Mariel Vandaloo

Where are you working currently, and what do you do there?

I’m currently a Senior Product Designer at Peloton, designing the class browsing experience for all platforms.

Can you tell us a bit about your education and career background?

I did my undergrad in interdisciplinary design where I learned industrial design, graphic design, product design, film, and photography. I continued my education receiving my Master of Inclusive Design. I have always been interested in how we can better design the world to be more efficient and inclusive for everyone.

The Instructors at BrainStation are very knowledgeable and are often practicing what they’re teaching in their full-time careers. I found this really helpful when considering how to apply my learnings to real-world scenarios.

What motivated you to start digital skills training?

I wanted to improve my coding skills. At the time I was working closely with very talented Developers. It was hard for me to keep up in meetings and product discussions with my limited understanding of iOS development. I thought if I could learn the basics of iOS development, then it would improve our discussions and the products we were working on.

Why did you choose to study at BrainStation?

The Instructors at BrainStation are very knowledgeable and are often practicing what they’re teaching in their full-time careers. I found this really helpful when considering how to apply my learnings to real-world scenarios. I also liked that BrainStation catered to working professionals, and that I could take the classes while still working my full time job.

What was the highlight of your learning experience?

On top of gaining confidence in new skills, I enjoyed getting to know my classmates who were all passionate working professionals in a variety of different industries.

How has your BrainStation experience impacted your career?

I quickly learned that I was not cut out to be a developer! Kidding aside, I did learn a lot of valuable skills; I now understand the development process and how I, as a designer, can best collaborate and communicate with the Developers. The course gave me confidence when hosting design handoffs to have the important conversations about technical scope and feasibility.

What advice would you give to professionals considering a BrainStation course?

I’ve always valued the mindset of continuous learning. Especially working in tech, the workflows and the tools we use are always evolving - there will always be more to learn!

I’ve found it’s best to take these challenges head on, and embrace forever being a student. Approach your career with curiosity, and invest in your personal development.