Royal Bank of Canada —
IxD Internship
Royal Bank of Canada —
IxD Internship
Royal Bank of Canada —
IxD Internship
designing complex data tables with friends over the summer.
designing complex data tables with friends over the summer.
designing complex data tables with friends over the summer.
Timeframe
Timeframe
Timeframe
May - August 2023
May - August 2023
May - August 2023
Team
Team
Team
Credit Compass — Business Financial Services, Digital Design
Credit Compass — Business Financial Services, Digital Design
Credit Compass — Business Financial Services, Digital Design
Preface
Preface
Preface
This writeup is a report of my experience working as an interaction design intern in Toronto at The Royal Bank of Canada, one of Canada's largest financial institutions. Disclaimer — my team worked on an internal tool and my designs fall under an NDA, so this report may not contain many visual assets!
This writeup is a report of my experience working as an interaction design intern in Toronto at The Royal Bank of Canada, one of Canada's largest financial institutions. Disclaimer — my team worked on an internal tool and my designs fall under an NDA, so this report may not contain many visual assets!
This writeup is a report of my experience working as an interaction design intern in Toronto at The Royal Bank of Canada, one of Canada's largest financial institutions. Disclaimer — my team worked on an internal tool and my designs fall under an NDA, so this report may not contain many visual assets!
Design Journey
Design Journey
What did I do?
What did I do?
After spending the winter term as a content designer on the same team, I capitalized on my existing business knowledge and content practises to blend them into my daily design routine. This foundation proved invaluable as I embraced new responsibilities and challenges.
After spending the winter term as a content designer on the same team, I capitalized on my existing business knowledge and content practises to blend them into my daily design routine. This foundation proved invaluable as I embraced new responsibilities and challenges.
After spending the winter term as a content designer on the same team, I capitalized on my existing business knowledge and content practises to blend them into my daily design routine. This foundation proved invaluable as I embraced new responsibilities and challenges.
Dual project involvement
Dual project involvement
Dual project involvement
My work was primarily split across two significant projects. The first was an ongoing feature centred around Delegated Lending Authorities (DLA), where I created pixel-perfect design files, implemented Google Analytics tagging, and provided detailed accessibility notations. The second was my team's largest assigned project for the year: the complete redesign of an internal tool that allowed advisors to perform Annual Digital Service Reviews (ADSR).
My work was primarily split across two significant projects. The first was an ongoing feature centred around Delegated Lending Authorities (DLA), where I created pixel-perfect design files, implemented Google Analytics tagging, and provided detailed accessibility notations. The second was my team's largest assigned project for the year: the complete redesign of an internal tool that allowed advisors to perform Annual Digital Service Reviews (ADSR).
My work was primarily split across two significant projects. The first was an ongoing feature centred around Delegated Lending Authorities (DLA), where I created pixel-perfect design files, implemented Google Analytics tagging, and provided detailed accessibility notations. The second was my team's largest assigned project for the year: the complete redesign of an internal tool that allowed advisors to perform Annual Digital Service Reviews (ADSR).
Design process
Design process
Design process
The majority of my summer was focused on ADSR, where I collaborated closely with my mentor, a senior interaction designer, on ideation, information architecture, sketches, and mockups. As we progressed to building brand new components for complex data tables and interfaces, I significantly enhanced my Figma skills, which proved beneficial throughout the internship and beyond.
The majority of my summer was focused on ADSR, where I collaborated closely with my mentor, a senior interaction designer, on ideation, information architecture, sketches, and mockups. As we progressed to building brand new components for complex data tables and interfaces, I significantly enhanced my Figma skills, which proved beneficial throughout the internship and beyond.
The majority of my summer was focused on ADSR, where I collaborated closely with my mentor, a senior interaction designer, on ideation, information architecture, sketches, and mockups. As we progressed to building brand new components for complex data tables and interfaces, I significantly enhanced my Figma skills, which proved beneficial throughout the internship and beyond.
User testing + Iteration
User testing + Iteration
User testing + Iteration
As designs neared completion, I created prototypes for usability testing. Observing user interactions and analyzing their feedback informed our iterations, reinforcing the value of user-centred design and real-world testing. Fun fact: I even got the chance to lead an interview alongside our senior user researcher!
As designs neared completion, I created prototypes for usability testing. Observing user interactions and analyzing their feedback informed our iterations, reinforcing the value of user-centred design and real-world testing. Fun fact: I even got the chance to lead an interview alongside our senior user researcher!
As designs neared completion, I created prototypes for usability testing. Observing user interactions and analyzing their feedback informed our iterations, reinforcing the value of user-centred design and real-world testing. Fun fact: I even got the chance to lead an interview alongside our senior user researcher!
