The presentation by Amanda Stockwell and Heather Young focuses on strategies for effectively advancing a career in UX design. Key points include the importance of highlighting one's design process and quantifying impact, understanding the audience, and the significance of communication skills in the UX field. The document emphasizes that talent seekers value process over final products and encourages UX professionals to be relatable and memorable in their job applications.

1. Architecting
your UX Career
Amanda Stockwell, UX Consultant
@MandaLaceyS
Heather Young, UX Community Manager
@Heathery321
July 24, 2014
#UXCareer
Presentation tips to land your next UX gig

3. About Us
@MandaLaceyS @Heathery321 #UXCareer
7 years in UX
User research
Usability analysis
Competitive research
UX Consultant
12 years in interactive
User-centered design
Marketing communications
UX community manager
UX talent agent
AMANDA STOCKWELL HEATHER YOUNG

4. @MandaLaceyS @Heathery321 #UXCareer
3500
Candidates reviewed
20%
Skills are adequately represented

5. Job Search Challenges
Fuzzy definitions
@MandaLaceyS @Heathery321 #UXCareer

6. Job Search Challenges
Ideal experience set
@MandaLaceyS @Heathery321 #UXCareer
Strategy
Requirements
Personas
Site maps
Work flows
Wireframes
Prototypes
Visual design
Research
Testing
Task Analysis
Analytics

7. Artifacts don’t always
demonstrate expertise
@MandaLaceyS @Heathery321 #UXCareer
How do you know which deliverables to share?
Job Search Challenges

8. • Fuzzy UX definitions
• No ideal experience set
• Artifacts don’t always
demonstrate expertise
@MandaLaceyS @Heathery321 #UXCareer
Job Search Challenges

9. User Experience Tenets
@MandaLaceyS @Heathery321 #UXCareer
User Research
Content Strategy
UI Design
Usability Testing
Interaction Design

10. @MandaLaceyS @Heathery321 #UXCareer
User Experience Process
Research Concept Design Evaluation Implement
Interview
Ethnography
Competitor
Analysis
Persona
Task Analysis
Storyboarding
Journey Maps
Sketches
Wireframes
Visual Design
Prototyping
Testing
Expert Review
Performance
Measurement

11. Know the interviewer
Research
They may not have a solid understanding of your niche
They are busy
Know your audience
@MandaLaceyS @Heathery321 #UXCareer

12.
@MandaLaceyS @Heathery321 #UXCareer
Big Idea
Know your audience and position
yourself in a relatable way.

13. Which artifacts to share?
Content Strategy
Show your design process – not just the outcome
Demonstrate how your work impacted the business
Quantify its value (when possible)
@MandaLaceyS @Heathery321 #UXCareer

14. PAR
Content Strategy
Problem > Action > Result
@MandaLaceyS @Heathery321 #UXCareer
Problem Action Result
Customer calls to call center up due to a
site map that’s not intuitive
Reviewed user activity through site
analytics. Re configured naming
conventions for navigation, realigned
content
Calls to the call center reduced
Sales are down. Customers are not
completing the check out process.
Recommended shorter form requiring less
time. Enhanced microinteractions for a
better experience.
Customer conversion rate
increased and sales are up

15. Keep track of your work
Content Strategy
@MandaLaceyS @Heathery321 #UXCareer

16. Talent seekers care more about your
process than your final product
@MandaLaceyS @Heathery321 #UXCareer
Big Idea

17. Highlight the most
important pieces
UI Design
@MandaLaceyS @Heathery321 #UXCareer
Quality over quantity
Find a way to make it presentable

18. It doesn’t have to be pretty, but it
needs to be memorable
@MandaLaceyS @Heathery321 #UXCareer
Big Idea

19. Feedback is critical to
anyone trying to improve
Usability Testing
@MandaLaceyS @Heathery321 #UXCareer
Rehearse walking through your portfolio pieces

20. Testing your delivery is just as important as
testing a new feature or product
@MandaLaceyS @Heathery321 #UXCareer
Big Idea

21. Successful UX pros
demonstrate more than their
artifacts and end results
(Personal) Interaction Design
@MandaLaceyS @Heathery321 #UXCareer
They establish personal connections.

22. @MandaLaceyS @Heathery321 #UXCareer

23. UX super stars have the communication
skills of a pro negotiator and the
patience of a kindergarten teacher
@MandaLaceyS @Heathery321 #UXCareer
Big Idea

24. Recap
@MandaLaceyS @Heathery321 #UXCareer
User Research
Content Strategy
UI Design
Usability Testing
Interaction Design
Some examples ...

25. E X A M P L E: PAR (Problem Action Result)

26. E X A M P L E: Design process

27. E X A M P L E: Test Reports

28. E X A M P L E: Persona creation

29. E X A M P L E: Skills snapshot

30. E X A M P L E: Design process

31. E X A M P L E: Sketches

32. E X A M P L E: Competitive Analysis

33. E X A M P L E: Skill snapshot

34. E X A M P L E: Artifact explanation

35. E X A M P L E: Task Analysis

36. E X A M P L E: Concepting

37. Biggest Idea
These techniques can open the door
to opportunities you didn’t know existed
@MandaLaceyS @Heathery321 #UXCareer

38. @MandaLaceyS @Heathery321 #UXCareer
Questions