UXSG2014 #3 Keynote - Designing Your UX Career (Ben Sykes)

transcript

DESIGNING YOUR UX CAREERBen Sykes User Experience & Behavior Design @bensykes

Introduction Expectations You My Story !Goals Where Are You Going? !Plan Of Action In A Vacuum Fundamentals & Principles Portfolio Brand Yourself !Getting The Job Finding A Job The Interview

Agenda

Introduction Create Your Own Narrative

• 2hrs Distilled 40 minutes • Audience Participation • I may call on you!

Expectations

When you walk out of here

today! !• Know what you want

• How to look the part / have a

makeover plan of action

• How and where to look for it

• How to interview for the job

you want

• What to do on day one

• I’M SO GLAD YOU ‘RE HERE!! • We NEED you to design the

future and solve it’s problems • I want you to be successful • I want you to care about how your

users feel. • I want you to be empathetic to the

needs of your users. • Need to learn the design and

human behavior principles. • I want you to design solutions to

real world problems.

We Need You!

• Tell Stories • Move others emotionally • Hollywood • Mid 90’s Web Development • BabyBoomers in Pain • Story form applied to design !What I learned? !!

My Story

Where Are You going? Visualize & Define Goals

• Bow & Arrow? • If you don’t know where

you’re going or where the target is…

• Where Are You Going? • Visualize your future.

Target

Target• Bow & Arrow?

• If you don’t know where you’re going or where the target is…

• Where Are You Going? • Visualize your future.

Exercise !• Imagine your dream job • Write it down • Describe what an average day

looks like • No boundaries • Share

What Do You Want?

My Dream Job!

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

Exercise !• Imagine your nightmare job • Write it down • Describe what an average day

looks like • How does it make you feel? • Share !

What Do You NOT Want?

My Nightmare Job!

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

Plan Of Action Steps To Success

• You just walked off a construction site….

• If you want to be a writer you have to do what? If you want to be a designer, you have to do what?

• Pen & paper - Sketch Daily • Smartphone favorite apps.

Redesign.

In A Vacuum - Most Important!

• Keep a sketchbook & design daily • Sign up for betas & collect design

patterns. • Learn the fundamentals of design and

behavior! • Memorize and master the design &

persuasion principles!! • Learn from the best. Set up lunch

meetings. Ask for help.

Fundamentals & Principles

Fundamentals & Principles• Keep a sketchbook & design daily • Sign up for betas & collect design

https://www.flickr.com/photos/morville/sets/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/designingwebinterfaces/sets/

patterns. • Learn the fundamentals of design

and behavior! • Memorize and master the design &

behavior! • Memorize and master the design

& persuasion principles!! • Learn from the best. Set up lunch

• I need a portfolio but I don’t have experience, and I need experience to add items to my portfolio?

• Do’s & Don’ts • Online Portfolios • Design Shortcuts

• Product Mockups • Premium Themes

The Portfolio

http://toddham.com/blog/iwatch-concept/

The Portfolio

The Portfolio‣ DO : Show UCD techniques, thought & sketches in portfolio pieces‣ DO : Create an accurate visual narrative of projects / process‣ DO : Show variety (tools, technique, activities, assets, projects)!

‣ DON’T : Only show ‘finished product’‣ DON’T : Show everything you have ever done ever

The Portfolio

Brand Yourself

Reality Projected Reality• Why It matters: Perception is reality • Plan Of Action

• Part 1: Unified Message • Write a bio • Revise profile images

• Part 2 : Multiple Entry Points • Sign-up for betas • Use at least one online portfolio site • Online resume & profile sites • Sign up for social networks

• Part 3 : Writing & Community • Start blogging • Start tweeting • Get involved

Brand Yourself• Why It matters: Perception is reality • Plan Of Action

Getting The Job Examples of typical activities across key project phases

Finding The Job• Who likes looking for a job?

• Why it can be fun • What do you mean they’re not hiring? • Plan Of Action

• Twitter feeds • Portfolio sites • Search directly • Find the hiring manager • Reach out to VC’s • Ask your friends • Enter design competitions

The Architect of Your Destiny

Exercise !• Pick a dream job • Create a real time plan of

attack.

Find My Dream Job : Optional

Does My Dream Job Exist?

1. What is it? 2. Find it 3. Create a

plan to acquire it.

The Interview• Who gets nervous?

• It’s a conversation • The interview process is broken • How I interview • The Risks • Ask the right questions

• It’s a conversation • The interview process is broken • How I interview • Ask the right questions

Can you do the job well? Innovative

Problem Solver

Can we stand you for 8+ hours a day?

Will this be my dream job?

Will I be micromanaged?

Will I have the opportunity to grow?

Culture Fit?

Can he/she lead?

Is this nightmare alley?

My Nightmare Job!

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

Questions? Questions, Comments.