Meet Shahriar Emil – Product Designer at Wisentic

Say hello to Shahriar, one of our latest additions to the team at Wisentic.

He’s the kind of designer who gets energised by messy problems, human behaviour, and the challenge of making complex systems feel simple. He came to Wisentic to explore a whole new corner of the tech world – insurtech – and to work with a team that felt like the right fit from the start.

We sat down with Shahriar to hear about his journey into design, how he approaches building products, and what keeps him curious outside of work.

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How did you get into product design?

"Ooh, kind of a long story! In my mid-teens, I discovered design as a hobby and realised I could turn something I enjoyed into a career. After finishing my bachelor’s, I pivoted specifically towards product and UX design, and haven’t looked back since. I really enjoy the human-interaction aspect and all the challenges it presents."

What drew you to join Wisentic and the insurtech world?

"I was looking for something new, and when I met the people at Wisentic, I knew I would enjoy working with them. I’ve always been a people-first person, so I knew I’d have a great time here. That it’s in the insurtech world just means I get to explore a whole new domain I hadn’t worked in before – and that’s always fun."

What’s your secret sauce when it comes to designing products?

"Keeping people in mind – who you’re designing for, and why. Speaking of sauce, designing products is a lot like cooking. You wouldn’t cook for someone without learning what they love or hate, what works for them and what doesn’t. Designing products is exactly the same. It’s all about understanding the people you’re creating for."

If you could redesign any product in the world, what would it be and why?

"Can I be a bit nihilistic and say the Earth and humans? But actually, this is the perfect trick question in product design. You wouldn’t randomly redesign something just because you felt like it. I could redesign something to my taste, only for it to become worse for everyone else."

Outside of work, what sparks your interest?

"I love learning and discovering new things. I spend a lot of time reading sci-fi and fantasy books, and playing video games – I enjoy experiencing stories in all formats. I also love creating: crafts with paper or wood, writing my own sci-fi/fantasy stories, and of course cooking and experimenting with new recipes and cuisines. And yes, I try to burn off those calories at the gym or in nature!"

We’re happy to have Shahriar on board and looking forward to what he’ll bring to the team!