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Your Questions Answered

lw5070

The below is an excerpt from a real conversation with a real UX designer just starting their career and looking for some assistance.

Thanks to SDC for the inspiration. Happy Designing!


Q&A In white letters on top of many different blue-colored circles. Come circles have white "?" in them

Legend

  • Questions

  • Answers


Is there anything specifically you want to know about as a designer that you have not been able to ask before? 


Yes, actually! There's actually quite a few questions I have 😅


Many hands piled in the middle. The shirt sleeves of the people are very colorful.

I've always been someone who enjoys work most when it's meant to drive social good, and make life a little bit better for those in marginalized or underserved community. I love learning more about accessibility, and using my design to give back to my community.

Good. Be the avant-garde new leader in your field. Right now, this is not strongly represented in the corporate world. You can work to change that. Also, you can find companies that this is their main focus and help them drive their mission forward. This is a short list Chat GPT put together when asked who these companies are. It should help to get the juices flowing.



Health & Well-being

  1. One World Health

    • Focus: Providing affordable, quality health care in developing countries.

    • Impact: Operates sustainable health facilities in underserved areas.

  2. TOMS

    • Focus: "One for One" business model, donating a pair of shoes for every pair sold (now evolving into broader social impact initiatives).

    • Impact: Improved access to shoes, vision, and safe water.

  3. Partners in Health

    • Focus: Health care access for impoverished communities.

    • Impact: Runs healthcare systems in low-income regions globally.



Education & Opportunity

  1. Kiva

    • Focus: Micro-lending to underserved entrepreneurs worldwide.

    • Impact: Enables small businesses in marginalized communities to thrive.

  2. DonorsChoose

    • Focus: Connecting donors with public school classrooms in need of supplies and resources.

    • Impact: Supports equitable education opportunities.

  3. Code.org

    • Focus: Making computer science education accessible to all students, particularly those from underrepresented groups.

    • Impact: Free curricula and advocacy for more inclusive STEM education.



Environment & Sustainability

  1. Patagonia

    • Focus: Environmental activism and sustainable business practices.

    • Impact: Donates a portion of profits to environmental causes, supports grassroots organizations, and champions sustainability.

  2. Solar Sister

    • Focus: Clean energy access and empowering women entrepreneurs in Africa.

    • Impact: Provides affordable solar-powered products while creating economic opportunities for women.

  3. Ecovative Design

    • Focus: Sustainable materials using mycelium-based products.

    • Impact: Reduces reliance on plastic and synthetic materials.



Economic Empowerment

  1. Warby Parker

    • Focus: Affordable eyewear with a "buy a pair, give a pair" program.

    • Impact: Provides glasses to underserved populations while creating jobs.

  2. Grameen Bank

    • Focus: Microfinance institution that supports impoverished individuals, particularly women.

    • Impact: Economic empowerment through small loans and community-driven development.

  3. Fair Trade USA

    • Focus: Certifying products made under fair-trade conditions.

    • Impact: Ensures ethical wages and working conditions for marginalized producers.



Housing & Infrastructure

  1. Habitat for Humanity

    • Focus: Building affordable housing for low-income families.

    • Impact: Provides safe, sustainable homes and advocates for housing equity.

  2. TerraClear

    • Focus: Access to clean drinking water through affordable filters.

    • Impact: Benefits rural and underserved areas in developing countries.



Technology for Good

  1. Benetech

    • Focus: Technology solutions for social good, including literacy, human rights, and disability access.

    • Impact: Develops tools like Bookshare, providing accessible books for people with visual impairments.

  2. Andela

    • Focus: Connecting talented software engineers from Africa with global companies.

    • Impact: Builds careers and bridges the gap in tech industry diversity.

  3. HandUp

    • Focus: Direct crowdfunding platform for people experiencing homelessness.

    • Impact: Allows individuals to receive essential resources directly.



Food Security & Agriculture

  1. Feeding America

    • Focus: Nationwide hunger relief network.

    • Impact: Supplies food to underserved communities across the U.S.

  2. Farmers’ Direct

    • Focus: Direct access to markets for smallholder farmers.

    • Impact: Supports fair income and sustainable agricultural practices.

  3. Toast Ale

    • Focus: Brewing beer using surplus bread to reduce food waste.

    • Impact: Tackles waste while donating profits to environmental charities.


OK, on to the reality of the corporate world.



Keyboard. The word digital accessibility is written on one of the keys

Q. I think the main question that I have for seasoned UX designers such as yourself revolves around how accessibility and social good really show up in a day to day basis. Do you ever have to decide between driving a business result and making the end product more accessible? 

A. Yes, we do. If we don’t pick business and sales for the company that will be chosen for us and business or product will force it down our throats. This is what happens typically in corporate. For some smaller businesses, you might get the chance to advocate for it.


