Meet the Creative Minds Behind NordPass

What’s it like to work on the creative side of things in a tech company? Is it any different than working in a purely creative industry?

Vitaly, senior product designer @ NordPass

Tech business, as I see it, is creative by default – you are coming up with new product ideas or trying to improve existing ones, which is hard if you aren’t creative. In short – it feels good, man.

Johnny, UX writer @ NordPass

I think no matter what industry you’re working in as a writer, many of the “golden rules” of writing should apply, such as:

• Always keeping your target audience in mind.

• Making sure your content is easy to understand and consistent in its quality.

Working for NordPass – a company that offers technical solutions – means I need to sit down and do structured research before starting a task so that I can explain complex topics or user flows in a coherent way. I’m always up for broadening my tech knowledge though, so it’s a win-win scenario.

Danas, UX/UI designer @ NordPass

I can’t say that there’s a big difference. Wherever you work with design, the needs of a product or service come first. Understanding the user needs is critical. Although working for NordPass, I learned the ins and outs of cybersecurity and its importance in today’s world.

What challenges do you face that separate you from the rest of the NordPass team?

Egle, SEO content writer @ NordPass

Technology is quite a difficult field to understand, so the biggest challenge is translating complicated concepts into easily understandable language. I’d also say it’s one of the most rapidly changing fields you can write about, so you need to keep reading up on tech news and updating your knowledge.

Andrius, designer @ NordPass

We also work on an enterprise solution that is built for large-scale enterprises. So as designers, we need to dive into profound logical decisions. Usually, we operate in uncharted waters.

Creating things on such a big scale is a huge responsibility. However, the main goal is to serve our user. So finding the balance is the key challenge.

Lukas, copywriter @ NordPass

I’d say the major challenge is translating complex cybersecurity concepts and ideas into an engaging and clear piece of writing. Striking the right balance is tricky. I always try to remind myself that the reader cannot read my mind.

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Do you have a favorite meme or GIF that describes your line of work?

Vitaly, senior product designer @ NordPass

Source: Amanda Canabarro, Tricurioso

Johnny, UX writer @ NordPass

Source: Among Us Memes, Memes.com

Alex, product designer @ NordPass

Source: Designer Confessions, Twitter

Danas, UX/UI designer @ NordPass

Source: Gemma Correll, Gemma Pintrest

Does your team have any traditions or rituals?

Alex, product designer @ NordPass

Yep, along with the product team rituals, in the design guild we also have weekly and biweekly design syncs, design-ops and guild meetings in which we discuss tasks, initiatives, processes, and work and life stuff.

Andrius, designer @ NordPass

Yes, having a friendly chit-chat over a cup of coffee during the informal Monday meeting. Also, we have daily squad standups to solve any ongoing problems we face. Furthermore, we have weekly design guild meetings, where we provide solutions on how to improve our product and look for ideas to solve some of the more significant hardships. And, of course, we also have the extraordinary full team gatherings and the craziest parties.

Danas, UX/UI designer @ NordPass

We have a meeting every two weeks to talk about what is going on and what everyone is doing. Also if we need help, feedback, or collaboration, we talk about it during those meetings or any other time actually. I suppose, constant communication is the tradition.

When it comes to team goals or your personal goals, how do you define success and how do you deal with bumps along the way?

Alex, product designer @ NordPass

Communication is king. Product development is a team game. You always have competent people around you to ask questions if you face bumps and experience issues.

When it comes to defining success, before “moving pixels,” we conduct research and try to answer some basic questions: What’s the problem? What do we and users need or might need? What’s the solution and how will it solve the problem? How did users handle such problems before?.

Answers to these and other questions help us to find our direction, understand what we want to achieve, and set goals. Insights we get at this stage form the basis of success. The next question is how we will measure that success, but that's another story.

Johnny, UX writer @ NordPass

I think success for a UX writer can be compared to two sides of the same coin – let’s call it the “feedback” coin. On one hand, it’s great to hear positive comments from users about how their journey from A to B within a product was made easier by well-written copy. However, on the other hand, it’s also a good sign if you don’t hear too many grievances from users as it hopefully indicates that the content you’ve written makes sense and is not ambiguous.

Vitaly, senior product designer @ NordPass

Success is when you achieve what you were planning to. When it comes to bumps, it depends on their size. Sometimes you can steamroll over them on your own. Other times, the team comes to the rescue. Anyway, bumps are never blocks to success but just obstacles that have to be overcome.

What motivates you the most?

Niall, UX writer @ NordPass

I always want to find myself making an impact doing meaningful work, not only for myself but for others. I also always want to improve my skill set, to learn and try as many new things as I can. I also really strive to follow through on what I set my mind to – seeing the end result of my work has always been a motivating factor for me.

