A story of
growth and grace
A story of
growth and grace
A story of growth and grace
Mansi Bakle
Senior product designer // Canvs
How it started
As the world grappled with the onset of COVID-19, many people found themselves facing uncharted waters. For Mansi, joining Canvs during this global upheaval wasn't just a job change, it was a leap into a new realm of digital design from her foundational background in industrial design. She was stepping into a new era of her career.
The onset of the pandemic had drastically impacted traditional manufacturing and design industries, pushing Mansi to rethink her professional path. Digital design offered a more immediate intellectual payoff and quicker iteration cycles, which were absent in the slower, more structural processes of industrial design.
As the world grappled with the onset of COVID-19, many people found themselves facing uncharted waters. For Mansi, joining Canvs during this global upheaval wasn't just a job change, it was a leap into a new realm of digital design from her foundational background in industrial design. She was stepping into a new era of her career.
The onset of the pandemic had drastically impacted traditional manufacturing and design industries, pushing Mansi to rethink her professional path. Digital design offered a more immediate intellectual payoff and quicker iteration cycles, which were absent in the slower, more structural processes of industrial design.
Mansi’s journey is one of persistence—of stepping into the unknown, embracing challenges, and growing into a Senior Designer who now
mentors others.
Mansi’s journey is one of persistence—of stepping into the unknown, embracing challenges, and growing into a Senior Designer who now mentors others.
Mansi’s journey is one of persistence—of stepping into the unknown, embracing challenges, and growing into a Senior Designer who now mentors others.
Get to know
Get to know
Mansi Bakle
Mansi Bakle
Adapting into a new world
Joining Canvs at the time, Mansi found herself stepping into a largely remote setup, a stark contrast to the buzz of a conventional design studio. "I was largely observing how things were done differently here,” she says, speaking about her early days that were filled with learning and gradual immersion into the Canvs culture of deep, ongoing discussions about design.
Accustomed to a structured environment where every minute was accounted for, the relative freedom at Canvs to manage her own time and tasks was both liberating and daunting. She recalls the early challenges, "I was shadowing people, trying to grasp what projects I could assist with or learn from. It was about understanding the workflow and how tasks were divided and approached."
Joining Canvs at the time, Mansi found herself stepping into a largely remote setup, a stark contrast to the buzz of a conventional design studio. "I was largely observing how things were done differently here,” she says, speaking about her early days that were filled with learning and gradual immersion into the Canvs culture of deep, ongoing discussions about design.
Accustomed to a structured environment where every minute was accounted for, the relative freedom at Canvs to manage her own time and tasks was both liberating and daunting. She recalls the early challenges, "I was shadowing people, trying to grasp what projects I could assist with or learn from. It was about understanding the workflow and how tasks were divided and approached."
Learning with observation and discussion
Here, discussions about design don’t follow a strict schedule but flow naturally, gradually deepening Mansi’s understanding and approach to product design. "The focus was on communicating and organic learning rather than constant monitoring. "There weren't check-ins every hour; it was about meaningful discussions that really opened up my thinking," she explains.
Her first project involved minor contributions which helped her understand file management and the nuances of design elements like padding and alignment. These tasks, though small, were foundational, helping Mansi understand the standards expected of her.
The real turning point came with an insurance project a few months into her tenure. This project was Mansi's first solo flight, where she was entrusted with more responsibility— from initial ideations to client interactions. "It was scarier than before," Mansi admits, "because now I was not just executing tasks but also explaining my design decisions to clients and colleagues."
This project was not just about design; it was about asserting her capability to handle a project end-to-end, which she did extremely well. The feedback and iterative process of the project taught her the importance of resilience and adaptability in design—qualities that are invaluable in a results-driven design studio like Canvs.
Here, discussions about design don’t follow a strict schedule but flow naturally, gradually deepening Mansi’s understanding and approach to product design. "The focus was on communicating and organic learning rather than constant monitoring. "There weren't check-ins every hour; it was about meaningful discussions that really opened up my thinking," she explains.
Her first project involved minor contributions which helped her understand file management and the nuances of design elements like padding and alignment. These tasks, though small, were foundational, helping Mansi understand the standards expected of her.
The real turning point came with an insurance project a few months into her tenure. This project was Mansi's first solo flight, where she was entrusted with more responsibility— from initial ideations to client interactions. "It was scarier than before," Mansi admits, "because now I was not just executing tasks but also explaining my design decisions to clients and colleagues."
This project was not just about design; it was about asserting her capability to handle a project end-to-end, which she did extremely well. The feedback and iterative process of the project taught her the importance of resilience and adaptability in design—qualities that are invaluable in a results-driven design studio like Canvs.
