These are the slides for my Lightening UX Lisbon talk around User Experience people selling themselves better. There is a deeper focus on portfolios which are 80% bad in my experience, but not just ...
These are the slides for my Lightening UX Lisbon talk around User Experience people selling themselves better. There is a deeper focus on portfolios which are 80% bad in my experience, but not just for new jobs. See more at www.betteruxportfolios.com.
surf guruThe presentation is really good. Thank you for the slide1 year ago
Are you sure you want to
Stefanie Kraus, User Experience Designer at ChompVery interesting and insightful. However, in addition to everything mentioned here, visual design is a huge part of user experience design as well.1 year ago
Jason Mesut, Head of User Experience at RMA ConsultingN.B. I just want to draw attention to the UX quadrant model which was initially conceived by my dear friend, colleague and a huge inspiration to me, Warren Hutchinson while at Framfab.1 year ago
SELL YOURSELF BETTERJason Mesut - Head of User Experience, RMA@jasonmesut
200110 years ago
At one of the early UPA events Giles Colborne asked“ Who are the gurus in UK? Who should they be ”
At one of the early UPA events I responded with. “ Fat Someone who isn’t... Ugly Lacks interpersonal skills Negative ”
At one of the geeky events
Not a good frameworkBut a good start
20056 years ago
Euro IA submission‣ Input from peers, developers, clients, designers, project managers, CEOs‣ Asked what makes a great user experience professional?
2005 - 1st Euro IA
18 keyattributes
9 usefulfor selling
Worked with nearly 200 UX 10 - Present 08 - 10 41 05 - 08 9 04 - 05 85 01 - 04 3098 - 0015 11 Oyster/ The Team RMA Flow Yell PA Framfab/ LBI Applications Comms Digital agenc y consultancy User-Centred agency Management Design Online consultancy consultancy business directory
Perfect EA‣ Soft skill focused‣ Too unwieldy for an interview or reviewNeeded something different
ExS IxD Experience Interaction Strategy Design UR IA User Information Research Architecture4 key disciplines of User Experience
Industrial design Design Device strategy interface design ExS IxD Business SoftwareMarketing, strategy design HCIconsulting Market Web research design UR IA Design Library research science Psychology
Industrial design Design Device strategy interface design ExS IxD Business Business Software strategy designconsulting, HCI Market WebMarketing research design UR IA Design Library research science Psychology
ExS IxDExperience Interaction Strategy Design UR IA User InformationResearch Architecture Insight and big picture
ExS IxDExperience Interaction Strategy Design UR IA User InformationResearch Architecture User Interface Craft
ExS IxDExperience Interaction Strategy Design UR IA User InformationResearch Architecture Conceptual, design, feel
ExS IxDExperience Interaction Strategy Design UR IA User InformationResearch Architecture Analysis, rigour, logic
ExS IxD Experience Interaction Strategy Design UR IA User Information Research Architecture4 key disciplines of User Experience
Why don’t you have a go
Industrial design Design Device strategy interface design ExS IxD Business Business Software strategy designconsulting, HCI Market WebMarketing research design UR IA Design Library research science Psychology
1. Know yourself
Why sell ourselves better?
Better job?
Better job?Same companyNew company
Make our livesbetter or easier
Create a betterproduct or service
2. Define your goal
Who are you selling to?
