Career Paths of User Experience
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Originally presented at the Future of Web Design in San Francisco, Patrick Neeman talks about the different stages of the User Experience career path and where the opportunities lie for designers to grow and succeed.
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Career Paths of User Experience
- 1. Patrick Neeman, Director of Product Design, Apptio @usabilitycounts #fowd | www.usabilitycounts.com The Career Paths of User Experience How do I get in? How do I move around? How do I get out? {
- 2. @usabilitycounts #fowd About Me Patrick Neeman has 20 years of UX and Web Experience Runs UsabilityCounts.com and UXDrinkingGame.com Built several UX teams
- 3. @usabilitycounts #fowd My Career Path McDonalds Shift Manager Caterer Educational Recruiter Graphic Designer Technical Documentation Designer Newspaper Editor Print Designer Art Director Creative Director Web Producer New Media Specialist Director of Development Program Manager Product Manager User Experience Consultant Vice President, Marketing Creative Director Practice Manager, User Experience Recruiter Director of User Experience Director of Product Design NorthAmerican.com Oliver North’s Website Web career starts here
- 4. @usabilitycounts #fowd So how do I become a UX Professional?
- 5. @usabilitycounts #fowd Be A Unicorn! Thank you!
- 6. @usabilitycounts #fowd User Experience is a big, big field.
- 7. @usabilitycounts #fowd The competencies of UX, Fisher Priced (Because we’ve done an awful job explaining it to others) User Research and Analytics Understanding the users through observations and data Content Strategy Planning for the creation, delivery and governance of usable content Information Architecture Organizing information in a product or website in a usable way Interaction Design Designing interactive behaviors with a specific focus on their use Visual Design Designing the visual qualities in an aesthetically pleasing way Front End Development Building the interactive behaviors to be used by the end user Give credit to Nick Finck (@nickf): http://www.nickfinck.com/blog/entry/ux_career_progression_finding_a_niche_building_a_personal_brand/
- 8. @usabilitycounts #fowd How much time and money can you invest? Some Online Programs Certificate Programs General Assembly Lots Carnegie Mellon University of Washington Indiana University A bit Read books and blogs Startup Weekends Build your own stuff
- 9. @usabilitycounts #fowd I’m working in another field. What would I be good at?
- 10. @usabilitycounts #fowd T-Shaped Skill Set They have a principal skill that describes the vertical leg of the T — they’re mechanical engineers or industrial designers. But they are so empathetic that they can branch out into other skills, such as anthropology, and do them as well.” Tim Brown, IDEO CEO “
- 11. @usabilitycounts #fowd Web Designer. Print Designer. Product Manager. Marketing Specialist. Salesperson. Architect. Geotechnical Engineer. Recruiter. Psychologist. Surf Shop Manager. Program Manager. Project Manager. Programmer. Director of Engineering. Director of Marketing. Security Guard. Customer Service Representative. Psychiatrist. Construction Worker. Welder. Engineer. Technical Writer. Lawyer. Programmer. Development. Industrial Designer. Musician. Anthropologist. Sociologist. Used Car Salesman. Baseball Player. Journalist. Translator. Instructional Designer. Photographer. Teacher. Creative Director. Hot Dog Factory Worker. Operational Analyst. Business Analyst. Waitress. Mechanical Design Engineer. Quality Assurance Engineer. Librarian. Illustrator. Actress. Theater Designer. Filmmaker. Copy Editor. Radio Station Manager. Industrial Designer. Who’s made the shift?
- 12. @usabilitycounts #fowd Web Designer. Print Designer. Product Manager. Marketing Specialist. Salesperson. Architect. Geotechnical Engineer. Recruiter. Psychologist. Surf Shop Manager. Program Manager. Project Manager. Programmer. Director of Engineering. Director of Marketing. Security Guard. Customer Service Representative. Psychiatrist. Construction Worker. Welder. Engineer. Technical Writer. Lawyer. Programmer. Development. Industrial Designer. Musician. Anthropologist. Sociologist. Used Car Salesman. Baseball Player. Journalist. Translator. Instructional Designer. Photographer. Teacher. Creative Director. Hot Dog Factory Worker. Operational Analyst. Business Analyst. Waitress. Mechanical Design Engineer. Quality Assurance Engineer. Librarian. Illustrator. Actress. Theater Designer. Filmmaker. Copy Editor. Radio Station Manager. Industrial Designer. Who’s made the shift?
