We recently connected with Saloni Pasad and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Saloni , thanks for joining us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?
One of the most meaningful projects I’ve worked on is “Legends of India”, a series of detailed illustrations of 12 famous Indian kings and emperors. These illustrations were turned into informative collectibles like posters, pins, and postcards, designed to celebrate India’s rich and diverse heritage. The goal was to spark pride and curiosity by showing how each ruler’s story is full of bravery, brilliance, and cultural impact.
What made this project so meaningful to me was the process. To illustrate authentically, I deeply studied the lives of these rulers, the eras they lived in, and the art, architecture, and clothing of their time. That journey gave me a newfound appreciation for history, and for the way cultural and societal shifts shape civilizations over centuries, which has since become a personal passion.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I’m a Visual Designer & Illustrator turned Senior UX Designer, originally from India and now based in New York. I moved halfway across the world to pursue my Master’s degree and build a career in UX. Today, I work at a design agency where I create intuitive, user-friendly digital products for global companies in industries like e-commerce, healthcare, and software development.
The problems I help solve go beyond aesthetics. I design experiences that make complex products feel simple, trustworthy, and enjoyable. My work often bridges the gap between business goals and human needs: helping companies increase customer satisfaction, build trust, and in turn, achieve measurable success. What sets me apart is my foundation in illustration and visual design. I bring an eye for detail, storytelling, and emotional resonance into UX, ensuring that every solution is both functional and visually meaningful.
I’m most proud of the impact my work has had on my clients’ businesses. In many cases, my designs have helped them strengthen customer relationships, improve usability, and ultimately drive financial success. The feedback and testimonials I receive, about how design has transformed their product or brand, is what motivates me to keep pushing forward and creating with empathy.
Beyond my professional work, I continue to recharge and reconnect with my roots in illustration. These days, I create art just for myself, exploring texture, depth, and form, which brings me joy and calm. I also spend weekends with the creative community at “The NYC Drawing Room”, a small business dedicated to building connections through art. It feels like a second living room in the city, where anyone can relax, make art, and learn together. If you’re ever in NYC, I highly recommend joining one of their open studio sessions.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
I started my career as a Visual Designer and Illustrator, and over time, found my way into UX design. It wasn’t something I planned, but it ended up being the most natural shift I could have made.
With a background in Communication Design, I spent my early years working on branding, packaging, and illustration. I’ve always been drawn to storytelling and visual beauty, and I loved helping clients turn abstract ideas into something people could connect with. As I worked with more clients, I noticed that I enjoyed discussing strategy and business outcomes just as much as the design itself.
Everything changed when I was asked to redesign a digital product. It was my first real introduction to user experience, and I immediately fell in love with the process: understanding people’s needs, mapping their frustrations, and transforming all that insight into something functional and beautiful. It challenged me in new ways and felt like the perfect intersection of creativity and logic.
Even before my pivot, I approached Visual Design & Illustration with depth and intention. Today, as a Sr. UX Designer, I bring that same curiosity and attention to detail to every product I work on, creating designs that are not only visually appealing but truly meaningful for the people who use them.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
Moving halfway across the world was challenging. Being away from family and friends was lonely, and balancing studies with an on-campus job and internship often took a mental toll. I would come home only to cook, clean, sleep, and repeat. This was my life for two years, but the belief and faith my parents had in me, along with my own drive to achieve something meaningful, kept me going.
Those long, demanding days felt worth it when incredible opportunities arose. I was given the opportunity to go to CERN in Geneva, Switzerland, to work on design solutions addressing Responsible Consumption and Production of Food, one of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, under the guidance of CERN’s experts. While there, surrounded by the Swiss Alps, I had the privilege of visiting CMS (Compact Muon Solenoid), a particle detector for LHC (Large Hadron Collider), the world’s largest and highest-energy particle collider built by CERN. I also toured the United Nations Office at Geneva, gaining insights into its history, operations, and sustainable development agenda.
One of my core memories was sharing dinner with Robert Cailliau, co-creator of the World Wide Web. Hearing his reflections on life, technology, and the future was inspiring and deeply humbling. Experiences like these reminded me to keep working hard, stay curious, and seize opportunities even when the journey feels overwhelming.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.salonipasad.com
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/salonipasad/
Image Credits
Saloni Pasad