"Design is a mix of curiosity, craft and intention, and it's always about the people."

Elena Molinari

Product Designer at TUI

Last updated on 8 Jul, 2025

What apps do you use to help you design?

ChatGPT

Condens

Figma

Miro

UserTesting.com

How did you get started in your role as a designer?

Growing up, I was that artsy kid: the one starting craft clubs with my cousin, making beaded jewelry, baking clay creatures, and secretly illustrating entire animal encyclopedias. I loved making things, but alongside that creativity, I’ve always had a strong analytical side: I enjoy creating structure, finding patterns, and digging into the “why” behind things. When I had to choose a career, I knew I wanted to do something that had a positive impact on people’s lives (becoming a doctor was out of the picture since I can’t even watch medical dramas without almost fainting). So when I discovered UX design, it was just the perfect blend of art and science, creativity and logic, empathy and problem-solving. Jackpot. I came to realise that I love the full scope of product design: from user research and journey mapping, to drawing rectangles in Figma and testing hypotheses in real-life scenarios. These days, I’d call myself a generalist who loves being hands-on from start to finish.

What difficulties do you encounter in your role as a designer?

One of the ongoing challenges in my role is aligning on the product roadmap with product managers. It can be tough to balance user needs, business goals, and technical constraints, especially when timelines are tight and priorities shift. Adapting to last-minute changes is part of the job, but it can sometimes mean reworking designs or putting aside ideas I was excited about. Another challenge is advocating for the value of design when it’s not always seen as a priority. Pushing a design agenda requires persistence and diplomacy, whether that’s to make time for user research, improve UX debt, or invest in accessibility. Working with difficult stakeholders can also be tricky. Not everyone speaks the same “design language,” and part of the role is translating ideas, building trust, and guiding conversations toward user-centred solutions, even when opinions differ.

How do you incorporate the apps in your design process?

The tools are an integral part of my work and each one plays a specific role in my design process. Figma is at the core of everything. It’s where I explore ideas, build flows, wireframes, prototypes, and high-fidelity designs. I also write specifications and do most of my handoffs on it. FigJam and Miro come in during the early stages: great for brainstorming, mapping journeys, and collaborating with stakeholders or teammates during workshops. For research, I use Usertesting.com to run tests and gather qualitative insights, and Condens helps me organise and analyse that feedback in a structured way. Jira (although not my favorite) is essential for staying aligned with the development team and finally ChatGPT is my Swiss army knife to brainstorm, write research questions, summarise findings, plan efficiently, make sense of chaos and more.

What advice would you give to your younger self trying to get into the field of design?

I’d tell my younger self that studying design was an amazing idea, but that this field is constantly evolving, and staying curious is just as important as formal education. Keep learning, yes, but also follow what excites you. Dive deeper into the areas that light you up, whether that’s UX research, interaction design, accessibility, or even motion. I’d also say: don’t wait until you feel “ready”, but just start and try things. Make messy prototypes, take on passion projects, learn from them and from others. Have fun with design, but also keep a clear sense of where you want to go: what kind of work excites you, what types of products you’d love to help shape and use that to guide your focus and energy.

Do you have any regrets in your journey in becoming a designer?

I guess the only regret I have is not making a real portfolio website earlier. But other than that, not really. I think the journey to becoming a designer is different for everyone and it's ok.

As a designer how do you stay inspired?

I’ve learned that inspiration doesn’t always just come to you: you have to actively seek it out and create the conditions for it to sussist. I stay inspired by regularly reading articles, case studies, and watching cool projects from other designers online. Seeing fresh ideas and different approaches sparks new ways of thinking and keeps my creative energy flowing. Collaboration also plays a big role: chatting through ideas with teammates, pair designing, or getting quick critiques often opens up new perspectives I hadn’t considered. I also try to focus on consistent small steps (refining flows, organising my Figma files, or reviewing data), which helps me build momentum and keeps me moving forward. Sometimes, I step away from the screen briefly to reset my perspective and come back with fresh eyes.