- 13. @usabilitycounts #fowd I’m a Print Designer… Patrick Neeman Director of Product Design Apptio User Research and Analytics Content Strategy Information Architecture Interaction Design Visual Design Front End Development
- 14. @usabilitycounts #fowd I’m a Developer… Rebecca Destello Director of User Research IvySoftworks User Research and Analytics Content Strategy Information Architecture Interaction Design Visual Design Front End Development
- 15. @usabilitycounts #fowd I’m a Recruiter… Meri Gulyan VP, Experience Strategy XIVIC User Research and Analytics Content Strategy Information Architecture Interaction Design Visual Design Front End Development
- 16. @usabilitycounts #fowd I’m a Psychologist… David Hogue, PhD UX Design Manager Google User Research and Analytics Content Strategy Information Architecture Interaction Design Visual Design Front End Development
- 17. @usabilitycounts #fowd I’m a Geotechnical Engineer… Troy Parke Associate Director of UX, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts User Research and Analytics Content Strategy Information Architecture Interaction Design Visual Design Front End Development
- 18. @usabilitycounts #fowd I’m in and want to stay here! How do I expand my hard skills?
- 19. @usabilitycounts #fowd What’s your superpower?
- 20. @usabilitycounts #fowd Research Content Strategy Information Architecture Interaction Design Interaction Design Visual Design Front End Development User Research and Analytics Content Strategy Information Architecture Writing Spatial {Superpowers to leverage
- 21. @usabilitycounts #fowd I’m a Front End Developer User Research and Analytics Content Strategy Information Architecture Interaction Design Visual Design Front End Development
- 22. @usabilitycounts #fowd I’m a Visual Designer User Research and Analytics Content Strategy Information Architecture Interaction Design Visual Design Front End Development
- 23. @usabilitycounts #fowd I’m a Technical Writer User Research and Analytics Content Strategy Information Architecture Interaction Design Visual Design Front End Development
- 24. @usabilitycounts #fowd My new skill set… Patrick Neeman Director of Product Design Apptio User Research and Analytics Content Strategy Information Architecture Interaction Design Visual Design Front End Development
- 25. @usabilitycounts #fowd I’m in and want to stay here! What about my career path?
- 26. @usabilitycounts #fowd Do you want to design or manage? Individual Contributor Designing a product Direct control over design Focus more on craft Manager Designing a culture Trust others with vision Focus more on the business
- 27. @usabilitycounts #fowd {Which way? Design Management Product Management EntrepreneurManager Generalist Specialist Consultant Individual Contributor
- 28. @usabilitycounts #fowd Ask the hard questions • Why did you get into user experience? • Do you want to manage teams or be an individual contributor? • Do you want to be in the spotlight or in the background? • How much attention do you pay to the craft of design? • Are you more interested in business?
- 29. @usabilitycounts #fowd Are you self aware? Myers Briggs Personality Test http://www.myersbriggs.org ENFJ INFJ INTJ ENTJ ENFP INFP INTP ENTP ESFP ISFP ISTP ESTP ESFJ ISFJ ISTJ ESTJ
- 30. @usabilitycounts #fowd Being a manager • Get a mentor who isn’t your boss • Learn the language of business • Manage small teams first • Get an executive coach • Read a lot of books
- 31. @usabilitycounts #fowd Being a specialist • Get a mentor who isn’t your boss • Become an authority in your craft • Learn to evangelize with respect • Learn to lead without authority • Read a lot of books
- 32. @usabilitycounts #fowd Leadership is about influence, not title
- 33. @usabilitycounts #fowd I’m in and want to stay here! How do I get a chance?
- 34. @usabilitycounts #fowd Develop a plan.
- 35. @usabilitycounts #fowd Internal Opportunities External Opportunities Startups
- 36. @usabilitycounts #fowd Internal Opportunities External Opportunities Startups
- 37. @usabilitycounts #fowd Internal Opportunities External Opportunities Startups
- 38. @usabilitycounts #fowd No more wireframes or prototypes! Where do I go from here?
- 39. @usabilitycounts #fowd Christian Manzella VP of Design, Moz Leadership Teaching Product Management Marketing Startup Founder
- 40. @usabilitycounts #fowd Leadership Teaching Product Management Marketing Startup Founder Liz Sanocki, PhD Sr. Lecturer at University of Washington
- 41. @usabilitycounts #fowd Leadership Teaching Product Management Marketing Startup Founder Kristen Johansen Group Product Manager, Sonos
- 42. @usabilitycounts #fowd Leadership Teaching Product Management Marketing Startup Founder Lynn Teo VP of Digital Marketing, Computer Associates
- 43. @usabilitycounts #fowd Leadership Teaching Product Management Marketing Startup Founder Credit: www.designerfund.com
- 45. @usabilitycounts #fowd You are responsible for your career. Take charge of it.
