Elias Fares
About Elias Fares
Elias Fares is a Senior Product Designer with extensive experience in user experience and interface design. He has worked for various companies in Toronto and Ottawa, including Socotra, VerticalScope Inc., and Askuity, and currently serves as a Lead UX/UI Design Instructor at BrainStation.
Work at Socotra
Elias Fares currently serves as a Senior Product Designer at Socotra, a position he has held since 2021. In this role, he employs a user-centered design approach, collaborating with various teams, including sales, marketing, customer success, and development, to enhance product offerings. His work involves utilizing design research methods such as exploratory user interviews, problem framing, wireframing, prototyping, and conducting usability tests. Fares operates within an agile design environment, managing the design process from inception to completion.
Previous Experience in Product Design
Before joining Socotra, Elias Fares worked at several organizations in product design roles. He was a Senior Product Designer at VerticalScope Inc. for 10 months in 2021 and held the same title at Moves for 9 months in 2020. His experience also includes positions as a Product Designer and Product Owner at Sampler from 2019 to 2020, and as a UX Designer at Askuity from 2017 to 2019. Additionally, he worked as a UX/UI Designer at Feenics for 1 year and served as a User Experience Designer at the Office of the Auditor General of Canada for 7 months in 2015.
Education and Expertise
Elias Fares holds a Bachelor of Engineering from Carleton University, which he completed from 2008 to 2013. He furthered his education by obtaining a Master's of Applied Science in Human Computer Interaction from the same institution, studying from 2014 to 2016. His educational background in engineering complements his expertise in human-computer interaction, equipping him with the skills necessary for effective product design.
Teaching and Mentorship
In addition to his design roles, Elias Fares has been actively involved in education as a Lead UX/UI Design Instructor at BrainStation since 2019. In this capacity, he shares his knowledge and experience with aspiring designers, helping to shape the next generation of professionals in the field. His teaching role aligns with his commitment to user-centered design and his extensive background in product design.
Background in Startups
Elias Fares co-founded Campusgrids Ltd., where he served as President from 2012 to 2014. This experience in a startup environment provided him with insights into product development and design processes. He has also been the sole in-house UX Designer in various roles, including at a startup that was acquired, showcasing his adaptability and capability in dynamic settings.