Have you ever thought a simple notification could change everything?
That’s exactly what happened to me. One day, a friend tagged me in a post by Anil Reddy about Lollypop Academy. It seemed like just another design course, but little did I know, it would lead to a full-time role as a UX designer.
Hi, I’m Varun K R, and this is the story of how I went from being a student to an intern and now a full-time UX designer at Lollypop Design Studio.
I started my career as a self-taught designer at an early-stage startup. As the only designer, I had to handle everything—UI designs, wireframes, pitch decks—you name it. It was a great learning opportunity, but over time, I felt the weight of figuring things out alone. I craved guidance, feedback, and a community to grow with.
That’s when a post about Lollypop Academy caught my attention. Anil Reddy talked about transforming designers’ careers and building the best product designers in the industry. It felt like the opportunity I’d been searching for, but I wasn’t sure if it was the right step.
At first, I registered for the Academy out of curiosity. What stood out to me was their interview process—it wasn’t just about enrolling in a course; it was about selecting individuals with the drive to learn and grow as designers.
The interviews surprised me. I presented a Figma prototype in an online round, shared my thought process, and answered questions about my goals. Soon after, I found myself in Lollypop’s Chennai office for an in-person round. The process felt less like an interview and more like a conversation.
To my surprise, I was offered the last remaining spot in the batch, and I had only two days to start. Something about it felt right, so I took it.
The Lollypop Academy was a reset for me—an opportunity to unlearn and rebuild. Under Naseer’s guidance for UI and Doris’ mentorship for UX, I began seeing design differently.
One of the most transformative moments was when Doris sent us to a shopping mall to observe how people interacted with the world. It was about learning to see—noticing the details, behaviors, and patterns we often overlook.
“If you don’t observe the world, how will you design for it?”
In UI, we focused on the fundamentals—grids, colors, prototyping—and tackled real-world challenges. Each week, we presented our work, learning to communicate ideas with clarity and confidence. The Academy wasn’t just about design; it was about building a mindset and a community of support.
Joining Lollypop as an intern felt like stepping into a tribe. From day one, we were part of the culture, attending events, sharing ideas, and collaborating on projects.
During my internship, I worked on a B2B hotel management app and a challenging rediscovery project. Shadowing senior designers gave me a front-row seat to their process—seeing how they approached problems, making decisions, and balanced creativity with real-world constraints.
I learned the importance of edge cases, iteration, and designing with empathy. What stood out most was how approachable everyone was, always willing to share insights and guide us through challenges.
Being part of the first-ever Academy batch was a unique experience—late-night tea runs, weekend trips, and shared milestones kept the energy alive. It wasn’t just about design; it was about collaboration, new perspectives, and pushing each other to grow.
After completing my initial internship at Lollypop Design Studio, I was selected for a six-month extended internship involving two rounds of interviews with on-the-spot tasks. During this period, I worked on four key projects for notable brands, focusing on mobile-responsive designs for marketing websites and e-commerce platforms. The client Client calls and real-time feedback refined my skills, teaching me the importance of being adaptable and paying attention to the small details.
Contributing to Design Atti was a highlight, where I ventured into print design and created an Instagram filter, expanding my creative boundaries. I also attended workshops on animation and sketching, which were enjoyable and valuable for my growth as a designer.
With guidance from my manager, Shivi Ravishankar, and support from my seniors, I’m excited to continue my journey as an Associate UX Designer at Lollypop Chennai, applying everything I’ve learned and ready to take on new challenges in the design field.
Big thanks to my mentors, Naseer and Doris, for reshaping how I see design. Their guidance in UI and UX helped me grow in ways I didn’t expect.
I’m equally grateful to my manager, Shivi Ravishankar, and the amazing UI and UX teams at Lollypop for their constant support and insights. Your feedback and encouragement made all the difference.
