Since 2021Julia LiraAssociate Product Designer

How did you get into design?

It wasn't a love-at-first-sight story. I worked as an architect and realized that it no longer made sense to my life, even though I loved to create new things and see the impact they could make on people's lives. So I sought another profession in which I could use some skills that I already had. That's when I found Design.

Why are you at Liferay?

I'm at Liferay because it's a fertile ground for growth and because I have the opportunity to work with amazing people.

Favorite tool?

Paper and pen, in the beginning, to organize ideas. After that, Figma.

Best lifehack?

Do some kind of social media fasting from time to time and watch the hours of your day multiply.

Where do you find #inspiration?

Being aware and present, watching the world. It is possible to get inspired by the most unexpected things.

One thing you are getting better at?

My visual skills, speaking English and being present.

If you weren't designing, what would you be doing?

Probably would still be working with Interior Design or something related to heritage preservation.

What does your desktop/home screen look like?

It's a set of photos of the places I've traveled and the ones I still want to know.

Favorite place to visit?

• Olinda during Carnival, Brazil.
• Seville, Spain.
• San Pedro de Atacama, Chile.

Advice for ambitious designers?

I'm not yet in a position to give advice to designers, for now, I'm trying to follow the advice they gave me. But I think it's very important to look for mentorship, and learn from more experienced designers.

Last book you read?

The Story of a New Name, by Elena Ferrante

Most effective productivity booster?

An organized place, coffee and good music.

What keeps you up at night?

To be honest, I like to sleep a lot and I intend to keep that habit. What can keep me awake sometimes is a good conversation with good friends.