My story

I’m Venus Kondapalli, a Product Manager and UX Design Lead based in Hyderabad, India. I specialize in UX research and information architecture, and I’m happiest when I’m learning, exploring new cultures and traveling.

The professional me

I trained as a Computer Science Engineer in Hyderabad and have spent 13 years across design consultancies, Fortune 500 companies and tech startups. I have worked as a UX Designer, UX Researcher, Product Manager, Information Architect, AI Prompt Engineer and Visual Designer, which makes me a versatile generalist across UX and UI. I shape design strategy, solve complex experience problems, prototype and iterate quickly, and deliver pixel-perfect products. I also lead fast-paced deliveries, plan workflows and adapt to changing client needs.

Next, I want to lead product and design at a product-driven tech company: owning products end to end, growing strong design teams and mentoring designers in an agile environment.

Outside work

I often find myself thinking about design in my spare time, because it’s more than a profession to me; it’s a lifelong passion. I believe design should improve the quality of human life, both functionally and aesthetically. My interest goes beyond creating products: I’m drawn to the philosophy of design and its social impact. I’m inspired by beautiful environments, living beings and human creativity. As a keen observer of the world, I enjoy interpreting the meaning behind everyday experiences and objects. I follow design trends, both social and aesthetic, but I question where they come from rather than following them blindly. I naturally lean toward subtlety over loudness, which reflects my personality.

A few more things about me

Favorite foods: mutton biryani, chicken nuggets, chicken rolls and thin-crust cheese pizza.

Design principle I rely on most: Fitts’s law, from the psychologist Paul Fitts.

My design belief: Dieter Rams’ ten principles for good design.

Photographer I admire most: Henri Cartier-Bresson.

Favorite museums in India: the Salar Jung Museum in Hyderabad and the Indian Museum in Kolkata.

How I stay active: cricket and the gym.

Favorite city to visit: Edinburgh, Scotland.

Favorite city to live in: New York. It keeps me visually and mentally inspired every day.

The most wonderful thing that happened to me recently: visiting New York and Niagara Falls with my U.S. Bank team.

Most satisfying recent achievement: leading a team of 21 engineers to deliver a fintech SaaS platform in two months.

Favorite movie genres: historical, comedy, action and psychological thrillers.

The greatest invention, in my view: the elevator.