About me
Hello! I'm Chelms Varthoumlien (pronounced Vaar-thoom-lee-an), a senior product designer based in Toronto, Canada .
Hello! I'm Chelms Varthoumlien (pronounced Vaar-thoom-lee-an), a senior product designer based in Toronto, Canada .
I began my academic journey in Visual Arts, diving deep into art theory, practice, and digital media. This foundation cultivated my passion for problem-solving and steered me towards a career in design, where my artistic spirit ensures that I remain both curious and imaginative.
I am deeply committed to crafting data-informed, ethical, and empathic product solutions. My areas of expertise span design systems, tech, and mentoring. One of the highlights of my career is building genuine, lasting relationships within the industry.
Outside the professional grind. I love travelling, finding the next RPG game to play, noolding on the guitar & bass, and photography. I'm also always up for a new side project and currently or trying to learn French. Au revoir!
Work experience
Senior Product Designer
Clickatell, Toronto, ON
2020 - Current
Senior Product Designer
Clickatell, Toronto, ON
2020 - Current
Senior Product Designer
Clickatell, Toronto, ON
2020 - Current
Product Designer
Nobul, Toronto, ON
2019 - 2020
Product Designer
Nobul, Toronto, ON
2019 - 2020
Product Designer
Nobul, Toronto, ON
2019 - 2020
Multidisciplinary Designer & Art Director
ZoomerMedia, Toronto, ON
2012 - 2019
Multidisciplinary Designer & Art Director
ZoomerMedia, Toronto, ON
2012 - 2019
Multidisciplinary Designer & Art Director
ZoomerMedia, Toronto, ON
2012 - 2019
Web/Graphic Designer & Front-End Dev
6 Sigma Design, Toronto, ON
2011 - 2012
Web/Graphic Designer & Front-End Dev
6 Sigma Design, Toronto, ON
2011 - 2012
Web/Graphic Designer & Front-End Dev
6 Sigma Design, Toronto, ON
2011 - 2012
Core values & design philosophy
Understand
Ask lots of questions and grasp the core needs and contexts of your users by conducting thorough research and analysis.
Understand
Ask lots of questions and grasp the core needs and contexts of your users by conducting thorough research and analysis.
Understand
Ask lots of questions and grasp the core needs and contexts of your users by conducting thorough research and analysis.
Empathy
Foster a deep connection with users by putting yourself in their shoes to appreciate their emotions and experiences.
Empathy
Foster a deep connection with users by putting yourself in their shoes to appreciate their emotions and experiences.
Empathy
Foster a deep connection with users by putting yourself in their shoes to appreciate their emotions and experiences.
Intentional
Design with purpose, ensuring every element and interaction serves a specific, strategic goal.
Intentional
Design with purpose, ensuring every element and interaction serves a specific, strategic goal.
Intentional
Design with purpose, ensuring every element and interaction serves a specific, strategic goal.
Delight
Create enjoyable and memorable experiences that exceed user expectations and foster positive engagement.
Delight
Create enjoyable and memorable experiences that exceed user expectations and foster positive engagement.
Delight
Create enjoyable and memorable experiences that exceed user expectations and foster positive engagement.
My design process
1. Research
Synthesize research data. Market analysis. Understand more about the problem. Examine broader impact.
1. Research
Synthesize research data. Market analysis. Understand more about the problem. Examine broader impact.
1. Research
Synthesize research data. Market analysis. Understand more about the problem. Examine broader impact.
2. Define the problem
Develop user personas. Gather deeper insights on the problem. Craft precise problem statements.
2. Define the problem
Develop user personas. Gather deeper insights on the problem. Craft precise problem statements.
2. Define the problem
Develop user personas. Gather deeper insights on the problem. Craft precise problem statements.
3. Map user journey
Create detailed user journey maps. Highlighting pain points and opportunities for innovation.
3. Map user journey
Create detailed user journey maps. Highlighting pain points and opportunities for innovation.
3. Map user journey
Create detailed user journey maps. Highlighting pain points and opportunities for innovation.
4. Core UX exploration
Develop initial concepts. Iterate on design solutions through sketches and wireframes.
4. Core UX exploration
Develop initial concepts. Iterate on design solutions through sketches and wireframes.
4. Core UX exploration
Develop initial concepts. Iterate on design solutions through sketches and wireframes.
5. Review session
Collaborate with PMs and devs to review designs and ensure alignment with product goals and technical constraints. Incorporate feedback to refine designs
5. Review session
Collaborate with PMs and devs to review designs and ensure alignment with product goals and technical constraints. Incorporate feedback to refine designs
5. Review session
Collaborate with PMs and devs to review designs and ensure alignment with product goals and technical constraints. Incorporate feedback to refine designs
6. Design deliverable
Finalize design specifications and deliver comprehensive design documents that guide the development phase, including UI elements and interaction patterns.
6. Design deliverable
Finalize design specifications and deliver comprehensive design documents that guide the development phase, including UI elements and interaction patterns.
6. Design deliverable
Finalize design specifications and deliver comprehensive design documents that guide the development phase, including UI elements and interaction patterns.
7. Design grooming
Prepare designs for development by breaking down components, defining states and behaviors, and prioritizing implementation phases.
7. Design grooming
Prepare designs for development by breaking down components, defining states and behaviors, and prioritizing implementation phases.
7. Design grooming
Prepare designs for development by breaking down components, defining states and behaviors, and prioritizing implementation phases.
8. Handoff
Conduct detailed handoff meetings with the dev team to ensure clarity and alignment on the designs, providing all necessary design specs and assets.
8. Handoff
Conduct detailed handoff meetings with the dev team to ensure clarity and alignment on the designs, providing all necessary design specs and assets.
8. Handoff
Conduct detailed handoff meetings with the dev team to ensure clarity and alignment on the designs, providing all necessary design specs and assets.
9. Design QA & Review
Participate in QA testing to identify issues and deviations from the design specs. Review and monitor usage with users.
9. Design QA & Review
Participate in QA testing to identify issues and deviations from the design specs. Review and monitor usage with users.
9. Design QA & Review
Participate in QA testing to identify issues and deviations from the design specs. Review and monitor usage with users.
Fun facts & hobbies
I speak 5 languages fluently. Love travelling, finding the next RPG game to play, noodling on the guitar & bass, and photography.