Normally, we as designers need to evangelize (explain to others the need for our services). That is already a hard battle. Add on top of that accessibility and it is a heavy lift. If you work for a company that focuses on design, like Airbnb, Apple, or Adobe, they already believe in the importance of design to business. So, it's easier to sell accessibility.


You could also probably find some groups that are more socially responsible as their business model and that will align you closer to your wants. See the list at the top for examples. Most corporate work means they are responsible to the famous "stockholders". Company leaders only care about making money and being able to show that every 3 months at the quarterly meetings they have made money. Shareholders and the big banks can ask them how they did and what they will do next.


This is the current landscape. It may be one that would benefit you to get some exposure to, but sounds like it will be a hard fit. So you might want to look for some socially-driven companies. See the list at the top. Maybe a local farmers co-op in Brooklyn would be a great fit.



Woman sitting at desk with pencil in her hand, drawing.

Q. How do you marry those two concepts - business results and accessibility - in your daily work?

A. In the environments mentioned above, from the beginning, we bend the knee and accept that this battle will just be a loss. Why? Well, if you think about the next step. We also have to convince our stakeholders to agree with a simple design as the final output, and there are many decisions and battles to embark on in that area. With those battles, we have to come out with a victory, otherwise we cannot really do our job.

In the eyes of business stakeholders

  • Business Results = 90% Importance

  • Accessibility = 3-5% importance

Again, these numbers can get skewed in a more design-forward organization because some of the battles are already sorted before you arrive.



Woman pointing to dashboard on TV

Q. Whose job is it in a large organization to speak up when a project has a glaring inaccessibility problem or will negatively impact a community - yours, someone else's, or nobody's at all?

It is always a good idea to point things out, but for those to be heard, you will need to have trust from your stakeholders or they will just hear complaining. They will hear, this is a problem, and this is an area they do not know anything about, so how are they supposed to solve it. Bringing forth a solution softens the blow. If you already have trust with your stakeholders, they will listen to you. If you have a solution, they might be willing to let you work on it if all their other priorities are managed first. 



Sign saying we are hiring, with red megaphone

Q. Semi-related, but I'd also like to know how junior designers like myself can stand out within the job hunt and workplace without feeling like we're behind. 

A.  Be simple and easy for a business person to understand your work. They often are a huge part of the decision-making process and we have to “train” them to think like us and know what we know. That often starts with your portfolio. Make sure your portfolio is simple and easy to understand. After this is fully covered, then feel free to add your particular flair to show off your style. 



Many papers on the table. There are wireframes and color palettes on the papers

Q. Many of the portfolios that I reference for my own look like they were ripped out of the Apple design system - sleek, modern, perfect for the IT industry. 

A. As designers, we always feel that our portfolio is never done. We are always comparing ourselves to others. But seeing as our portfolio is ours, we have the opportunity to do what we like. Let it be an accurate representation of who you are. If you show that, the right opportunity will come to you. An opportunity that matches your style will come to you. If you look like the other examples, work will find you that looks like that and that is what the company will want to see from you. So be you.


Some pointers when working on your portfolio.

Make sure you think about your target user. Who is that? Have you designed this for them, also? Do a quick search on Chat GPT. Ask it: “I am a junior ux designer just getting into this field. While working on my portfolio, who should I consider as my target user? What are their pain points? What would they want to see from me? How could I make sure they noticed me? How can I ensure they hire me?”

If a business person who knows nothing about design looks at your work, can they easily understand what you are trying to share?


Also consider if you want to be the go-to person for accessibility, then you should ask how accessible is your website? Do you have metadata embedded? Alt tags for all images? Is your site optimized for screen readers? Do you do for your portfolio what you are selling to your clients?


If yes, amazing!

If no, how can those clients believe that you have the skills to do the same for them? Maybe spend a week going through your offering and make sure all those things you are passionate about are thoroughly incorporated into your site. 



Silloette of woman in front of the sun with her fist in the air

Q. Because of my accessibility/social good focus, and because cooking and food preparation is an additional huge interest and hobby of mine, my portfolio is modeled more after a friendly cafe menu - but I'm not sure if it's really putting me at a disadvantage.

A. If that is what you truly care about and would like to pursue it now, then lean in to that. Make it be your advantage. Structure everything around that and turn it into your strength. Confidence will take you far in our field. Chris Do from “the futur” is a master at exuding more confidence then we all think we should display. You can pick up a few tips from him. Search for him on YouTube and he gives lots of great advice. https://thefutur.com/people/chris-do




Wood sea-saw with 3 yellow pawns on one side and one orange pawn on the other side. The orange side is weighted down

Q. I do my best with my content to emphasize my passions for social good and accessibility, but I'm constantly wondering if that's what everyone else is also emphasizing, and it's making me look worse comparatively. Have you ever felt behind as a designer? 

