the ux journey of a unicorn

THE UX JOURNEY OF A UNICORNL A D I E S T H AT U X TA I P E I 1 0 . 2 6 . 1 6

🦄Jenny Shen

UX Consultant & UI Designer

J E N N Y W H O ?

Founder of Ladies that UX Amsterdam

Digital Nomad

@jennyshen

✈#✏

🐦

A D O B E X D W O R K S H O P0 9 . 1 5 . 1 6 L A D I E S T H AT U X A M S T E R D A M

& My UX journey

' Debunking Myths

💯 Get started in UX

TA L K O U T L I N E

@jennyshen

My UX Journey&

@jennyshen

My UX Journey

✈) *

&

🎮 📝 📚 🏢Moved to Canada in 2000

@jennyshen

Moving to Canada

What my friends think I do. What my parents think I do. What society think I do.

What locals think I do. What I think I do. What I actually do.

@jennyshen

My UX Journey

✈) *

&

🎮 📝 📚 🏢Played online games

@jennyshen

My UX Journey

✈) *

&

🎮 📝 📚 🏢Started web design

@jennyshen

@jennyshen

My UX Journey

✈) *

&

🎮 📝 📚 🏢Design school

@jennyshen

@jennyshen

keep the planet healthy, starting right at home.

The program is designed for computer

use in combination with a second

external monitor. The first window

displays a home with standard

appliances, which can be turned on and

off. These actions affect the second

window, a pet environment that reflects

the energy usage.

CAUSE + EFFECT

PET-House is an educational tool aimed at teaching children environmental awareness. Using

cause and effect, it visualizes how appliances used within a home can impact the environment.

This virtual platform allows for curiosity, exploration and reflection.

ABOUT

HOME APPLIANCESINPUT WINDOW

PET ENVIRONMENTVISUALIZATION WINDOW

Each appliance uses a specific amount of water, gas & electricty for each moment it is on.

Energy types are indicated by icons above each appliance before it is turned on. The

environment then reacts depending on which resources are being depleted.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

Appliances that use electricity and gas both affect the sun and sky, which turns dark and gloomy when negatively impacted. Excessive water use will drain the lake, causing fish to die. Flowers, grass and trees are affected by either change. The unhealthy changes upset the pet, and only when energy use is regulated can the environment recover.

@jennyshen

@jennyshen

My UX Journey

✈) *

&

🎮 📝 📚 🏢Into workplace

@jennyshen

Debunking Myths'

@jennyshen

I need formal education to be a UXer

# 1

@jennyshen

I need formal education to be a UXer

# 1

Experience is key. You can learn UX outside of school.

@jennyshen

@jennyshen

=10-day diet pills

@jennyshen

I have to get straight A’s to be a good designer

# 2

@jennyshen

I have to get straight A’s to be a good designer

# 2

Grades don’t indicate how well you can perform at work.

Learn how to critique, receive critique, solve problems and manage time.

@jennyshen

I have to be naturally talented to be a UXer

# 3

@jennyshen

I have to be naturally talented to be a UXer

# 3

You can improve problem solving skills and attention to detail.

At the minimum, you need to appreciate and value good design.

@jennyshen

Get started in UX💯

@jennyshen

Learn# 1

📚

@jennyshen

R E A D

@jennyshen

R E A D

@jennyshen

L I S T E N

@jennyshen

• Usually more practical

• You can choose what to learn

• Flexible—read in the car, listen on the go

• Costs less than 4-year university program

• Lots of free resources: articles, podcasts

etc.

B E N E F I T S O F S E L F - E D U C AT I O N

@jennyshen

Be a self-starter# 2

🚀

@jennyshen

• Do what you actually like to do

• Learn new things

• Show others that you are motivated

• Show your skills without a client/employer

• Build your portfolio

B E N E F I T S O F S I D E P R O J E C T S

@jennyshen

Join communities# 3

👯

@jennyshen

D E S I G N & U X C O M M U N I T I E S

@jennyshen

• Learn

• Connect with your peers

• Job opportunities

B E N E F I T S O F E N G A G I N G I N C O M M U N I T I E S

@jennyshen

Internships# 3

🛠

@jennyshen

W H E R E I I N T E R N E D

@jennyshen

• Get hands-on experience

• Learn what you like & don’t like

• Build portfolio & resume

B E N E F I T S O F I N T E R N S H I P S

@jennyshen

Thank you!2

@jennyshen

@jennyshen🐦

jenny@jennyshen.ca📧

jennyshen.ca🌏

fb.com/ladiesthatux.ams

S AY H I AT

bit.ly/ladiesuxams

Ladies that UX Amsterdam