Andrius, designer @ NordPass

Solving complex UX solutions logically, technologically, and visually. Simplification of difficult and complicated flows. Pivoting maximalist things into minimalist solutions. And, of course – team spirit!

Lukas, copywriter @ NordPass

The desire to be better at what I do and the ability to learn something new almost each and every day. Also, any other pieces of writing that are crafted with care and convey the idea clearly.

What have some of the biggest achievements been for you personally over the past year?

Alex, product designer @ NordPass

When I joined the company, I had a couple of ideas around product improvements. After a while, I started working on one of them. I presented the concept, advocated the solution, and got a green light to bring it to life. So in the near future, B2B users will be able to interact with NordPass Admin Panel 2.0. For me, that’s a real milestone since I worked on that from the very inception of the idea.

Vitaly, senior product designer @ NordPass

I feel that the team is working more efficiently. There has been a lot of progress made in the way we collaborate and organize our work. Personally, I celebrated 10 years in the software development industry, which makes me feel quite old, but I'm young at heart, so it's all good.

Danas, UX/UI designer

The Top 200 Most Common Passwords report was a huge success. The whole team worked hard on it, including developers, designers, and marketers. Finally, it was a lot of fun seeing the success of the campaign and learning more about password habits across the world.

What do you like about NordPass culture? And how do you personally contribute to the company’s values?

Niall, UX writer @ NordPass

I like how people are very open here. Everyone is just one message away and always has time for you and your queries, no matter their position or seniority within the company. There’s also a special effort to get everyone on the same page when it comes to projects and designs. I would like to say that I’m approachable too, that I can always justify my design decisions and always look to collaborate with others or help out where I can.

Andrius, designer @ NordPass

The company's atmosphere is very favorable for openly expressing unique ideas. Therefore, we are not afraid to take risks. A pleasant attitude is that the product is not just a company affair. The product is the team that it develops and that the responsibility of everyone contributes inseparably to its quality.

Johnny, UX writer @ NordPass

One thing I do enjoy is the company-wide meeting we have every Monday morning. Different teams take turns to act as hosts of the meeting, and it’s a great way to learn more about your colleagues. As I’m based in Berlin, the potential is there to lose some connection with my teammates living in Lithuania and other countries. However, the team spirit shown on the Monday calls is excellent and really puts a spring in everyone’s step to start the week well.

What would you tell a person who would like to take on your type of position at NordPass? What should they expect?

Lukas, copywriter @ NordPass

The cybersecurity industry is one of a kind. There's nothing like it, and at NordPass we're at the forefront of it all. So, get ready for a wild ride.

Egle, SEO content writer

Even if you don’t know too much about tech yet, just have an eagerness to learn and you’ll fit right in!

Vitaly, senior product designer @ NordPass

Expect to be given formidable responsibilities and not be micromanaged in the process of fulfilling them. Also expect to have fun with friendly colleagues during work and parties.

What or who inspires you the most to do your work well?

Alex, product designer @ NordPass

I like the way Intercom, Figma, Miro, Slack, Spotify, Yandex, Revolut and many other companies work with design. I read their blogs as well as articles by designers and design managers from these companies, find inspiration in their processes and visuals, and try to reconsider and deconstruct findings in order to use them one day.

Other than that, well, as a matter of fact, design is a multidisciplinary job which is why I also follow the channels of product managers, developers, and marketing specialists. in different messengers to stay in the loop of the design and tech worlds.

Danas, UX/UI designer

Usually I watch the work of other big brands and try to figure out how they achieved a certain goal. Design conference talks are another good source for learning from really clever people. Finally, my favourite places are art galleries in Vilnius – they are a great place to clear your head.

Andrius, designer @ NordPass

I’m highly inspired by high-level professionals. It’s great to have the opportunity to learn new things.

Another thing that helps is trying to constantly challenge myself. For example, I started painting, and I am learning to express myself in abstract space.

I always liked music, and it helps a lot. It helps me get into the proper flow. So I decided to challenge myself – to learn to play the RAV Vast instrument, which contributes to me maintaining an emotional and physical balance.

What’s next? What exciting challenges are you looking forward to in order to achieve personal and professional growth?

Johnny, UX writer @ NordPass

One challenge that I’m looking forward to tackling is to work with our NordPass UX guild to create an even more consistent user experience across our products. It’s easier said than done, but it’s a target worth chasing!

Alex, product designer @ NordPass

To keep moving. And to definitely dive deeper into the UX research domain.

Vitaly, senior product designer @ NordPass

Planning is overrated. But it's important to take on the challenges that come your way and make the best of them.