Humans of The Summer Studio: Amanda Prats
This article was originally posted on LinkedIn, check it out here.
Meet Amanda
Post two in our Humans of the Summer Studio series is Amanda Prats, a Fellow from our 2024 cohort. After a stint at frog, Amanda is now a Senior UX Visual Designer at CNH. She has that Design Midas Touch we all envy - everything she works on seems instantaneously beautiful and clear. In addition to contributing to (seriously) every aspect of The Summer Studio client work last year, she is a generous and patient teammate and a natural public speaker. The leadership at CNH knew that she was a perfect candidate for our unique professional development experience. Amanda is one to watch!
What did it feel like to get hands on during the Summer Studio week in Austin last year?
Rolling up my sleeves during Summer Studio was a great reminder of our superpower as designers to create something out of nothing. Starting with just a few simple questions and problem statements, our team emerged with a flurry of sticky notes, ideas, sketches, and by the end of the week, a prototype. To share in the act of creation with a lovely, clever and hardworking team was a joy. Our hands-on design efforts were enriched by the intentional reflection and discussion that were also core to the Summer Studio experience.
What do you think future fellows should know about the week?
The Summer Studio experience flies by, but the practice of daily reflection made the lessons learned resonate deeply. A year later, concepts we discussed still come to mind and my understanding of them evolves as I apply these learnings to my daily life and career.
Were there any surprises?
It is incredibly surprising how much of a lasting impact can come from just a few days of being removed from your routine, being called to reflect, and tackling a fun problem with a new group of people. The moments of the experience that have persisted in my memory and continued to resonate have been a surprise. From the smallest anecdotes, to turns of phrase, and daily rituals, many have worked their way into my routines and become incredibly valuable frameworks.
What does it mean to you to be a designer today?
To be a designer is to create with empathy. It is to solve problems–be them visual, organizational, structural, big, small, or ambiguous–to make something work better for whoever is on the receiving end of our efforts.
Is there a piece of advice or wisdom that you would tell your younger designer self?
Show the thing already! It doesn't matter if it's not perfect today, it won't be perfect tomorrow either. But share it now, get some feedback, and your work will improve for having done so.