"The feedback and mentoring I received weren’t just about correcting errors; they were about understanding the 'why' behind every decision"
"The feedback and mentoring I received weren’t just about correcting errors; they were about understanding the 'why' behind every decision"
The art of balancing multiple projects
As Mansi became more comfortable in her role, she learned the critical skill of managing multiple projects simultaneously. Balancing a varied workload helped her maintain focus and prevent the overthinking that often comes with having too little on one's plate. "I function best when I have an optimal number of things on my plate. Too few, and I start overthinking," she admits. This balance of tasks was especially vital in a remote setup, where self-regulation played a significant role in productivity and creative output.
As Mansi became more comfortable in her role, she learned the critical skill of managing multiple projects simultaneously. Balancing a varied workload helped her maintain focus and prevent the overthinking that often comes with having too little on one's plate. "I function best when I have an optimal number of things on my plate. Too few, and I start overthinking," she admits. This balance of tasks was especially vital in a remote setup, where self-regulation played a significant role in productivity and creative output.
Developing a richer design perspective
Over time, Mansi developed a more nuanced understanding of UI design, enriched by the ongoing conversations at Canvs. "I was taken aback by the amount of discussion before we even got to wireframes. Now, it's become a part of how I think," she shares.
These discussions aren’t just limited to being about specific projects; they are about exploring the broader world of design, "Being part of these discussions has sharpened my intuition for good design and has kept me updated on the latest in product space," says Mansi. She credits this as helping her build a more robust frame of reference and enhancing her intuitive grasp of good design.
Over time, Mansi developed a more nuanced understanding of UI design, enriched by the ongoing conversations at Canvs. "I was taken aback by the amount of discussion before we even got to wireframes. Now, it's become a part of how I think," she shares.
These discussions aren’t just limited to being about specific projects; they are about exploring the broader world of design, "Being part of these discussions has sharpened my intuition for good design and has kept me updated on the latest in product space," says Mansi. She credits this as helping her build a more robust frame of reference and enhancing her intuitive grasp of good design.
"I was taken aback by how much discussion happened before even getting to wireframes. Now, it’s become part of how I think."
"I was taken aback by how much discussion happened before even getting to wireframes. Now, it’s become part of how I think."
"I was taken aback by how much discussion happened before even getting to wireframes. Now, it’s become part of how I think."
Trusting the process
One of the most transformative aspects of Mansi's journey was learning to trust the process and the people guiding her. Feedback at Canvs, as Mansi points out, is a critical component of the work culture.
"The feedback and mentoring I received weren't just about correcting errors; they were about understanding the 'why' behind every decision. It was always constructive. It came from a place of helping me grow rather than pointing out faults, and has made a significant difference in how I handle projects now." Mansi appreciates.
This trust has allowed Mansi to grow from being a newcomer in product design to a confident and competent Senior Designer capable of mentoring others.
One of the most transformative aspects of Mansi's journey was learning to trust the process and the people guiding her. Feedback at Canvs, as Mansi points out, is a critical component of the work culture.
"The feedback and mentoring I received weren't just about correcting errors; they were about understanding the 'why' behind every decision. It was always constructive. It came from a place of helping me grow rather than pointing out faults, and has made a significant difference in how I handle projects now." Mansi appreciates.
This trust has allowed Mansi to grow from being a newcomer in product design to a confident and competent Senior Designer capable of mentoring others.
"Design is not just about aesthetics or usability but about solving problems in a way that feels intuitive and engaging to the user"
"Design is not just about aesthetics or usability but about solving problems in a way that feels intuitive and engaging to the user"
A lesson in impact
Mansi's story at Canvs is one of growth marked by periods of rapid learning and moments of reflection. Her journey is an example of how a nurturing environment, combined with a willingness to learn and adapt, can transform theoretical knowledge into impactful, practical skills. " Nearly three years into her journey at Canvs, Mansi reflects on it saying, “I've learned that design is not just about aesthetics or usability but about solving problems in a way that feels intuitive and engaging to the user.
Looking ahead, Mansi is excited about the future. "I see myself continuing to grow here, exploring new design challenges and pushing the boundaries of what I can achieve. It’s about more than just becoming better at design. It’s about understanding how your work impacts others and being a part of a community that pushes you to be better,” she concludes.
Mansi's story at Canvs is one of growth marked by periods of rapid learning and moments of reflection. Her journey is an example of how a nurturing environment, combined with a willingness to learn and adapt, can transform theoretical knowledge into impactful, practical skills. " Nearly three years into her journey at Canvs, Mansi reflects on it saying, “I've learned that design is not just about aesthetics or usability but about solving problems in a way that feels intuitive and engaging to the user.
Looking ahead, Mansi is excited about the future. "I see myself continuing to grow here, exploring new design challenges and pushing the boundaries of what I can achieve. It’s about more than just becoming better at design. It’s about understanding how your work impacts others and being a part of a community that pushes you to be better,” she concludes.
Canvs is an interface design and engineering studio based in Mumbai, India. We are group design partners to some of India’s market leaders in Banking and Finance and have been around since 2016.
Canvs is an interface design and engineering studio based in Mumbai, India. We are group design partners to some of India’s market leaders in Banking and Finance and have been around since 2016.