Design Tools & Favorite Products — Nandu Tangella

Quo

Quo (formerly OpenPhone) is a beautifully designed VoIP phone app that has transformed how I manage business communications. What I love most about Quo is its clean, intuitive interface that makes professional phone management feel effortless. The app demonstrates exceptional attention to detail in its design—from the smooth call transitions to the elegant contact management system. As a product designer, I appreciate how Quo balances powerful features like call recording, voicemail transcription, and team collaboration with a minimalist aesthetic. The rebrand to Quo shows thoughtful evolution while maintaining the core values of simplicity and functionality. It's a perfect example of how enterprise software can be both powerful and delightful to use.

Cursor

Cursor has revolutionized how I approach coding and design implementation. This AI-powered code editor understands context like no other tool I've used. What makes Cursor exceptional is its ability to understand not just code, but the intent behind it—making it feel like a true pair programming partner. The seamless integration of AI assistance directly into the coding workflow eliminates the friction of switching between tools. This portfolio site and my recent work have been built using Cursor. At times, Cursor has replaced Figma to prototype interactions and get them ready for production quickly. As someone who bridges design and development, Cursor helps me prototype ideas faster and iterate on implementations more efficiently. It's a tool that genuinely augments human creativity rather than replacing it.

Figma

Figma has become the cornerstone of modern product design workflows, and for good reason. Beyond its powerful design capabilities, what I find most impressive is how Figma has transformed collaboration in design. The real-time collaboration features make it feel like you're working in the same room with your team, even when distributed globally. The component system and auto-layout features demonstrate deep understanding of design systems thinking. As a product designer, I appreciate how Figma continuously evolves—adding features like Dev Mode and Variables that bridge the gap between design and development. It's not just a design tool; it's a platform that understands the entire product development lifecycle.

iContactCamera

iContactCamera is a clever 4K webcam that transforms video calls with true eye-level alignment. What makes iContactCamera exceptional is its innovative retractable arm that positions the lens directly in line with the person you're speaking to, creating natural eye contact that helps build trust and improve communication. As a product designer, I'm impressed by how iContactCamera solves a fundamental problem in remote communication: the lack of authentic eye contact that makes virtual interactions feel disconnected. I use it for all my meetings and am able to maintain eye contact with ease.

Arc Browser

Arc Browser has completely reimagined what a web browser can be, and I use it every single day. This revolutionary browser challenges decades of stagnant browser design with a fresh, thoughtful approach that prioritizes how we actually work on the web. What I love most about Arc is its Spaces feature—organizing tabs into distinct workspaces that eliminate the chaos of traditional tab management. The vertical tab bar and minimal interface create a clean, focused experience that makes browsing feel intentional rather than cluttered. As a product designer, I'm inspired by how Arc questions fundamental assumptions about browser design and isn't afraid to break conventions for the sake of better user experience. The way it handles bookmarks, tabs, and navigation feels like it was designed by people who truly understand modern web workflows. Arc demonstrates that even the most established software categories can be reinvented with fresh thinking and exceptional design.

Tools for Great Work

Favorite Products

Quo

Cursor

Figma

iContactCamera

Arc Browser

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