BossColleague Peer Client
Read what they read
Read what they read Use their language
Read what they read Use their language Research them
Simon DoggettEmpathisewith youraudience
Senior UX recruiters- Busy in day- See lots of cvs & portfolios- Often review on move
We have limited time to workout why you are different andif you fit with our team
3. Target your audience
Ways to sell yourself Blog Speaking Books / websites CV Portfolio LinkedIn
Blog Thinker Speaker Thought leaderBooks / websites Consultant CV Experienced Portfolio Designer LinkedIn Job hunter
Depends on how you want to be perceived and who you are talking to
I’ve seen a lot of portfolios Since October 2010 - past 7 months450+ 80+ 24 CVs and Interviews Hiresportfolios
UX Portfolios are 80% bad* *The above is a guesstimate. Don’t crucify me
UX Portfolios are 80% bad‣ No project context‣ Lack of process demonstrated‣ Excuses about confidentiality‣ Packaging & medium gets in the way
I had to do something‣ Ranted on London IA forum‣ Set up a closed group session to ‘show and tell’ example portfolios‣ Shared output back on London IA
Lee McIvor 1. Introduce yourself
Lee McIvorwho am I?I’ve been a user experience consultant for over 5 years, and havebeen freelance for around 3 years. Prior to that I worked variously asa software and web developer for another 6 years, after leavinguniversity in 1998.Originally from Liverpool, I studied Economics at NorthumbriaUniversity, which taught me what I didn’t want to do with the rest ofmy life. After that I found myself studying an evening course inInteraction Design at Sunderland University, which showed me howinteresting a day at work could be.
Lee McIvorwhat do I do?Over the course of my career so far I have gained a range ofexperience, including interaction design, usability evaluation,qualitative and quantitative research, and web accessibility.In many of my recent engagements I have o ered the full spectrumof services to my clients to enable them to ful ll a project, and oftento help them begin to build these competencies within their ownorganisations.I’m a great believer in not only developing my own knowledge, butsharing it with others too.
Georgette Sullivan
2. Demonstrate your working
It’s like Math(s)
The act is as importantas the artefact
Lee McIvorresearch & analysisThe best experiences are designed when you havea deep understanding of the users of a givenservice, product or system. For this reason a goodresearch phase combined with e ective, detailedanalysis are vital.I have been involved in a range of researchprojects, within a range of industries includinginvestment fund management, travel, grocery andsocial housing services.
Lee McIvordesignI really enjoy sketching and collaborating withclients and colleagues when beginning the designphase. These early stages provide a space forcreative thinking, discussion of research ndingsand how they might impact design, and most of allfor considering the widest range of ideas aspossible with few inhibitions.
Jason Mesut
Jason Mesut
Simon DoggettConcepts Collaborative ideation I’ve facilitated many sketching and brainstorming sessions, collecting the best ideas with fellow designers and non creatives too. Importance vs. feasibility I’ve helped identify key performance indicators that really matter, and attach them to functionality while gaining assessment from developers and managers. Tangible futures I’ve helped business teams and clients see what the long term product vision looks like by prototyping and signing o tangible future documents. Phase 2 isn’t always a myth.Business goals vs. requirements I’ve been passionate in separating business and design strategy when necessary, to help the product grow and to make sure the experts are looking after their respective domains. 8
Simon DoggettSketches & Scamps Video browser page The original project wall for the xxxx Video project. We used magic whiteboards to sketch through all the main conc Early homepage concept on paper. This work belongs to me and one other graphic designer. 10
3. Share your project experience
