![\"UX](\"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/websiteasset\/uploads\/2020\/03\/1initiative.jpg\")
<\/p>\nYou\u2019ve landed your first UX job. Now what? You\u2019re probably excited about what\u2019s in store for you in this career path \u2013 and a tad overwhelmed. I\u2019ve written this article as an attempt to ease your nerves. Some of what you read, you may already be aware of. And if you feel some of them sound more like life hacks than design tips \u2013 it\u2019s probably because they are.<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re new to the workplace, chances are the heavy-lifting hasn\u2019t started yet. You\u2019re relatively free, and it\u2019s a great time for you to say yes yes to doing any and all kinds of work \u2013 even if it wasn\u2019t part of the job description; even if you don\u2019t think you\u2019re good at it.<\/p>\n
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Being forthcoming and approachable about the kind of work you\u2019re open to doing signifies that you\u2019re open to learning everything there is to the job. Say yes. Make mistakes. It\u2019s all good. Most\u00a0UX designer jobs are entry-level\u00a0positions, hence having a host of ancillary skills will help you grow in the organisation faster. Opening yourself up to new kinds of work will only help you holistically as a designer.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s easy to get caught up in the rat race, so here\u2019s a protip- don\u2019t!<\/p>\n
![\"UX](\"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/websiteasset\/uploads\/2020\/03\/2-forgetjobdescription-no-line.jpg\")
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It\u2019s typical of the most design professional to get trapped in the title race that we forget to think about what eventually matters \u2013 our overall growth as a designer. An exceptional UX designer is almost always a generalist and being one involves proficiency not only in design but also in subjects like empathy, communication, content writing, business and strategy, just to name a few.<\/p>\n
![\"Real](\"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/websiteasset\/uploads\/2020\/03\/3realusertest.jpg\")
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One of the most neglected steps in the design process is testing your product on real users before launching it. Don\u2019t get us wrong- having a revolutionary concept is great. But until you get feedback from someone who is going to use it every day, it will remain just \u2013 a novel concept! And no, your teammates aren\u2019t your real users, their feedback isn\u2019t going to help much.<\/p>\n
![\"Look](\"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/websiteasset\/uploads\/2020\/03\/4lookformentor.jpg\")
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Differing opinions can sometimes be key to new insights. You need to blend with the people and find someone who can speak to you candidly and help you navigate life in the organisation and profession alike. Scan your workplace or industry and find a mentor with the skills and professional drive that you wish to emulate. A good mentor can impart nuggets of wisdom that you may not find in self-help manual or guide.<\/p>\n
No matter how far we get with technology there is no alternative for putting pen to paper. Since it\u2019s still early days in your design career, refrain from designing directly on the screen. Even if you are a master at visualizing an idea down to the last pixel in your head, we end up losing many details by the time we reach the final product. Sketching is the quickest way to translate an idea in your mind into the real world. You can come up with multiple iterations of your idea quickly. No time is wasted figuring out which font size or color to use, or what kind of roundness a button should have.<\/p>\n
![\"Writing](\"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/websiteasset\/uploads\/2020\/03\/8-write-no-line.jpg\")
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Writing \u2013 stories, blogs, journaling \u2013 helps in bringing about clarity to your thoughts, which is difficult to achieve if it\u2019s all just locked inside our head. In addition to sketching disparate blueprints, consider fleshing out concept notes that you can develop into products later. When you make writing a habit, you start to notice that it translates to your designs as well. Writing microcopy is an essential skill for UX designers, which can make or break their design. A product\u2019s true value is almost always conveyed through the copy used. Creativity in the spoken word will help you refine your UX designer portfolio.<\/p>\n
By habit, designs of most designers tend to get heavily influenced by sites such as Dribbble, Behance or by apps with \u201ccool\u201d interfaces. What they miss out to understand is that each design is created to solve a specific problem. It\u2019s obtuse to mindlessly copy these designs without understanding the reasoning behind them. Try to adopt a problem-solving attitude to design; look at each product from a customer\u2019s viewpoint and build experiences to keep them coming back for more. This methodology will give you a definite edge in the industry.<\/p>\n
![\"Love](\"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/websiteasset\/uploads\/2020\/03\/10-lovefeedback.jpg\")
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In your career as a designer, your thoughts and ideas will be challenged by your clients, peers, and sometimes by yourself (which I highly recommend doing). Defending the designs we make is almost a knee-jerk reaction we\u2019re all guilty of, and while it is your job to communicate to the client why you did what you did, don\u2019t get too attached to your designs. Instead, learn to love the feedback you receive and probe deeper to understand the underlying reason for the feedback. Being receptive to feedback will also help people around you feel more forthcoming in sharing their honest views.<\/p>\n
The traditional design process that we are used to struggles to keep up with the changing needs of stakeholders. Every new project comes with its own set of challenges \u2013 the client wants the product yesterday, they don\u2019t have time for user research, and, likely, the design process you\u2019ve sworn by all this time doesn\u2019t fit in with the project plan. The only way to adapt to these changing needs is by adopting newer design processes that can positively impact the project. Read up about processes like Lean UX and Design Sprints. Read up about design strategy from the greats. They\u2019ve changed the way we work and collaborate with teams and clients (and users) on a project. Understanding these processes and identifying when to apply them is key to becoming a master of your craft.<\/p>\n
![\"Attend](\"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/websiteasset\/uploads\/2020\/03\/12-attend-workshop.jpg\")
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Design workshops expose you to influential thought-leaders from the industry. They teach you firsthand about real-world problems and solutions. Also workshops are a good way to find a mentor from your field and speak of your interests to a wide variety of people interested in the design discipline.<\/p>\n
One last thing, but it\u2019s necessary. The first project you work on won\u2019t be perfect \u2013 a lot of them won\u2019t be. The first article you write won\u2019t be perfect either. And neither will the workshops you conduct. And that\u2019s okay. Perfection shouldn\u2019t be your end goal. Design is an iterative process. And we\u2019re all still figuring it out. Might as well enjoy the process while you\u2019re at it.<\/p>\n
Wish you all the best!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Introduction You\u2019ve landed your first UX job. Now what? You\u2019re probably excited about what\u2019s in store for you in this career path \u2013 and a tad overwhelmed. I\u2019ve written this article as an attempt to ease your nerves. Some of what you read, you may already be aware of. And if you feel some of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1084,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[],"blogs_category":[],"class_list":["post-4294","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-march"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n