A Day in the Life of Nadean Ali, UX Design Consultant

Ever wondered what a day in the life of one of our consultants looks like? This series dives into the details! Today, we’re spotlighting Nadean Ali, a UX Design Consultant based in Atlanta. Here’s a glimpse into her typical day. 

Morning 

I’m an early bird, so I usually start my day with a warm cup of tea, especially now that it’s colder. I wake up pretty sharp, so mornings are my heads-down productivity time. I like to knock out as much as I can from my to-do list before the day gets going. Right now, I’m working with an incredible team of developers and fellow designers at UDig to redesign the internal sales software for one of the biggest HVAC and plumbing distribution companies in the country. 

Most mornings I’m working from home since our ATL team is fully remote, but depending on where we are in the project, mornings can sometimes mean heading out for in-store user testing sessions with my teammates. Today though, I’m at home, getting through my tasks before our 10:15 a.m. standup. By that point, I usually have solid updates to share, and our quick check-in helps us realign, take in feedback, and adjust the plan for the rest of the day. It’s also just a nice moment to hear what everyone’s been up to, we have a close project team, so even remote mornings feel collaborative. 

Lunch 

No matter how busy things get, I always take a real lunch break, something I love about UDig’s culture. I usually grab something meal-prepped, and if the weather is nice, I’ll go outside for a short walk. A little sunshine and fresh air make a huge difference. 

Design work can be incredibly detail-heavy and problem-solving focused, so stepping away lets me come back with a clearer perspective. After lunch, I always feel reset and ready to dive into the collaborative part of my day. 

Afternoon 

Afternoons are usually when the dynamic work happens. Most of my meetings with the client happen after lunch, presenting the latest designs, gathering feedback, and aligning on what’s next. I think of my day as split into two halves: the morning is creating, and the afternoon is refining with the people who will actually use what we build. We’re intentional about our meetings, so everything we do is productive and respectful of everyone’s time. 

The software we’re currently redesigning is over 20 years old, and new associates are in need of a tool that’s more intuitive and up to date. This is the client’s third attempt at modernizing the system, but our approach has made a huge difference, every feature we create goes through in-store testing with real employees before moving forward. Getting iterative feedback from actual users has helped us build trust and shape a product that people genuinely want to use. You can feel the excitement and momentum on both sides. 

Outside of client work, I like to get involved in internal initiatives and opportunities that help me further deepen my design expertise. Earlier this year, I participated in UDig’s internal AI competition and ended up taking second place with my idea, the Visual QA Checker. It was a really positive experience that gave me the chance to work with great teammates, collaborate with leaders across different disciplines, and present to the whole company. It gave me immediate visibility and made me feel connected well beyond my project team. 

And as the project grows more complex, I’ve been using my company-provided access to Udemy to take advanced Figma courses. Working on such a large-scale system means we’re constantly creating intricate components and finding efficiencies, so the extra training has been invaluable. 

After Work

Once I wrap up the day, I like to switch gears completely. I usually head to a reformer Pilates class—my favorite way to unwind and transition into the evening. After that, I might make a smoothie, meet friends at a Yemeni coffee shop that stays open late, or just have a quiet night reading for my book club.

Working at UDig feels exciting because people today are more tech-savvy than ever, and they immediately notice when a product is intentionally designed. Being at a company that values thoughtful, end-to-end experiences aligns with my own design philosophy. It makes the work meaningful and keeps me energized day to day.