TorCHI
ABSTRACT
With 45 million monthly users, Wattpad has created a special community where readers can find unique stories not found anywhere else and burgeoning writers can launch their storytelling careers. As Wattpad transitions from funded startup to self-sustaining business, however, its product design team had to go completely sideways to enable its next stage of growth.
Andrew Chak recently joined Wattpad where he is transitioning from corporate scale to startup resourcefulness. With a coveted set of design and research resources, Andrew has had to re-valuate what the essential ingredients are for creating an unmatchable product experience.This session will cover the organizational baggage that needs to be shed, the tools that still deserve to be employed, and the problem traps to avoid in order to enable great product experiences to thrive within any organization.
BIO – ANDREW CHAK, Head of Design, Wattpad
From agency, to enterprise, to startup, Andrew Chak has hacked table page layouts in Netscape, debated between responsive and adaptive design, and negotiated with stakeholders who just want to see the mockups. Andrew is Head of Design at Wattpad where aspiring writers share the most unique stories that 45 million monthly readers cannot find anywhere else.
Andrew was previously Head of User Experience for Rogers and Associate Vice President, Digital Customer Experience for TD. He loves to spend his days debating the finer points of a problem statement, observing users to notice the things that they don’t say, and creating those moments that will be the best parts of someone’s day.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/achak
@TorCHI