UXSG2014 #3 Keynote - Designing Your UX Career (Ben Sykes)
1. DESIGNING
YOUR UX CAREER
Ben Sykes
User Experience & Behavior Design @bensykes
2. Agenda
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
4. Expectations
• 2hrs Distilled 40 minutes
• Audience Participation
• I may call on you!
When you walk out of here today!
!
you want
• Know what / have a
• How to look the part makeover plan of action
look for it
• How and where to How to interview for the job
• you want
• What to do on day one
5. YOU
• 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!
6. My Story
• Tell Stories
• Move others emotionally
• Hollywood
• Mid 90’s Web Development
• BabyBoomers in Pain
• Story form applied to design
!
What I learned?
!!
8. Target
• Bow & Arrow?
• If you don’t know where
you’re going or where the
target is…
• Where Are You Going?
• Visualize your future.
9. Target
• Bow & Arrow?
• If you don’t know where
you’re going or where the
target is…
• Where Are You Going?
• Visualize your future.
10. What Do You Want?
Exercise
!
• Imagine your dream job
• Write it down
• Describe what an average day
looks like
• No boundaries
• Share
My Dream Job!
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
11. What Do You NOT Want?
Exercise
!
• Imagine your nightmare job
• Write it down
• Describe what an average day
looks like
• How does it make you feel?
• Share
!
My Nightmare Job!
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
13. In A Vacuum - Most Important!
• 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.
14. Fundamentals & Principles
• 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.
15. Fundamentals & Principles
• 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.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/morville/sets/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/designingwebinterfaces/sets/
16. Fundamentals & Principles
• 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.
17. Fundamentals & Principles
• 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.
18. Fundamentals & Principles
• 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.
19. The Portfolio
• 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
http://toddham.com/blog/iwatch-concept/
20. The Portfolio
• 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
21. The Portfolio
• 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
‣ 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
22. The Portfolio
• 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
23. The Portfolio
• 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
24. The Portfolio
• 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
25. The Portfolio
• 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
26. 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
27. Brand Yourself
• 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
28. Brand Yourself
• 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
29. Brand Yourself
• 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
30. Getting The Job
Examples of typical activities across key project phases
31. 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
32. 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
33. 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
34. Find My Dream Job : Optional
Exercise
!
• Pick a dream job
• Create a real time plan of
attack.
Does My Dream Job Exist?
1. What is it?
2. Find it
3. Create a
plan to
acquire it.
35. 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
36. 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
37. 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
38. 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
39. 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
40. 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
41. 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
42. The Interview
• Who gets nervous?
• It’s a conversation
• The interview process is broken
• How I interview
• The Risks
• Ask the right questions
43. The Interview
• Who gets nervous?
• It’s a conversation
• The interview process is broken
• How I interview
• Ask the right questions
Can we stand you for
8+ hours a day?
Can you do the
job well? Innovative
Problem Solver
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?
44. The Interview
• Who gets nervous?
• It’s a conversation
• The interview process is broken
• How I interview
• Ask the right questions
45. The Interview
• Who gets nervous?
• It’s a conversation
• The interview process is broken
• How I interview
• Ask the right questions
46. The Interview
• Who gets nervous?
• It’s a conversation
• The interview process is broken
• How I interview
• Ask the right questions
My Nightmare Job!
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.