Growth Highlights
What did I learn?
What did I learn?
My experience as an interaction designer over the summer was a period of significant growth across three key areas:
My experience as an interaction designer over the summer was a period of significant growth across three key areas:
My experience as an interaction designer over the summer was a period of significant growth across three key areas:
🎨
🎨
🎨
Mastered visual design + prototyping tools
Mastered visual design + prototyping tools
Mastered visual design + prototyping tools
I transformed from a Figma novice to a confident user, progressing from basic prototypes to creating high-fidelity mockups and complex master components.
I transformed from a Figma novice to a confident user, progressing from basic prototypes to creating high-fidelity mockups and complex master components.
I transformed from a Figma novice to a confident user, progressing from basic prototypes to creating high-fidelity mockups and complex master components.
🗣️
🗣️
🗣️
Developed strong collaboration + communication skills
Developed strong collaboration + communication skills
Developed strong collaboration + communication skills
Previously accustomed to designing with intuition, I learned to design with intention, effectively articulating my decisions to diverse stakeholders.
Previously accustomed to designing with intuition, I learned to design with intention, effectively articulating my decisions to diverse stakeholders.
Previously accustomed to designing with intuition, I learned to design with intention, effectively articulating my decisions to diverse stakeholders.
🧠
🧠
🧠
Expanded knowledge of design principles + theory
Expanded knowledge of design principles + theory
Expanded knowledge of design principles + theory
Through attending the Enterprise UX conference as a scholar and meetings with my IxD chapter, I deepened my understanding of advanced design concepts.
Through attending the Enterprise UX conference as a scholar and meetings with my IxD chapter, I deepened my understanding of advanced design concepts.
Through attending the Enterprise UX conference as a scholar and meetings with my IxD chapter, I deepened my understanding of advanced design concepts.
By the end of the summer, I had reached a level of independence in my work that my colleagues often likened to that of a full-time team member. This boost in confidence affirmed my growth as a designer and my ability to excel in this role!
By the end of the summer, I had reached a level of independence in my work that my colleagues often likened to that of a full-time team member. This boost in confidence affirmed my growth as a designer and my ability to excel in this role!
By the end of the summer, I had reached a level of independence in my work that my colleagues often likened to that of a full-time team member. This boost in confidence affirmed my growth as a designer and my ability to excel in this role!
Retrospective
Retrospective
A moment of gratitude
A moment of gratitude
This internship was not just a professional milestone, but a personal triumph. It validated my long-held aspirations in the field of product design, and provided concrete evidence of my growth as a designer.
This internship was not just a professional milestone, but a personal triumph. It validated my long-held aspirations in the field of product design, and provided concrete evidence of my growth as a designer.
This internship was not just a professional milestone, but a personal triumph. It validated my long-held aspirations in the field of product design, and provided concrete evidence of my growth as a designer.
I'm indebted to my wonderful team members: Cathy, for being an amazing desk buddy and literary companion; Mukkaram, for his exemplary work and IxD insights; Iva, my fellow intern, for the great laughs; Deanna, our Design Lead, for believing in me and giving me the chance to expand my role!
I'm indebted to my wonderful team members: Cathy, for being an amazing desk buddy and literary companion; Mukkaram, for his exemplary work and IxD insights; Iva, my fellow intern, for the great laughs; Deanna, our Design Lead, for believing in me and giving me the chance to expand my role!
I'm indebted to my wonderful team members: Cathy, for being an amazing desk buddy and literary companion; Mukkaram, for his exemplary work and IxD insights; Iva, my fellow intern, for the great laughs; Deanna, our Design Lead, for believing in me and giving me the chance to expand my role!
A special thanks to Sarah, my mentor for Winter and our Senior Content Designer for her guidance throughout my time at RBC, and Crystal, my summer mentor and Senior IxD, who fueled my passion for design and provided me with invaluable career direction.
A special thanks to Sarah, my mentor for Winter and our Senior Content Designer for her guidance throughout my time at RBC, and Crystal, my summer mentor and Senior IxD, who fueled my passion for design and provided me with invaluable career direction.
A special thanks to Sarah, my mentor for Winter and our Senior Content Designer for her guidance throughout my time at RBC, and Crystal, my summer mentor and Senior IxD, who fueled my passion for design and provided me with invaluable career direction.
Until next time : )
Until next time : )
Until next time : )
Contact
Contact
Contact
Say hello!
Say hello!
Whether it's about design, music, or my world famous banana pudding recipe - I'm always happy to chat!
Whether it's about design, music, or my world famous banana pudding recipe - I'm always happy to chat!
Whether it's about design, music, or my world famous banana pudding recipe - I'm always happy to chat!