A. “Comparison is the thief of all joy.” - This quote comes to mind. 

If this is what you are interested in, become a SUPER advocate for it. Find others that are also interested in this and grow together with them. Humans are notorious for saying an idea is a bad idea. The thinking is, those that are strong enough to make that idea become a huge success will find that those same people will become your #1 fans once they see that it is a success. They will say, “How did you do that?” Your answer will be “hard work” and “not listening to everyone that told me it was not possible.”


We always feel left behind until we decide to make our own path. Then, the road ahead is empty and you can choose the journey you want to take instead of following someone else's path. 



Woman on purple background with puzzled look on her face

Q. How do you narrow down what industries you want to work for, 

A. What Industry are you interested in? If you are not sure, you can always ask Google or Chat GPT: “Make me a list of different industries that a UX designer could work in.” Then you take that list and start crossing out industries that you are not interested in. Also circle the ones that are super interesting. In the end, you will have a list of what you are super interested in, some that are so-so, and some that are a definite no. 


Something else to think about: I have worked in industries that I didn't like, but stayed because the team was great. So that's also a factor. You could find friends and mentors in the places you are least likely to suspect.


When I asked ChatGPT for a list of industries, this is what I got:

1. Technology and Software

  • Mobile apps

  • SaaS (Software as a Service)

  • Gaming

  • AR/VR development

  • Artificial Intelligence

2. Healthcare

  • Medical devices

  • Telemedicine platforms

  • Electronic health records (EHR) systems

  • Health and wellness apps

3. Finance

  • Banking apps

  • Fintech platforms

  • Investment tools

  • Cryptocurrency exchanges

4. E-commerce and Retail

  • Online marketplaces

  • Subscription services

  • In-store digital experiences

  • Product customization tools

5. Education

  • E-learning platforms

  • EdTech apps

  • Online certification tools

  • Learning management systems (LMS)

6. Media and Entertainment

  • Streaming platforms

  • News websites

  • Social media platforms

  • Music and podcasting apps

7. Automotive

  • In-car infotainment systems

  • Electric vehicle interfaces

  • Connected car apps

  • Navigation and fleet management tools

8. Travel and Hospitality

  • Booking platforms

  • Airline and hotel apps

  • Tourism guides and apps

  • Transportation and rideshare services

9. Government and Public Sector

  • Public service portals

  • Voting systems

  • Urban planning and citizen engagement tools

  • Digital transformation initiatives

10. Nonprofits and Social Impact

  • Fundraising platforms

  • Awareness campaign sites

  • Volunteer coordination tools

  • Crowdsourcing apps

11. Real Estate

  • Property listing platforms

  • Virtual tours and augmented reality tools

  • Rental management apps

  • Smart home interfaces

12. Energy and Utilities

  • Renewable energy monitoring platforms

  • Smart grid systems

  • Utility bill management apps

  • Home energy-saving tools

13. Logistics and Supply Chain

  • Inventory management systems

  • Delivery tracking platforms

  • Fleet management software

  • Warehouse automation tools

14. Sports and Fitness

  • Fitness tracking apps

  • Sports team fan engagement platforms

  • Wearable technology interfaces

  • Athlete performance analysis tools

15. Fashion and Lifestyle

  • Virtual fitting rooms

  • Trend prediction tools

  • Fashion e-commerce platforms

  • Lifestyle subscription apps

16. Aerospace and Defense

  • Navigation and control systems

  • Pilot training simulators

  • Mission planning tools

  • Defense communication platforms

17. Construction and Architecture

  • Building information modeling (BIM) tools

  • Construction project management apps

  • 3D modeling platforms

  • Smart building systems

18. Legal and Compliance

  • Legal tech platforms

  • Document management tools

  • Compliance tracking systems

  • Case management apps

19. Food and Beverage

  • Restaurant reservation apps

  • Food delivery platforms

  • Inventory management for food businesses

  • Recipe and meal planning tools

20. Insurance

  • Claims management platforms

  • Risk assessment tools

  • Customer self-service portals

  • Insurance policy comparison apps




Man standing at the top of stairs looking out onto the city

Q. and how do you even get your foot in the door in the first place?

How to get started?

