on the website to ensure accuracy and consistency in the information.
Learning and Adaptation
This co-op experience came with a steep learning curve. I had to familiarize myself with new functions in Figma, Nokia's current design system components, as well as the software used for organizing tasks, resources, and learning materials. Understanding the structure of the company and integrating into its culture required time and effort. By actively reaching out and asking questions, I have learned to adapt appropriately over time. Participating in virtual coffee chats and engaging in both work-related and casual conversations greatly helped me connect with my coworkers. Seeking assistance and guidance when necessary was very important for my learning and for completing work-related tasks, which ultimately contributed to my growth as a designer.
Accomplishments and Challenges
As my first accomplishment, I successfully populated the specs tab for each component on the documentation website. This task demanded a solid understanding of the existing documentation, the design system's components, and how users would interact with the resources in the specs tab. I worked closely with my supervisor to discuss content variations, aiming to meet the optimal balance between informative and easily updatable content.
I also contributed to enhancing the accessibility of the design components, ensuring they align with the touch target guidelines outlined in the WCAG Accessibility Document. This required a comprehensive review of current accessibility standards and an analysis of our existing components. I delivered a 10-minute presentation on touch target accessibility standards and our library’s compliance, which was a memorable part of my ongoing process to overcome my nervousness about public speaking.
Recently, I have been tasked with managing our design system's icon library, which includes handling requests for new icons or modifications. I am expected to take the initiative in my upcoming semesters as well, expanding the icon library by introducing new features such as micro and animated icons.
Cultural and Environmental Observations
Nokia has an open and friendly culture. Our team mostly operates with employees working remotely from home, so the existing culture is well adapted for coworkers to connect virtually, such as through weekly virtual coffee chats. Scheduling a separate time for help, advice, or a chat is easy to do and is encouraged by leaders.
Social and Extracurricular Activities
Working virtually and participating in social and extracurricular activities can be challenging due to the limitations of not being in the same physical space. However, Nokia organizes several hybrid events featuring social activities and guest speakers so that the co-op students can get the most out of the experience.
Wrap Up
My time at Nokia was filled with engaging tasks focused on managing the design system libraries and their documentation. These tasks offered hands-on experience that was both challenging and rewarding, significantly contributing to my professional development as a designer. I hope to bring even more value to the team in my future semesters with the company by taking more initiative and further growing both my professional and soft skills.