- 46. @usabilitycounts #fowd Further Reading UX Career Guide http://www.usabilitycounts.com/2011/10/18/how-to-get-started-in-user-experience-seven-tips/ How to Get Started in User Experience http://www.usabilitycounts.com/2011/10/18/how-to-get-started-in-user-experience-seven-tips/ Creating Career Paths for UX Professionals http://www.slideshare.net/kristenjohansen/creating-career-paths-for-ux-professionals A Model for UX Career Growth http://adaptivepath.org/ideas/a-model-for-ux-career-growth/
- 47. Patrick Neeman, Director of Product Design, Apptio @usabilitycounts #fowd | www.usabilitycounts.com Thank you!
Editor's Notes
- My mom wants me to work at Google, Apple or Facebook, just so she can explain what I do. This is confusing. We have to understand our audience and how to explain it, and that’s something we do a very poor job of. For example, my VP of Engineering isn’t going to understand this. We have to do a better job of explaining how he fit into companies.
- Most companies don’t know what these roles are, and that’s really on us to explain the competencies. It’s also on us to evaluate our own skill sets to see where we fit. If you’re a “Web Designer,” you’re practicing all of these roles if you’re a one person show.
- This really depends on how much of a foundation that you have in User Experience. Sometimes you need a little, sometimes you need a lot.
- Many think the T-Skill Set means “hire unicorns.” T-skill Sets isn’t about having a bunch of skills, it’s about being able to learn new skills and adaptable in today’s environment. Empathy and understanding helps speed that learning process.
- What’s cool about many people that have made the shift is they are using previously learned skills in their new career. The titles above show the diversity of many people I know that have made the move.
- What’s cool about many people that have made the shift is they are using previously learned skills in their new career. The titles above show the diversity of many people I know that have made the move.
- I was a print designer that made the move, so because of my publication experience, information architecture was something I easily picked up without knowing it.
- Broke into the field as a web developer for intranets, became a researcher and then went back to school to get her Masters. Completed her bachelors in Visual Arts in 2008, six years after starting her web career.
- Was a recruiter and starting taking on free projects to learn interaction design. She leveraged previous project management experience to move on to a manager role.
- David leveraged his background in psychology as instructor to break into the web and lead agency teams for years. Recently made the jump to product at Google.
- His career was about dirt until he went back to school to be a visual designer. That choice lead him to his current position, Associate Director of UX for Disney Parks and Resorts.
- Good developers tend to be good architects, good writers and understand systems. Interaction Design, Interaction Design. Content Strategy is as much about governance and project management as it is about SEO and Content Development.
- Spatial skills are instrumental in understanding design, and visual designers tend to be really good at telling stories through images and words. My mom, for example, is a very good illustrator and a fine artist, but a terrible layout artist.
- I’ve technical writers more over. For example, I use my Content Strategist as a Product Designer, and they’ve done a pretty good job of coming up with the site map for a community at Apptio.
- Managing and being an individual contributor are totally different things. Do you think that being a manager means controlling every pixel on the screen?
- I’m INTP or INTJ on a given day. Both are systems thinkers or architects.
- Do you have a five year plan? Have you identified focus areas of your career? If you were to leave your job today, did you do what you set out to do? Do you have a plan for where you are working now? Write the press release. It should lead to career goals.
- Start volunteering for projects internally. Many designers broke in by doing small projects, transitioning from web developer or another role. Get a mentor in your company, and decide what your career path is. If there is no career path…
- …Network, network, network. You have to get only one person to take a chance on you. Sometimes volunteer work leads to building a portfolio.
- Do you own thing. Start your own idea, keep it small, and attract talent.
- Christian has had a long career spanning both business and design successfully at places like Lowe’s and Channel Blade, and runs Giant Conference for designers on the East Coast. He uses that experience today to lead the team at Moz.
- PhD in Experimental Psychology. Broke into user experience as a researcher, transitioned to design. Moved into teaching at University of Washington after nearly four years at Amazon Web Services.
- Quality Assurance Engineer for Apple, Designer, Managing Designers at lynda.com, now a Product Manager at Sonos.
- Lynn’s had a long career working at agencies, ending up as the CXO at McCann Erickson. Transitioned in house to Digital Marketing and uses her previous agency experience to manage them.
- The sky is the limit.
- More to read.