  1. You can just cold-call or find a brand new opportunity the hard way and just start from the bottom up. If you have any examples of work you have done, show those in a portfolio. Apply for as many jobs as you can on all the different job sites. If you look long enough, someone will find those interesting and give you a chance. List of Job sites where you can search for work and create a profile:

    1. Monster.com / CareerBuilder - They both recently merged

    2. LinkedIn

    3. ZipRecruiter

    4. GlassDoor

    5. Dice.com

    6. Indeed

    7. SimplyHired

  2. Go chase a business and offer to do freelance work for them. This could be paid or free, depending on how you want to position it. Chris Do from “the futur” has a lot to say about this. Search for him on YouTube and he gives lots of great advice. https://thefutur.com/people/chris-do

  3. The age-old adage is true. It is who you know. If you know someone in the industry, they can often get you a position because they have stakeholder that trust them and they get you the buyin. That is an easy way, but requires a network, so make sure you are working on that and growing it regularly. 



4 kids in the forest exploring a tree branch. One kid is holding a magnifying glass

Haha, thanks! I know I have much to learn in terms of UX and UI design, so I'm very grateful for the opportunity to be able to ask an experienced professional in the field my glaring questions 😊

Guess what?

You are perfect just the way you are.


You are new and curious, so you will learn a lot. Everyone starts somewhere. We all went through the same thing. In 20 years, you will be teaching the next generation everything you have learned. Just keep staying curious and learn new things.


Remember, it is ok to have more that you do not know than more that you do know. If you are humble and willing to learn, there are lots of people you can learn from.


PRO Tip: Find a mentor in the field who has a few more years of experience than me. This way, when you have a challenge that you are stuck on, you have someone to turn to who has done it before and can give you some ideas.



AI on dark background

Q. I also see you writing blog posts about AI and utilizing AI in your work activities. What do you think about the direction AI is taking, and the effect it will have on UX design?

A. Human is lazy

AI = Allows human to be lazy

AI = inevitable


AI should be taking over our work. There is so much simple, easy work that is more effective for a computer to do. Example: what if you conducted User Research sessions with 7 different users. You recorded the video for all of these sessions; there is a total of 32 hours of video recordings. Who should be the one that transcribes those videos?


It could take you 100+ hours if you were fast.

The computer would take 1 hour max. Maybe even just 10 minutes.


And then you can ask the computer to summarize what was said. This would again take you astronomically longer to execute then the computer. I am not one to say that you take this and only rely on what the computer tells you. When I was starting, these technologies did not exist, and I had to do everything by hand. This teaches you the discipline of how to actually do it. And gives you an appreciation for the fact that the computer can work 100 times faster than us.


AI is just a technology, a tool. The one that can learn to use it well will come out on top. Think about a carpenter. There is the old-school ways of doing everything by hand, but there are also benefits to take some of the shortcuts using the tools at your disposal. A carpenter could use a hand saw to cut a piece of wood or could use an electric saw. Which solution is quicker? Which one is more precise? Having this tool at your disposal allows you to make the choice. Which tool is the best for this situation? That is powerful. Then you can choose when you would like to choose the manual or automated approach. The same applies for digital product creation. Use the tools available to you to make the easiest and simplest design for the human that will use your product.


This also frees us up to make the important calls and do the important things. This will allow us to focus on the things we really want to do and less of the mundane tasks that come along with our work.



Picture of Broklyn Bridge from the water

Q. Lastly, where do you think is better? The Bay Area or New York? I'm just genuinely curious (I've lived in NYC all of my life) 😆 I was considering moving to San Mateo sometime in the future, but I think I'll miss Brooklyn too much!

A. Both have benefits.


As a Bay Area native living in New York for the past almost a decade, I can appreciate both. Both have pros and cons, and you just need to find what matches with your style more and go with that. If you want to find out, you can always visit or stay in the Bay Area for a long time to see if it is your kind of place. Knowing both well, I can share the below as the most stand-out features.


Some of the differences

New York

  • Is on 24/7: Everyone has a side job or 2 to cover expenses. They are loud and in charge. There is always something to do. We work hard and play hard comes to mind


San Francisco Bay Area

  • Much more chill environment. People are not on the go ALL THE TIME. Many pick up hiking or outdoor physical activity as a pastime.


NY + SF: Both are the same

  • They are both expensive. Rent is absurd. Taxes are just an OUCH.

  • Have a ton of opportunities for a designer to learn, grow and work at quite a number of different companies in different industries.


One way to summarize

If you are driving in New York and you have a flat tire, someone will come up to you and curse you a lot. They will call you all the names in the book and say how could you get a flat tire. Then they will change your tire for you.


If you are driving in San Francisco and you have a flat tire, someone will stop by and say sorry. They will then drive away.


New Yorkers are hard on the outside and soft on the inside

Bay Area folks are soft on the outside and hard on the inside


All of the above are just some anecdotes about how each place is culturally. Which one is more appealing depends on each person. Which one do you prefer?




question mark on white post it on blue background

Do you have any burning questions you would like answered?

Post them below and you just might be featured in a future blog post.



Happy Designing!







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