As part of our ongoing Inside SmartFrame series, Product Owner Francesco Calabretta speaks about his role and divulges a valuable lesson he learnt early in his career
I’ve always been fascinated by technology. From an early age, I was drawn to building websites, modifying electronic devices, and even assembling computers.
Today, I look after the user experience (UX), security, and compatibility of SmartFrame images. This allows me to be creative with our technology and to collaborate with various teams across our organization.
First ventures into the world of technology
The first project I was commissioned to work on was in 2006, when I was in my late teens, and it concerned the development of software for a personal digital assistant (PDA). For those unfamiliar with these, they are essentially a precursor to today’s smartphones.
This software allowed users to input results from user surveys, which were carried out on the street among members of the public, which would then go into a database.
The limited screen size of these devices made this a challenging project to work on. Above all else, it required careful design in order to incorporate all the necessary functions within a small space.
As an aside, the person who commissioned me to work on this software ran away without paying me. The experience taught me a few valuable lessons about user experience – and one important life lesson too!
Launching a business at university
When I was studying civil engineering in Bologna, I found shopping for everyday clothes like t-shirts and jeans to be a boring process. Walking into a shop and not knowing the prices or understanding the quality of the clothes was a real pain!
This then sparked an idea: Why not create a platform that aggregates products from local stores in an online search engine?
It was called YesWeDress. Essentially a fashion search engine for local shops, YesWeDress allowed people to easily find what they were looking for and simplified the shopping experience.
We had some amazing feedback from customers in Italy and the UK, as well as from Los Angeles, Chicago, and Madrid.
For me the most important takeaway from this was to try to pursue your passions.
Even if the initial outcome isn’t what you envisioned, every experience provides something that may prove to be valuable for future projects you work on.
The value of user feedback
One key lesson I learned from this period is the importance of launching products quickly.
We spent too much time trying to perfect the product before launch, and later discovered that a handful of significant changes could have only been implemented as a result of user feedback.
It’s better to get a product out there quickly and iterate based on user data than to spend too much time building something in a vacuum.
Working in a startup or launching your own business inevitably involves experiencing ups and downs.
However, difficult moments can be opportunities to find creative solutions. It’s crucial to be adaptable and not be afraid to modify your initial idea.
While the venture eventually ran its course, it gave me many valuable lessons that I continue to apply in my work today.
Advice I would give an aspiring product developer
I would say that learning how to code, even to a basic level, is key. This gives you a deeper understanding of the technology behind products and the capabilities and limitations of what you can build.
Being able to understand the principles of coding allows you to have better communication with developers when building products.
I think it’s important that you try as many things as possible to understand how things work. Focusing on one thing, and remaining focused on that one thing, is a mistake because you won’t understand its relationships with everything else.
Another hugely desirable quality for someone working in UX or product development is the ability to learn from, and be receptive to, feedback.
It might seem like an obvious thing to say but, especially when you’re starting out, you can often fall into the trap of thinking that your way is the best way. Feedback shouldn’t be taken personally; instead, it should be viewed as an opportunity to improve the product.
It is, however, also important to be able to communicate your decisions and not blindly accept all feedback.
Understanding the value of user data, but also recognizing when it might be beneficial to take calculated risks, is essential.
While user data is valuable, there are times when it’s necessary to pursue your own vision and innovate based on your understanding of the market.
Life at SmartFrame
I’ve been at SmartFrame for more than six years but I’m still learning plenty on a daily basis.
The remote working aspect is a huge plus point for me as it gives me the freedom to work in different spaces.
Regular team gatherings are still important, though. They help to build stronger relationships and having that time in person often leads to some of the best ideas. It also gives a good opportunity to get to know your teammate beyond their day jobs!
SmartFrame’s mission is challenging yet rewarding; changing the way images are delivered and viewed online isn’t easy.
But everyone here has the same belief that this product will change the way images are shared online. And to be in this type of environment, with this particular mission at its heart, is truly inspiring.
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