Discover insights from CJ, Discovery Design Lead at Canva, as she discusses search design complexities, behavioral design evolution, and leadership philosophy. Explore the role of algorithms in user discovery journeys, the challenges of searching for visual content, and the fusion of design and engineering for technological advancements.
The importance of considering the user's discovery journey in search design.
The shift towards behavioral design and understanding user psychology in the evolution of designers.
Deep dives
The Complexities of Search Design
CJ, the Group Product Design Lead for Discovery at Canva, delves into the intricate world of search design, highlighting its addictive nature due to its unsolvability. With a background in marketplace design and AI research, CJ emphasizes the challenge of translating complex internal processes into user-friendly search interfaces. He discusses the continuous learning process in search design, emphasizing the importance of user feedback and collaboration with engineers to address evolving search patterns and user preferences.
Balancing Precision and Curation in Visual Content Search
CJ reflects on the unique challenges of designing search interfaces for visual content, noting the balance between providing users with accurate search results and curated content recommendations. He underscores the importance of offering users comprehensive information about search results to aid decision-making and enhance the search experience. By combining curated design elements with generative AI tools like Magic Studio, designers can streamline their workflows and facilitate creativity.
The Future of Design in an AI-Driven World
In contemplating the evolving role of designers in the age of AI, CJ proposes a shift towards behavioral design, emphasizing the need for designers to guide user behaviors and interactions within digital ecosystems. He predicts a transition from traditional UI design to a strategic focus on understanding user psychology and preferences. As designers adapt to these changes, CJ underscores the significance of fostering creativity and providing unique perspectives to drive innovation in design.
In this episode of Design Surfaces, Andrew Green chats to Canva’s Discovery Design Lead, CJ on the nature and complexity of search design. They discuss the role of algorithms and the importance of thinking about the discovery journey that the user needs. They offer their thoughts on the evolution of designers toward behavioural design. CJ delves into her leadership philosophy and the importance of putting people in a position of autonomy to do their best work at Canva.