Meet Angil Tate | Product Designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Angil Tate and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Angil, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
I used to struggle with working constantly, and seeing it as some sort of badge of honor. We live in an American society that values hyper-individualism and and devalues rest — it creates for a life that is focused on doing rather than “being.”

There was an article that changed my perspective on “side hustles” awhile ago, it explained that we’ve glorified having a second job under the guise of “being you own boss.” Such a scam! There’s a false sense of freedom that we gain when we fail to weigh the responsibility and work of starting something and in actuality we’re working a second job with no tine to just live.

Inadequate work-life balance has roots for everyone but the most common is money. While money is a driving factor for living, there’s such a fine line. How can you enjoy what you’re making if you’re never free enough to do so?

Over time I’ve learned to value just being. I don’t always need to work and my value is not directly tied to my output. My faith has certainly influenced my work-life balance shift. I do believe there is a plan and path, and that I don’t have to break my neck to be there. There is a season for hard work, there is a season for rest, and seasons for everything is between those. I make a point to be done working at 5:30 and take tine for have a solid morning routine before opening my laptop. No work emails are on my phone! When I am taking clients, I am vigilant about not working on projects for the weekend. Life has been so much sweeter since making those changes! You can work hard and rest hard, too.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’m a product designer at WillowTree Apps, but long before that I was working in the music industry! Actually getting laid off from my first job out of college led me to design. Folks are always surprised to know that I studied music in school. During a long and tumultuous stint of unemployment (despite hundreds of applications) I decided to use whatever skill I had to make some money while waiting for an interview. That wait was so much longer than expected! Design was something I didn’t see myself doing long term and I really only had the basic skills because I was raised by a developer. I knew my way around the software and already had a creative streak as a musician so I just practiced and learned.

Soon enough side projects for friends became big budget projects for small businesses and entrepreneurs. For awhile I was still convinced that design was just something to do while I waited but when I realized I could marry my interest in tech and design skills through product design/UX I was in love. It wasn’t easy at all, but my support system pushed me! I went back to school for UX and really worked to have a professional presence in the tech industry. Transitioning from solo freelance design to working in software development in tech can be hard!

I believe the most consistent aspect threaded through my work and story is perseverance. In a project, through my career hurdles, and even in having my on design practice I choose to keep pushing forward.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I think people love the Instagram-worthy stuff! If we were hanging for a weekend we’d spend it in Midtown and O4W! I love Superica at Krog, and riding bikes on the belt line. Westside Provisions in the evening for ice cream and dinner would be the perfect weekend cap.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Before I began working at WillowTree, I had already implemented changes in my work-life balance… but my previous manager and mentor Julia Swenson continues to inspire me to embrace “being” as much as I embrace “doing”

Website: www.angiltate.com

Instagram: @tatejanae

Linkedin: www.linkedIn.com/in/angiltate

Image Credits
Reginald Duncan, Cranium.Art