Every detail tells a story, and every story serves a purpose.
In my story, I am currently writing the chapter of artist facing tools at Pixar animation studios.
I'm driven to build technology that expands what people can do, create and imagine.
I occasionally leave my desk to talk about design things in front of other cool designy people.
Config 2025
May 2025And cut! The design process behind animation tools
Disney UX Summit
August 2025Behind the Frames, How we design for expert artists
Figma Community Event
December 2025Figma in the design loop
Switch Community Fireside Chat
November 2025Career chat
About Me
I'm Ruchita, a creature of curiosity and a master of pixels. I'm your friendly neighborhood engineer turned designer who loves building systems just as much as crafting interfaces that are fluent in human.
I think in pictures, do in code, and talk in stories. I thrive in challenges, ambiguity, and around friendly faces where humor and autonomy are welcome.
My Story
The Beginning
I was born in a small town in India, in the age of dial-up modems and landline phones—the simpler times. I spent most of my childhood outdoors, playing a bazillion sports and coming home with a fresh injury almost every day. Indoors, my time was spent drawing pictures on the walls, much to my parents' dismay. When I was five, we got our first computer, and my older brother introduced me to video games. I was hooked. It was like escaping reality and bringing my imagination to life.
I had never met a designer growing up—it wasn't a visible career path where I came from. My curiosity about computers led me to engineering, where I developed a deep love for technology. But creativity was always calling. In college, I carved my own creative path, designing websites and marketing campaigns for student clubs, blending my technical skills with my passion for storytelling.
The Turning Point
The next phases of my life were a series of experiments to help me find the perfect intersection of design, technology, and human behavior. I started as a backend engineer, worked at startups, and learned the inner workings of digital products. While working as an applications engineer, I saw the impact a small button change had on a small business owner's sales—it was like magic. I was hooked yet again.
Lately...
Over the past nine years, I've worn multiple hats as an engineer, designer, and product thinker, giving me a unique perspective on how things are built and how they should feel. I thrive on storytelling, systems thinking, and crafting experiences that resonate. I've worked across industries from fintech to gaming and now at Pixar, where I continue to live at the intersection of art and technology.
Beyond Screens
Outside of work, I keep my curiosity fed by trying new things and testing my limits, currently dabbling into:
- Comedy sets
- Ceramics
- Exploring landscapes to chase waterfalls, stars, and the deep sea
Work Experience
Pixar Animation Studios
2022–2026Sr. Product Designer — Built real-time animation and rendering tools used by artists across feature films.
Blizzard Entertainment
2020–2022Product Designer — Designed developer portals and internal tools for game production teams.
Instamojo
2017–2018UX Engineering Lead — Shaped payments and e-commerce experiences for small businesses across India.
ZopSmart
2016–2017Software Developer — Built and designed e-commerce platforms powering online grocery stores.
Just watched
I love films that feel small but hit deep — the kind that sit with you long after the credits roll. Here are some of my recent recommendations.
No Other Choice
2025
I was dragged into a twisted office nightmare in No Other Choice, where every desperate move is as shocking as it is ridiculous. It's tense, darkly funny, and impossible to look away from, leaving me laughing and on edge at the same time.
Marty Supreme
2025
Classic Safdie - Had me gripping the edge of my seat the entire time. Its chaotic, immersive, and emotionally exhausting in the best way, like being dragged through a fever dream where hope and dread keep trading places.
The Chronology of Water
2025
I don't know how to describe this intense, dream sequenc-y, raw biography that is visually so beautiful, its like processing trauma through art, identity fluidity and resilience. Gg Kristen.
Sentimental Value
2025
This one beautifully captured a relationship through a tender, observant lens. The house feels frozen in time, serving as a repository to memories. The unspoken words linger long after, making the film quietly unforgettable.
Sorry, Baby
2025
Sorry, Baby bruised me. It's deeply intimate, with silences that say more than words. I loved how it captures life after trauma, not through flashbacks, but through the quiet grace of a healing friendship.
Currently reading
Empire of AI
2024
Currently reading - Karen Hao explores the landscape of artificial intelligence and its impact on society.
Tiny Experiments
2024
Currently reading - Anne-Laure Le Cunff teaches how small changes lead to big discoveries.