Solving Problems With Design – Meet Milan, Our Lead Designer

Say hi to Milan, our Lead Designer from Serbia who’s passionate about making digital products functional and beautiful.

He’s been part of the team for 5 years already and with a strong desire and determination, he’s come to where he is today. Milan has been absolutely loving working remotely for all the freedom and the flexibility it brings him.

Check out our interview with Milan below:

Who is Milan?

I’m Milan Tomic, a product designer from Novi Sad, Serbia. Besides design, I love taking photos, travelling and doing all kinds of adrenaline sports too. I’ve been part of Native Teams for 5 years now. My position is ‘Lead Designer’. 

I don’t have any degree for the job I do, I learned everything on my own, I had a strong desire and will to enter the IT world. I started as a product designer, but now I do a mix of everything, from shooting photos, making videos, writing (not as much as I would like, but I’m working on investing more time in writing) to running e-commerce stores.

What did you want to be when you grew up?

Well, I knew it was going to be something related to technology and computers. I got my first computer when I was 12 years old. I got my first client when I was 17 years old.

I pushed my first pixel in 2008. Since then I have been blessed with an abundance of opportunities. The rest is history.

What excites you the most about design?

Design is a solution to a problem. One of the reasons why I am happy because I am a designer is that I get paid (it is not about money only) for being creative. And I love all about creativity.

I love to say that designers are problem solvers and visionaries. Designers are the future. As a designer you get to observe people interacting with your work regularly. 

In my career so far, I have realized that people ignore designs that ignore people. Styles come and go. Good design is a language, not a style. Having said that, it’s all about the people and the time we live in. And that’s User Experience.

You know that quote from Steve Jobs: “The design is not just what it looks like and feels like. The design is how it works.” So it has been in the past, so it will be in the future. You should remember that.

What are some of your daily tasks as a lead designer?

As a lead designer, I am responsible for addressing the projects’ needs of digital content and coordinating with the design team for the planning and innovation of the visual design and concept.

It is expected from me to be able to zoom out and back in again, being very focused when it comes to ideas and execution, but also when looking at the big picture from a strategic level.

It’s expected of me to have a very strong point of view, but also open to other people’s ideas. Yes, I’m a lead designer,  but I am not an asshole (biiiiip) about it. A  good collaborative attitude is everything.

We do a few calls on a weekly basis.

What work/project are you most proud of and why?

I am proud of all the projects I have done so far. But I have to say that I am so proud to be a part of such a good team as Native Teams is, and even more proud to be a Lead Designer. Native Teams is a global project that helps a lot of freelancers, employers, and employees. All in one place – that’s awesome, isn’t it?! You should explore all benefits if you have not so far.

What are the pros and cons of working remotely?

Pros: No commuting is one of my favorite benefits of working from home. Removing a typical commute could save you 1.3 years of your life, can you believe in that? I did the calculation a couple of years ago. Working remotely allows me to create my own schedule, work from different places of the world, and as you know, I like to travel. If I need to take a break or have a power nap to freshen my mind, I can because I have more flexibility.  No prying eyes are watching me every move and judging me like in the office; that is stress relief in itself.

Cons: One of the biggest drawbacks, the human connection. There are no workarounds for this. Being in the office means you will, over time, develop relationships with certain people that turn into friendships. That’s not possible by working remotely. Well, perhaps this is a moment when it is good to mention the ‘Events’ part that Native Teams has as a part of the global product – A calendar of all after-work events near you or watch motivational and useful video content, we have created for you. It’s the best way for work-life balance.

Summary: The Pros & Cons of Working Remotely
Focus on your goals; even as a remote worker for 10 years, I managed to be a lead designer at a few agencies and now at Native Teams. How? Always deliver on your targets, stay disciplined and focused.

What is the best thing about working for Native Teams?

The answer is quite simple here – everything. Everything about Native Teams is awesome and I am so happy to be a part of the team. Great and funny people, awesome activities.

What would you recommend to someone who wants to become a designer?

It’s important to know design isn’t just a job. It’s a vocation. You should never stop thinking about it. You also need to not chase the money: chase opportunity. Learn how stuff is done “the right way.” But know how to do it your way. The best design comes from not thinking about design but about people. Try to bring something new into the industry, and always try to add value to our society through your work.

Stop thinking and start designing, simple as that! 🙂 

What’s on your bucket list?

Launching a blog and a newsletter is one of those things. I’d love to connect more with people and share my experience with like-minded humans! When you have a strong and loyal audience, then new opportunities open up. Being more active on social networks is also one of my priorities. Did I say I never had my own site, but I have connected with so many clients so far? Generally, I want to reach new achievements in IT sphere.

Travelling is at the top of my priority list. I want to explore the world more and meet new cultures as well. Meeting new people fills me very much. The next station is Dubai I think. Stay tuned.

P.S. Ups, I forgot to say at the beginning….I am 30 years old. 🙂

I hope that at some point I will be 70 years old as you read this because it means that I am still alive…and that Native Teams still exist. And, it means that our SEO is good. 😀 

Talk to you soon,

Milan

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