Case Study Roles he played THE TELEGRAPH IA | IxD | UXD | UIPROJECT ACTION Telegraph Fantasy Football As we were up against it f e wasn’t a grea vailable to spend making sure we had the corr t started sketching -‐ when en work at a very small scale, this helps me concentrate on just the DATE crux of the idea, whilst allowing me to generate lots of ideas in a small amount of August 2010PLATFORMS iPhoneDELIVERABLES User journeys Wireframes Sitemaps Visual designs I developed a 3 step pr ering feedback throughout the process to ensure a user always knows what to do next:CHALLENGE Drop players select which players you want to drop whilst also changing The Telegraph approached us in July forma fo bar provides hints as to what the user must do -‐ choosing 2010 enquiring whether we could certain forma equire players in cert o be dropped. Transfers Pick players om tab bar allows you to switch between available build them an account management app for their Fantasy Football game, a w many player ou s o
Drop players select which players you want to drop whilst also changing The Telegraph approached us in July forma fo bar provides hints as to what the user must do -‐ choosing 2010 enquiring whether we could certain forma equire players in cert o be dropped. Transfers Pick players om tab bar allows you to switch between available build them an account management app for their Fantasy Football game, a w many player ou s o by the beginning of the coming pick. Available budget is displayed and the op o sort players bfootball season. ers. fers Trans Review changes con y or go back to change. 12:00 PM O2-UK 12:00 PM O2-UKIt would only be available to exis 12:00 PM Cancel Drop players Pick Drop Pick players Review O2-UK Pick newusers who have already chosen their Cancel Drop players players You need to drop 1 defen der to use 3-5 -2 Y elders O2-UK 12:00 PM es rm Transfers 22 Budget £8.7m Review changteam, allowing them tTrancheck how o sfers 22 your team. Pick Ta p players to dr op them from Budget £2.2m Transfers 22 ange ng after this ch Points Value 6 transfers remaini £2.2m Team Name Team You will havetheir team is performing each week, Points Budget Value 2) Position (-£4.5m) Transfers 24 (+ Points Value Defenders - You need to drop 1 defender to Budget £0.1m Team Defenders use 3-5-2 Position Defenders t importantly Player 2 TM1 Xpts £X.Xm Player 2 TM1 Xpts £X.Xm Players In Xpts £X.Xm TM1make transfers. £X.Xm Player 2 TM1 Xpts £X.Xm Player 3 Xpts TM2 Player 2 TM2 Xpts £X.Xm £X.Xm Player 3 Xpts TM2 £X.Xm Player 3 TM2 Xpts £X.Xm Player 4 Xpts TM3 Xpts Player 3 TM3 £X.Xm Player 4 Players OutWhilst the majority of the app was Player 4 TM3 Xpts £X.Xm Player 5 TM4 Xpts £X.Xm Player 5 TM4 Xpts £X.Xm Player 6 TM3 Xpts £X.Xman exercise in displaying lists of Player 5 TM4 Xpts £X.Xm elders elders Player 5 TM4 Xpts £X.Xm £X.Xm Player 6informa ansf Xpts TM3 Xpts TM3 £X.Xm elders Player 6 £X.Xm GK 1 Xpts 3-5-2 DEFallowed users to change forma TM3 4-3-3 MID STR Player 6 4-5-1 4-4-2 3-5-2 4-3-3w yers at 4-5-1 4-4-2an OUTCOMEI saw this as the biggest obstacle in To date the applica wnloads, of which 95% smaking the app a success. every week. On average it is genera e views a month. Users of the app mak t of transfers then those playing via the website.
We still want to seedeliverables as well
Content tips1. Introduce yourself2. Demonstrate your working3. Share project experience
Packaging tips‣ Structure with a clear journey and narrative‣ Keep it real‣ Don’t let the medium or design get in the way‣ Let your work(ing) shine through
Confidentiality tips‣ Trust people‣ Anonymise / de-brand / re-create‣ Show personal work‣ Set passwords on pdfs‣ Put an NDA in place
Portfolios are notjust for new jobs
Not just for new jobs‣ Remember what you have done‣ Communicate what you’ve done before‣ Give you license to repeat & improve‣ Help train and educate others‣ Sell Process, Solutions, Your company
“ the act of coming to conclusions about your own contribution in the world so that you can make it meaningful for someone else” Tim Brown http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D18Jyl-aWIY&feature=player_embedded
“ [...] an architected communication of what it means to be you, and what it means to others who work with you ” Tim Brown http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D18Jyl-aWIY&feature=player_embedded
The act is as importantas the artefact
Photograph workshops
Keep your sketches
Save your outputs
Edit video
4. Run a portfolio
But there’s one thing that all of this relies on
Doing great work
Time & energy are the only things in your way...
“don’t look for thenext opportunity.the one you havein hand IS theopportunity.”Paul Arden
1. Know yourself2. Know your goal3. Target your audience4. Run a portfolio5. Do great work
Big thanks to:Portfolio starsSimon DoggettLee McIvorGiulia PiuGeorgette SullivanSam SmithRob GrahamMy past employersRMA, The Team, LBi, Flow, PA, Yell
Vasco Avillez
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