uxpa 2016 - using ux skills to shape your career

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#UXPA2016 | @MandaLaceyS

Using UX Skills to Shape Your Career Amanda Stockwell

#UXPA2016

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#UXPA2016 | @MandaLaceyS

QUESTIONS? Ask Anytime!

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Nerd Cred

Attempted Unicorning

UX Happy Place

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#UXPA2016 | @MandaLaceyS

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#UXPA2016 | @MandaLaceyS

User Research

Information Architecture

Interaction Design

Usability

Cont

ent S

trate

gy

Prototype/Code

Visual Design

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#UXPA2016 | @MandaLaceyS

Success in UX…

Could be unicorning.

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#UXPA2016 | @MandaLaceyS

Success in UX…

Could be specializing in a few areas.

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#UXPA2016 | @MandaLaceyS

Success in UX…

Could be deep expertise.

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#UXPA2016 | @MandaLaceyS

Pick your angle.

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#UXPA2016 | @MandaLaceyS

Success in UX…

Could be consulting.

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#UXPA2016 | @MandaLaceyS

Success in UX…

Could be consulting.

Could be working in-house.

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#UXPA2016 | @MandaLaceyS

Success in UX…

Could be consulting.

Could be working in-house.

Could be product strategy/management.

Session Survey: http://www.uxpa2016.org/sessionsurvey Conference Survey: http://www.uxpa2016.org/survey www.uxpa2016.org

#UXPA2016 | @MandaLaceyS

Success in UX…

Could be consulting.

Could be working in-house.

Could be product strategy/management.

Could be leadership

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#UXPA2016 | @MandaLaceyS

Success in UX…

Could be consulting.

Could be working in-house.

Could be product strategy/management.

Could be leadership

Could be just about anything.

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#UXPA2016 | @MandaLaceyS

In-house specialist

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#UXPA2016 | @MandaLaceyS

Pick again.

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#UXPA2016 | @MandaLaceyS

Ability to persuade and make an impact

Culture fit/personality

Your fit within the team structure and set of expertise

Problem solving approach

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#UXPA2016 | @MandaLaceyS

Of the 100s of candidates I’ve reviewed…

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#UXPA2016 | @MandaLaceyS

Of the 100s of candidates I’ve reviewed… Maybe 20% effectively communicate

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#UXPA2016 | @MandaLaceyS

GOOD NEWS! You already have the tools to improve.

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#UXPA2016 | @MandaLaceyS

User Research Content Strategy

UI Design Interaction Design Usability Testing Visual Design

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#UXPA2016 | @MandaLaceyS

User Research

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#UXPA2016 | @MandaLaceyS

Potential employers/clients are your users.

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#UXPA2016 | @MandaLaceyS

SAFE ASSUMPTIONS • May not be familiar

with your particular niche

• SUPER busy • They’re definitely

people, not faceless “users.”

• People like connection

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#UXPA2016 | @MandaLaceyS

Figure out people’s “whys”

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#UXPA2016 | @MandaLaceyS

Figure out people’s “whys”

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#UXPA2016 | @MandaLaceyS

Activity: First Impressions

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Partner up

• Find what you

can about your

partner

• Summarize

what you think

your partner is

about

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#UXPA2016 | @MandaLaceyS

Compare notes

• What was spot on?

• What was off?

• What was missing?

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Content Strategy

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+ =

Resume Your Story Portfolio

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Determine what to show

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#UXPA2016 | @MandaLaceyS

Choose samples wisely

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#UXPA2016 | @MandaLaceyS

Project Inventory

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• Make a spreadsheet with columns for client/

project, date, activities, and outcomes. Link

screenshots and documents.

• Fill it out AS YOU GO.

• Trust me. It’s easier than doing it retroactively.

Project Inventory = Career Content Inventory

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#UXPA2016 | @MandaLaceyS

Demonstrate success

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Problem Action Role Result = PARR

PROBLEM ACTION ROLE RESULT

The company isn’t hitting their target for new account signups.

Brainstormed and user tested a shorter sign-up form.

Lead interaction design, worked with visual designer

Customer sign ups increased 20% per day after launch.

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#UXPA2016 | @MandaLaceyS

Activity: PARR

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• Pick a project that has gone particularly well

• Define the project objective

• Describe the work you did

• Explain your role and how you interfaced with your

team

• Brag about how awesome the project was

• Especially helpful to have hard data

Problem Action Role Result = PARR

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Use your PARR’s to help figure out which projects

and deliverables to include in your portfolio.

You do not need to include every project or

deliverable ever to prove your breadth of

experience.

PRO TIP

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UI Design

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Visually represent your skills

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Activity: Broken Comb

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Pick:Core skills - up to 5

• Complimentary skills - up to 4

• Comparison points - up to 3

• Pick a value from 1-10

Map on a y-axis

Broken Comb

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#UXPA2016 | @MandaLaceyS

Usability tests Surveys

Heuristic reviews Stakeholder interviews

User interviews Persona creation

Focus groups Content audits

Competitive reviews Analytics reviews

Multivariate and a/b testing Card sorting Eye tracking

Preference tests Desirability studies

Sketches

Workflows Wireframes Taxonomies User Flows

Content inventories Site maps/site structure

Comps Icons

Typography Prototypes

Moodboards Pattern libraries

Style guides Illustration

Photography Motion/animation

Possible skills

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#UXPA2016 | @MandaLaceyS

What if…

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NDA’s

• Anonymize • Remove confidential

stuff • Communicate

process • Talk-through

New to UX

• Volunteer efforts • Personal projects • School work

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#UXPA2016 | @MandaLaceyS

Remember the story…

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Employers should care more about your approach than any specific deliverable.

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#UXPA2016 | @MandaLaceyS

Interaction Design

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(Personal) Interaction Design

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1,703.55

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#UXPA2016 | @MandaLaceyS

Success takes so much more than technical expertise.

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#UXPA2016 | @MandaLaceyS

Activity: Reframing

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I hated my team.

We never had enough budget.

NO BETTER

There were some tough personalities, but here’s how I learned to collaborate…

Although we didn’t have unlimited resources, we were able to achieve…

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#UXPA2016 | @MandaLaceyS

Usability Testing

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Activity: Solicit Feedback

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• Find one thing you’re currently working on/thinking

about

• Your portfolio, a current presentation, the

spinach in my teach.

• Ask this team for one piece of constructive criticism

Feedback

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Visual Design

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#UXPA2016 | @MandaLaceyS

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#UXPA2016 | @MandaLaceyS

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#UXPA2016 | @MandaLaceyS

User Research Content Strategy

UI Design Interaction Design Usability Testing Visual Design

Session Survey: http://www.uxpa2016.org/sessionsurvey Conference Survey: http://www.uxpa2016.org/survey www.uxpa2016.org

#UXPA2016 | @MandaLaceyS

Remember the people Pick samples carefully Don’t rely on words

Don’t be an ass Get feedback Look the part

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#UXPA2016 | @MandaLaceyS

THANK YOU

Stay in touch! @MandaLaceyS

amanda.stockwell@gmail.com linkedin.com/in/amandastockwell