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Applying for a new role can be a daunting process. Our podcasts are here to make the process as seamless as possible, by providing you with the information and tools you need to land your next dream role. Hosted by our experienced Australia, Hong Kong and UK teams, we aim to help you stand out and showcase your ability and experience.
Listen to our latest podcast - demystifying UX/UI and product design
This podcast is hosted by Dani State from the become Sydney Office, Australia.
What we’re exploring today:
What is UX, UI and Product Design?
What are the job roles and where do your skills fit?
The rise of digital and how it has come to the forefront of industries, creating new roles
Where UX, UI and Product Design fits within an agency/company
Who is this episode for?
Anyone who is interested in getting into the field
If you want a bit of clarification of what UX, UI and Product Designers do
People who want to upskill
Let's start by…
Explaining what a UX researcher does?
UX stands for User Experience
Research methods, quantitative research
Validating what the users want and the problems are
Applying traditional methodologies to the digital design process
Has to be about the customer and the problem if there is one
What do customers actually want and what they need?
Overlaps with UX design, they can work together
Depending on the size of the company, team and budget, will suggest the amount or level of research they do
Explaining what a UX designer does?
Focus on the experience of the user and customer for the digital product
Find out if the product is enjoyable to use
Do they align with the business needs?
Information architecture, what information needs to be in the product
User personas, user testing, iterating, wireframes, no visual design in a UX design role
We sort out the journey, it’s like the cogs of a clock - does it function, is it enjoyable to watch?
Agile environment, constantly changing - if something is not working, you have to take it back and move it forward with the user in mind
Do more testing, change the UX - it is not a linear process
What are UX personas?
Who is using the product?
Understanding the ideal customer and the different kind of customers
Based on research and analytics
UI stands for User Interface
What is digital design?
Part of the UX but depends on the company and set up or how the organisation is built
The bit we see as the user - we don’t see the cogs, it is the top layer of the entire process
It encompasses the look, feel, typography, colour, a little bit of visual design
Does not include graphic design
Can UX, UI and research all go together?
Small companies will have broader roles
Bigger companies separate those roles into UX designer, UI designer, prototyping, user testing etc.
Most companies will have a digital presence - UX and UI will be somewhere in the business
There is a lot of evidence that digital presence is beneficial for your business as a whole
What are Product Designers?
Product Designer does encompass most of UX/UI, dependent on the business
Understands the constraints of technology
Always design with the users in mind and business requirements will underpin their choices
Management roles normally - ensure the product is delivered
Tend to find them at smaller companies, start-ups, agencies etc.
Potential to grow a team of more specialized designers
Understand the whole Product - create the app, website, microsites
Things to be mindful of:
Be aware of what skills you have and what skills you want to use - what do you enjoy most?
Is this where I want to take my career?
Upskill through an appropriate course at General Assembly, Academic XI, Billy Blue etc.
Upskill on full-time intensive, part-time basic courses or crash courses in UX/UI
Existing design background, psychology degree etc.
Good to have commercial experience to back up your applications
Competitive, saturated job market, so you must have a good point of difference
To get into the industry quickly, go into a junior role and work your way up
Industry experience is crucial and you’ll learn things on the job - it's not possible to learn everything in a 10-week course
Tips for people interviewing for the roles - how to get hired
UX/UI Design - the key is your process, you must have an excellent understanding of your process
Be great at explaining your process and what you have done in the project and what the team has accomplished together, that’s really important
Have a really good portfolio if you have design skills
Be able to discuss what decisions you made during the project, how did you arrive at this?
Problem-solving is an important part of the process
If you don’t have a portfolio, you can showcase your case studies
Case studies can be useful to showcase your work, the product, the research undertaken, wireframes etc.
My biggest tip: clients want to know what the team did, but also what you did to contribute individually
Any final tips?
Soft skills are so important in this space
Having and showing empathy in this job role is really important - the ability to get underneath the customer‘s skin
Stakeholder management - dealing with stakeholders is an important part of your role, and to have the flexibility to work in different areas of the business
Managing expectations is vital!
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