Designing Your Path: 10 Things You Must Know About High-Impact Design Careers in Tech

So, you want to be a designer, and you think, perhaps, your dreams have no place in tech. Think again.

Designers touch nearly every digital tool we interact with, from websites and apps to presentations and product interfaces. They’re communicators and storytellers, using visuals as their medium, and they’re essential to shaping the future of technology.

But don’t just take our word for it. At Intuit, designers Eshita Gupta and Gabrielle Dal Santo are redefining what career growth looks like—not just in their craft, but in how they lead, influence, and innovate.

We asked them to share how their careers have evolved at the company and why. Here are 10 things to know about building a growth-forward, impactful design career at a company leading the charge in technical innovation.

10 things you must know about high-impact design careers in tech

1. Growth starts with curiosity

Whether transitioning from engineering or diving into presentation design, both Eshita and Gabrielle say curiosity, and all of the traits that bolster and define it, is key.

For Eshita, curiosity was the bridge between disciplines. Her background in engineering gave her comfort with complex systems, but it was the drive to understand users that led her to design. “My inherent curiosity pushed me beyond pure technicality,” she says. “I was always asking ‘why’ and thinking about the user experience. This natural inclination to learn and grow, to not be confined by my initial training, made exploring design a natural progression.”

Gabrielle’s path was equally inquisitive. As her role evolved from executing slide designs to leading presentation strategy for Intuit’s top executives, curiosity kept her learning and adapting. “Each shift required curiosity, a willingness to stretch beyond my comfort zone, and the confidence to contribute a point of view, even in rooms with executive-level stakeholders who were significantly more senior than me,” she says. “Embracing new challenges, staying grounded in feedback, and learning how to navigate ambiguity have helped me grow into a more strategic and trusted partner.”

2. Design has real-world impact

At the core of both designers’ work is a core belief in design’s ability to improve people’s lives and careers.

Eshita realized this early, when her team simplified a workflow that had long been a pain point for users. “The feedback we received about how much time and frustration it saved [users] was incredibly rewarding,” she says. “It wasn't just about making things look good; it was about making things Delightful. That feeling of empowerment—knowing I could solve real problems through design—solidified my commitment to this field.”

That experience shaped her career goals at Intuit by reinforcing her desire to work on products that have a tangible, positive impact on users. “I want to be involved in projects where I can deeply understand user needs and leverage design thinking to create innovative and effective solutions,” Eshita says. “Specifically within the AI space at Intuit, my goal is to contribute to making complex technologies more accessible and user-friendly, ultimately empowering our users to leverage the power of AI in their work.”

3. Be ready to shape your own path

Gabrielle found her niche in a space many overlook: presentation design. “I kind of fell into this field. Presentation design isn’t something most designers are taught about or actively pursue. It wasn’t until I moved to the Bay Area that I realized its potential,” she says. In 2018, Meta (then Facebook) reached out for contract work on their F8 developer conference, and that experience opened her eyes.

“I saw firsthand how much thought, craft, and strategic storytelling went into large-scale presentations and how vital they are in tech. Over time, I recognized that this niche discipline blends everything I love about design: communication, clarity, and impact. That experience shaped my goal of building a career not just designing slides, but shaping how companies tell their most important stories, something I’ve continued to pursue and refine at Intuit.”

Not all growth follows a straight line. Often, the most rewarding career chapters are the ones you never expected.

4. Your mindset matters as much as your skillset

In tech, change is constant, and careers in design are shaped as much by how you approach challenges as how you execute ideas.

For Eshita, growth has meant embracing self-directed learning and her own resourcefulness. “When I decided to switch from development into design, I didn't have a formal design education. I had to be proactive in seeking out resources, learning from online courses, design communities, and most importantly, through hands-on experience. This ability to independently acquire new skills and find creative solutions has been invaluable in every transition.”

Within the AI space in particular, the adaptability that that kind of mindset lends itself to has been critical. “The AI space has required me to be comfortable with uncertainty and to quickly adapt to new tools, processes, and ways of thinking,” she says. “This flexibility, coupled with a positive attitude toward learning new things, has allowed me to thrive in evolving environments within Intuit.”

Gabrielle has likewise moved from tactical execution to strategic leadership by leaning into the new and unknown, even championing tasks outside her original responsibilities. And she’s done all of this with support from her team and the culture at Intuit.

“To me, career advancement means expanding your influence by being trusted with greater responsibility, making a broader impact, and lifting others along the way,” she says. “Intuit supports that by creating space for us to stretch beyond our job descriptions. I’ve been able to lead cross-functional initiatives, help shape internal design processes, and take ownership of some of the company’s most visible deliverables.”

