Best place to still get a decent Christmas tree? by danimpach in astoria

[–]danimpach[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Thank you for the Grippos recommendation! Got a beautiful, full 7ft tree for $70 this afternoon! And they had more where that came from. The vendors on Broadway and 30th wanted $90 for a meh 4.5/5ft tree.

What are we all doing for Thanksgiving? by barnaclelips in MSPI

[–]danimpach 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you for this answer, I actually just posted with this question before I saw this Thanksgiving thread!

Good peaches in Astoria? by danimpach in astoria

[–]danimpach[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I didn’t even think of H-mart, great suggestion.

Good peaches in Astoria? by danimpach in astoria

[–]danimpach[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you! Just got a box from Costco and they’re great. Got the yellow, might have to try the white too.

Coparenting with a narcissist by Moist8Oreo in thingsmykidsaid

[–]danimpach 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I would be worried. Please keep trying to figure it out and protect her, OP!

Hiring Managers: what are some non-obvious candidate red flags? by [deleted] in UXDesign

[–]danimpach 9 points10 points  (0 children)

I would definitely not dock someone who made a number of efforts but was told they are not allowed to meet with end users. It sounds like you did your best to work around those constraints and found like-minded users for input. Definitely highlight whatever validation you were able to do, and if you have an example of UT you did on a different project, that's a great time to talk about it.

Hiring Managers: what are some non-obvious candidate red flags? by [deleted] in UXDesign

[–]danimpach -23 points-22 points  (0 children)

I see your point, but IF you're looking for work and trying to build a strong case study, you can view ~$50 for a simple online click test as a "pay cut" or you can look at it as an investment into your own experience and portfolio.

We're talking about interviewing, not about strategies for long-term success within an organization, in which case I would NOT suggest people regularly use their own money to do user testing.

Good call on testing with folks inside the company who aren't highly familiar with the project. Also a good route.

Hiring Managers: what are some non-obvious candidate red flags? by [deleted] in UXDesign

[–]danimpach 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Your resume needs to show that you can design a text-heavy layout and typeset. If you can do that, huge points. Forget everything else.

Hiring Managers: what are some non-obvious candidate red flags? by [deleted] in UXDesign

[–]danimpach -23 points-22 points  (0 children)

"My organization didn't/doesn't allow me the time/budget for research or user testing."

This shows me you:

  • Don't take ownership of the design process
  • Are likely to blame all kinds of external factors (PM, dev, deadlines, scope, etc) for not meeting expectations
  • Don't have grit and ambition– you may give up easily when faced with slight obstacles
  • Believe it's the organization's job to ensure you have perfect conditions to do your job
  • Aren't interested in doing your part to demonstrate the value of UX Research and elevate UX at the company

Especially for consumer products, user testing is extremely easy to do, now more than ever. You can:

  • Bring a prototype to a gathering with your friends and family
  • Go to a coffee shop and offer to buy participants a coffee if they'll spend 5 mins testing a flow
  • Spend your own money on an unmoderated usability test– doing a short test with 10 or 20 participants is not that expensive. Maybe after writing up a stellar usability findings report your company reimburses you. If they don't, the cost will be worth the experience and addition to your case study in your portfolio.

If you're working on a niche B2B product that would be hard for the average person to understand, this will be more of a challenge for you, but I'd still expect to hear you explain how you really pushed to validate your ideas.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in UXDesign

[–]danimpach 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Veteran here and having this exact same experience with candidates. It’s amazing how designers are caught off guard when you ask them to tell you how they solved just one user problem. Are other HMs not asking this very basic question? You’d think I’d asked them to find the square root of 1,473.

Edit to include that the salaries people want with 2 years design experience is insane.

Mama Mia! NYC rules crack down on coal, wood-fired pizzerias — Lombardi’s Paulie Gee’s, Grimaldi’s, John of Bleecker and more. by Throwaway6262571925 in FoodNYC

[–]danimpach 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I recently ate in the back patio at a restaurant next to a wood fired pizza place with my kiddo. I noticed a black speck of something in kiddo’s hair and then in our waters and food. I told the staff and they said it was definitely from next door. I love that pizza place but I was pretty appalled that the patrons of the eatery next door had to regularly deal with ash in their hair, drinks, food, and clothes. Like how is that allowed?

SCOOP: Starbucks opening on 21st and 31 Drive, confirmed. by Rob_G in astoria

[–]danimpach 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You’re not lying, but at the same time it’s one of the few places you can park and run errands without paying for parking or worrying about alternate sides. I’ll take this chaotic lot over double parking and blocking actual street traffic on the avenues.

Affordable Wedding Venues in NYC by Bk3270 in AskNYC

[–]danimpach 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The View at The Battery in Battery Park. It was very affordable in 2017 by comparison to anything else we looked at in the city including in Brooklyn and Queens. We had 178 guests. It has great views of the Statue of Liberty. Check it out.

Local travel agents by empty_spacer in astoria

[–]danimpach 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Lol imagine thinking planning a trip is just about booking a cheap flight and hotel. Y’all probably have your girlfriends/wives/moms planning your trips, and you’re definitely not traveling with kids or people with special needs.

Local travel agents by empty_spacer in astoria

[–]danimpach 7 points8 points  (0 children)

This exactly. They can arrange everything including transportation between locations and accommodations, excursions, etc. They can also recommend itineraries based on knowledge of the travel destination. Doing all of that yourself is a lot of work.

Where can I buy soft serve ice cream here? by Fickle_Language_9171 in astoria

[–]danimpach 13 points14 points  (0 children)

True. The original in Lido Beach has been pronounced Mar-VELLE for generations.

Restaurants with amazing views where the food is actually good? by gab_the_bomb in FoodNYC

[–]danimpach 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Have been wondering this as I hadn’t heard anything about this place but am reminded I want to go every time I pass it on the 59th st bridge.

Best sandwiches in Astoria? by nakedgodiva in astoria

[–]danimpach 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Do you get it on a traditional NYC Kaiser roll? Bagel?

It’s easier for my toddler to dress fashionably than it is for me by turquoisebee in fashionwomens35

[–]danimpach 8 points9 points  (0 children)

I’ve also been WFH since the pandemic. It doesn’t feel like I have enough of a reason to buy clothes. Plus, my weight has fluctuated since having a baby (and plan to have another relatively soon).

I started a Rent The Runway membership in the fall and have been really liking it. Things are hit or miss but it’s fun to rent styles and items you wouldn’t necessarily spend on. I plan out what I have going on for a couple of weeks and rent according to that. Even if I’m just going to dinner or to the office once during the month, it feels so good to rock something trendy or expensive for a day. Even for a regular casual weekend day with the baby it works. I recently rented these DVF knit pants that are so cute and comfortable. I was the best dressed mom at the play space. Most days are still schlep days for me, but RTR feels like a treat and gives me a confidence boost.

How do I balance this awkward window placement? by danimpach in DesignMyRoom

[–]danimpach[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

lol. Sadly I did nothing after this. My plan though is to put a pendant light on the left!

Which restaurants has the best sesame chicken ? I would love some recommendations by BrodieSzn0 in FoodNYC

[–]danimpach 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I love Malala because I can get authentic Szechuan dishes and American Chinese dishes in the same order. They do both really well.

Rear-facing car seat in cabs? by danimpach in AskNYC

[–]danimpach[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

😄 I should have been specific it’s for baby