Life at Trilitech | Bahador Katouzian, Product Design Lead

We’re back with another edition of our Life at Trilitech series! This week, we’re excited to introduce Bahador, our recently promoted Product Design Lead. 

Can you summarise your career before Trilitech?
I moved to the UK when I was 17 and didn’t speak much English at the time. I pursued a degree in graphic & motion design and graduated with distinction. I was eager to understand design processes in more depth so went on to study for a master’s degree.

My career started at a marketing agency where I joined as a design intern, this quickly progressed into me managing design and development teams after a couple of years. I eventually took on a role overseeing the agency’s UX and UI for clients which I did for three years. Despite the success, I reached a plateau and realised I wanted to be more hands-on with design which is my true passion. This led me to join Trilitech. 

What was your journey into Web3?
I was initially clueless about Web3, but its novelty attracted me. I didn’t know much about blockchain, crypto, or NFTs, but I was drawn to the challenge and eager to try it out.

Why Trilitech?
Initially, I felt out of my depth applying to the role, but the biggest appeal was the opportunity to work alongside highly successful individuals in an environment that encourages learning and growth. Being surrounded by high achievers provides invaluable learning opportunities.

What does your day-to-day look like?
My daily activities revolve around understanding product goals, optimising UX, and creating new UX designs for upcoming projects. From research and conception to ideation, my days are filled with tasks that ensure our products meet the highest standards of usability and user satisfaction.

What are you currently working on at Trilitech?
I’ve been working on an exciting game for Manchester United, which includes player trading cards that launched this week and Fantasy United which launched today. I’m also designing the web version of Umami, a Tezos wallet, alongside its browser extension and mobile app, incorporating improvements based on the desktop app's feedback. 

Additionally, I've been dedicating time to the Tezos staking app, which is in its early stages. This project involves designing from scratch, identifying bugs, and fixing them, all while aiming to cater to web2 users. It’s a significant project with lots of learning and iterations.

How would you describe your first month at Trilitech? How is it different today?
My first month was quite daunting as I didn’t understand all the lingo. This unfamiliarity turned out to work in my favour as I approached web3 problems from a web2 user perspective, which is exactly the target profile we aim to onboard. The team was very supportive, everyone took their time to explain the terminology and concepts.

I have learned a lot since joining, and there’s still much to go. I’ve worked on various projects, including building design components for Kanvas and creating the flow and process for McLaren’s free NFT drops, which became a top performer on Objkt. After two years of dedication, I was promoted to product design lead. When I joined, I was following someone else’s vision, but now I am more integrated and actively contributing to our strategic direction.

What's been your highlight so far?
A standout moment is working on the project for Manchester United. Being a fan since I was eight, designing a game for them felt surreal. Additionally, the pride I felt when I designed the collection for McLaren was immense; it’s something I wouldn’t have dreamed of achieving two years ago.

What would you like to achieve in the coming months?
As the product design lead, I have a long-term vision to elevate the standard of product design across the Tezos ecosystem. With my extensive experience managing teams, my aim is to bring together a group capable of delivering on this vision. My journey began in the dapps team, where I introduced structured design processes and unified software designs, laying the foundation for a robust product design function at Trilitech. 

What’s your favourite thing about Trilitech?
The passion and dedication of the people here are incredible. Everyone strives for excellence, yet there’s flexibility in how we achieve our goals, allowing us to work in ways that suit us best.

How would you describe the company culture?
It’s a supportive environment where team members are encouraged to socialise and hang out. We have great spaces like a terrace where we can enjoy ice cream or a beer together. This definitely enhances the camaraderie and team spirit. 

Tips for Designers breaking into the industry?
Passion and interest go a long way, don’t let the lingo scare you. When I started my career, I was afraid of UX/UI and only used Photoshop for web design. Research and keep learning new tools to stay updated. Most importantly, keep a portfolio of your work to showcase your skills and projects.

Interested in joining Bahador’s team? Check out our openings.