5. Upskilling never stops, especially in AI

Both Eshita and Gabrielle are actively cultivating skills to stay future-ready, aiming to remain experimental and human-centered in a rapidly evolving environment. Eshita is deepening her AI fluency, studying ethical design, and exploring generative AI tools. Gabrielle is refining her narrative design and data storytelling expertise, while keeping an eye on how AI can streamline creative workflows.

“Understanding human behavior, motivations, and pain points is at the heart of good design,” Eshita says. “This mindset allowed me to approach new space, like AI, not just as a technical challenge but as an opportunity to create more human-centered and intuitive experiences. It's about putting myself in the users' shoes, whether they are end consumers or data scientists.”

Gabrielle’s approach complements that lens. “I’m focused on sharpening my skills in narrative design, data storytelling, and how emerging AI tools can streamline workflows without losing the human touch. Intuit encourages experimentation, and our team has been exploring AI to boost productivity and unlock more time for strategic, creative thinking. That blend of innovation and intention is helping us evolve thoughtfully.

6. Strategic storytelling is a superpower

Designers today do more than build interfaces. They build narratives. And those narratives drive understanding, engagement, and change.

Gabrielle’s work on Intuit Connect, the company’s premier accounting summit, was a masterclass in strategic storytelling. “I led the end-to-end presentation design for the mainstage experience, developing core visuals across multiple high-impact decks, all delivered to an audience of over 2,600 accounting professionals and leaders,” she says. “The project pushed me to operate at a more strategic level, owning design direction, aligning with cross-functional partners, and ensuring the visual storytelling elevated the overall experience. What made it so effective was the trust I was given to lead, the pace and complexity of the work, and the visibility it brought. It helped solidify my ability to drive large-scale narratives from concept to delivery.”

7. Design leadership is about influence, not just titles

Career advancement doesn’t always mean moving up a ladder. For both women, it means making a broader impact: leading projects, mentoring others, owning strategic narratives, and being a trusted voice in the room.

“For me, ‘career advancement’ isn't solely about climbing a traditional hierarchical ladder. It's more about continuous growth and impact,” Eshita says. “It means expanding my skills and knowledge, taking on increasingly complex and challenging problems, and ultimately, making a more significant positive contribution to the organization and our users.”

8. Visibility accelerates growth

Opportunities beget even more opportunities, especially when you’re willing to step into the spotlight. Both designers credit visibility with helping them level up.

Intuit Connect gave Dal Santos a platform to lead, influence, and operate at an entirely new level. And Eshita’s experience with A2D, which involved designing platforms for Analyst , data scientists and machine learning engineers, meant learning fast, collaborating widely, and stepping into a significant resposnisible role. These opportunities became catalysts for further growth and confidence.

Their advice? “Don’t wait for permission to lead,” Gabrielle says. “Bring your ideas forward, even if they’re still in progress. Show up with curiosity, confidence, and care—and trust that your unique perspective matters. At Intuit, initiative is noticed and nurtured, especially when it’s paired with a collaborative spirit.”

9. Support systems make a difference

Mentorship and community aren’t just nice-to-haves. They’re essential for navigating challenges, building confidence, and growing sustainably.

“A key barrier I faced was imposter syndrome when transitioning into more senior design roles.. Doubting my expertise in a new domain felt limiting. Internal resources and mentors helped me navigate this” Eshita says.

Peer communities and growth-mindset became powerful internal resources for shaping her trajectory. By sharing experiences and normalizing vulnerability, Eshita was able to step more fully into her voice and into more senior roles.

Gabrielle has also leveraged workplace connections to underline the necessity of her job and to open doors. “One challenge has been advocating for the strategic value of presentation design in a space that’s often seen as tactical. Mentors within the design leadership team have helped me find the language and the confidence to speak to impact, not just aesthetics,” she says. “Peer feedback, visibility into business goals, and support from allies across teams have been key in shifting that perception.”

10. Personal priorities can coexist with ambitious goals

Flexible policies, empathetic leadership, and a culture of trust make it possible for personal and professional priorities to grow side by side.

“As I prepare to become a first-time parent, I’ve been especially grateful for Intuit’s supportive culture and family-first policies. I've felt empowered to take on meaningful work while also setting boundaries and planning for time away, without guilt or hesitation,” Gabrielle says. “That flexibility has made it possible to grow professionally while staying grounded in what matters most personally.”

For Eshita, Intuit's policies and culture have allowed her to pursue her ambitious goals while also respecting her personal priorities. She says focus on outcomes over long working hours have been paramount, as has the company’s understanding and empathetic culture.

Her advice for other women designers hoping to follow in her footsteps? Build relationships early. “Actively cultivate strong relationships and a diverse network across different teams and disciplines,” she says. “Your design talent is key, but building connections will provide invaluable exposure to opportunities, diverse perspectives, and potential advocates who can significantly support your growth within the organization.” In all likelihood, those advocates will support your off-the-clock dreams, too.

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