Meet Sangeetha Ramanath

We were lucky to catch up with Sangeetha Ramanath recently and have shared our conversation below.

Sangeetha, first a big thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and insights with us today. I’m sure many of our readers will benefit from your wisdom, and one of the areas where we think your insight might be most helpful is related to imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome is holding so many people back from reaching their true and highest potential and so we’d love to hear about your journey and how you overcame imposter syndrome.

Coming from a society that largely values STEM accomplishments, I struggled greatly to prove my competence earlier on. The creative career was made to become plan B. Because of this expectation, in high school, I not only had to ace physics, chemistry, math, and computer science but also put in the extra hours to pursue a career in design, which at that time seemed of interest only to me. I quickly realized that if I wanted to make my creative dreams a reality, I had to invest in them fully. Shortly after, I went to the best university in the country, got a job, gave it up, pursued a master’s, got another job, and published a paper highlighting the importance of creativity in STEM. Despite it all, in 2024, I still had a nagging feeling of imposter syndrome when I was presenting my paper at the Hybrid Human-Artificial Intelligence (HHAI) conference. I chalked up my success to sheer hard work and luck rather than to my creativity.

Overcoming imposter syndrome is something I’ve approached gradually, but a few strategies have helped. First, I focused on recognizing my accomplishments and reflecting on the unique perspective I bring to the table. I was the only designer and woman of colour presenting in a room full of PhD candidates from STEM fields at the HHAI24 conference in Sweden. My presentation focused on fostering positive social change by using participatory research and play in design to empower women to engage with AI in innovative ways. With my bright-pink, well-designed slides and quirky research methods, I stood out, even drawing some laughs from the crowd. The experience made me think of a quote from Cathy Pearl, UX Lead on Google’s Gemini, in her blog titled “My Year of Saying Yes,” where she reflects on her time spent several years away from full-time work following her son’s birth and a failed startup, feeling lost at the age of 41. After some encouragement, she started a blog about relationships, Love Data, where she explored the psychology behind romantic connections. The quote reads, “I can’t… It’s a data science conference, and I’m not a data scientist!” And this was exactly how I felt: “I am a designer, not an AI engineer or an expert.”

Since then, I’ve been thrilled to be part of the Greenlight for Girls initiative, where I get to encourage young girls to explore STEM through design and technology. For me, this was a full-circle moment. My creativity, which was deprioritized in the past, was now recognized as an essential trait to pursue the sciences. Although I initially had insecurities in school, I now recognize that I developed key skills during that time. It taught me how to be resilient and learn from every opportunity. This set me apart in the design world: my ability to combine analytical research abilities and an interest in behavioural sciences with art. Secondly, I learned how to be a multitasker, turning me into the interdisciplinary designer I am today. Lastly, I developed a growth mindset that has shifted my thinking from perfectionism to progress. I remind myself that learning and adapting are part of the process, and it’s okay to not have all the answers right away!

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I am a product designer with a background in communication design, currently based in New York City. My work focuses on UX research, visual design, and leveraging technology to create accessible and inclusive user interfaces. One of my most exciting projects is “The Eve of AI,” my master’s thesis, where I used co-design and play in design to empower women to engage with AI in innovative ways. This project is close to my heart as it addresses how technology can shape communities, especially for women, by using AI creatively and ethically. What excites me most about my work is designing solutions that empower vulnerable and minority communities, particularly in a world constantly evolving with digital transformation. I believe that storytelling and humour are powerful tools for challenging societal norms, and I utilise this strategy while designing to inspire creative thinking with technology. I think of it as breaking the fourth wall between the creator and audience, encouraging reflection on both the content and its presentation.

As a designer with a multidisciplinary approach, I work across various mediums, including illustration, graphics, AR/VR, generative AI, and motion design, while narrating stories backed by intention, reason, and research. Viewing my designs as orchestrated thought experiments helps me see audience reactions as part of the creative process rather than separate from it. This continuous feedback loop informs how I refine my designs, ensuring they resonate deeply with diverse audiences.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

To me, the three big qualities are:

Curiosity
As creatives, we must try and discover what truly drives and fascinates us. Adopting an inquisitive attitude toward our passion allows us to explore ways to create an authentic brand identity. By nurturing this curiosity, we tap into inspiration coming from unexpected places, leading to more original and authentic work. When I align my curiosity with my creative work, I naturally develop a personal brand that is both true to myself and captivating to others. Exploring new techniques, tools, and media becomes an extension of this brand, allowing me to evolve while staying grounded in what genuinely excites me. With the rapid increase of new tools constantly updating, it can feel intimidating. In an interdisciplinary space, I often face new tools every few months. While it can be laborious to learn new software, we now have tutorials and information at our fingertips. Jumping into using these tools is how we can grow, stay relevant, and continue to skill up.

Resilience
In today’s oversaturated digital landscape, where we’re constantly surrounded by the work of others, getting started can be challenging. Perfectionism often results in abandoning projects before they even have a chance. During my time in school, I discovered that, despite the imperfections in my work, I could embrace the idea of failing fast. By setting low expectations and making that initial attempt, I created something to share with mentors and peers for feedback. By simply “doing it,” I began testing my ideas and putting myself ahead in the pursuit of my goals.

Communication
As a designer in an increasingly globalized environment, effective communication can make or break a brand. Advertisements from the past quickly become outdated as language, sensitivities, and ethics evolve. A significant asset I draw from is my multilingual upbringing and exposure to various cultures. Having moved frequently since childhood, I’ve had the opportunity to learn and adapt to diverse environments. Many qualities transcend language, and humour is one such tool. Not only does humour make you more relatable, but it also allows you to introduce new narratives in a non-confrontational manner. Practising humour among various peer groups with different cultural backgrounds has revealed an important tool for bringing people together.

What would you advise – going all in on your strengths or investing on areas where you aren’t as strong to be more well-rounded?

While specialized skills can be immensely rewarding for creatives with a deep passion for a niche, as an interdisciplinary designer, I advocate for a more well-rounded approach. In today’s rapidly evolving world, driven by technology—especially artificial intelligence (AI)—many traditional tasks are being replaced. In this landscape, designers must focus on the unique value they can provide that goes beyond what machines or AI can replicate.

The difference is akin to using a camera versus hiring a professional photographer. A camera can capture an image, but a photographer brings a deep understanding of composition, storytelling, and emotion to the frame—elements that technology or AI cannot easily replicate. As designers, we need to develop what sets us apart. This requires expanding our skill sets and cultivating the ability to make connections across multiple disciplines. Whether it’s blending UX design with psychology and feminism, or using graphic data visualization to advocate for sustainability, versatility is key.

In my experience, working across different fields—like product design, UX research, and visual branding—has allowed me to develop a holistic design system. This enables me to think strategically and deliver solutions that draw insights from diverse fields. The flexibility and ability to connect across domains give me an edge, enabling me to design not only for functionality but also for human-centred design that fosters social impact.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://sangeetharamanath.cargo.site
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thisissangeetha_/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sangeetharamanath/