Episode 63 Show Notes: How To Facilitate a User Research Study Part 2 is finally here! 📝👩🏾💻 Once you've started your research study, there are many steps to consider to ensure your research has valuable data. Some topics covered in this episode are: ➡️ How to properly prepare for your user interview vs. a usability test? ➡️ Best practices for facilitating user interviews ➡️ How to organize your collected data during and after your sessions ➡️ How to present your findings to the team Take a ...
Jun 16, 2022•56 min•Ep 63•Transcript available on Metacast Episode 62 Show Notes: Typography can help make interfaces more user-friendly, informative, and visually appealing when used effectively. However, knowing which ones to use can be tricky with many different fonts available. In this episode, Thomas Girard provides tips on using type properly for digital interfaces. Some of the topics we discuss include: -Typography best practices -How to pair typefaces -How to check for accessibility and inclusivity -How to stand out and make your font choices me...
Apr 04, 2022•54 min•Ep 62•Transcript available on Metacast Episode 61 Show Notes: How much do you actually know about the history of UX? Think about it, UX has been around since before many of us were even in elementary school. 😳 There are many misconceptions around what a career in UX looks like and how it's evolved. User experience has been around for decades, but it has only recently become a popular term. This is because we're now living in a world where technology is a massive part of our lives. This episode focuses on Darren Hood's 25 years of ex...
Mar 17, 2022•1 hr 27 min•Ep 61•Transcript available on Metacast Episode 60 Show Notes: There are so many paths to take to get into UX, but have you considered Content Design? I know it's another term in the sea of UX terminology, but this could be the career you've been searching for, mainly if you've found that being a visual designer or researcher isn't your thing. In this episode, Aladrian and I discuss her unconventional path to becoming a Content Design Manager at Intuit. We talk about the skill sets you need to become a content designer and get started...
Feb 24, 2022•1 hr 6 min•Ep 60•Transcript available on Metacast Feb 10, 2022•50 min•Ep 59•Transcript available on Metacast Episode 58 Show Notes: Who should use a UX Audit? Suppose you have little to no budget for user research and need a quick yet efficient way to help clients understand digital product problems affecting business goals. It also works well if you are the only UX Designer or Researcher on the team. Those on an in-house team are most likely evaluating the product and tweaking the experience continually. If you’re on an in-house team and trying to convince management for a buy-in, you could use this m...
Jan 28, 2022•24 min•Ep 58•Transcript available on Metacast Episode 57 Show Notes: Is anyone overwhelmed with the idea of setting new goals for 2022? 🙋🏾♀️ This episode will help you be intentional about how you're going to progress towards your UX career goals this year, regardless of whether you have 0 years of experience or several years experience. I discuss UX career tips about: How to get started in UX Things you should be thinking about after you've landed your first UX job How to plan if you want to get a promotion Steps you need to take to qui...
Jan 13, 2022•25 min•Ep 57•Transcript available on Metacast Episode 56 Show Notes: It's time to reflect! I spent this episode reflecting on my UX career and my journey to become a senior product designer. I'm grateful I didn't become a senior designer earlier because I wouldn't have been truly ready. There are a lot of situations I needed to experience beforehand, and I'm still learning and growing. I also go over several tips to become a senior designer or researcher. Take a listen and tag @uinarrativeco on Twitter with your questions or comments. Menti...
Dec 30, 2021•32 min•Ep 56•Transcript available on Metacast Episode 55 Show Notes: After almost eight years as a designer, I've learned many things about UX, in general, that teachers didn't teach in the university and UX bootcamp I attended. In this episode, I go over the ten things I wish I knew before becoming a Product Designer. Some of these tips are groundbreaking pieces of advice I discovered early in my career. Others are helpful tips I've picked up along the way. To be prepared for the real world, you have to experience the good and bad things a...
Dec 16, 2021•31 min•Ep 55•Transcript available on Metacast Episode 54 Show Notes: A sense of delight, a satisfying experience, a sense of belonging, predictability, and a sense of hope are all feelings that people experience in their daily life. Emotion is a part of being human which can be natural or manufactured. At times, it's a challenging experience to design for, but with practice and knowledge, you can make products that make people's lives easier and better. In this episode, James Castro-Griffiths talks about his experience designing for emotion...
Dec 02, 2021•56 min•Ep 54•Transcript available on Metacast Episode 53 Show Notes: To jump from HR to the research ladder is nearly impossible at Google, especially for someone who doesn't have a Master's or PhD. However, Morgan Ramsey proved all the critics wrong by planning her unconventional way into UX Research. She started her career as an HR Analyst but quickly realized that her true passion was UX. In this episode, we discuss her resilient journey to becoming a UX Researcher. It took years of dedication and strategically mapping out her plan to ob...
Nov 18, 2021•54 min•Ep 53•Transcript available on Metacast Episode 52 Show Notes: Preparing for a job interview can be one of the most stressful parts of the job search. There's a lot of pressure to make a great first impression and convey that you are the perfect fit for the job. The key to any interview is to prepare in advance by writing down your answers to questions. Are you prepared for your interview? Do you know what you're going to say? Have you even practiced? In this episode, I'm narrating a parody UX mock interview with two characters. Yemi ...
Nov 04, 2021•22 min•Ep 52•Transcript available on Metacast Episode 51 Show Notes: I think it’s essential to improve your work rhythm as you progress in your career. But, first, you must understand how you work best and your method for problem-solving. Of course, you should use the design thinking process for problem-solving, but you’ve got to know what you need from your clients to provide value. In this episode, I’ll be going over how I lead a UX project—basically going over my entire thought process from the beginning, middle, and end. I also cover ho...
Oct 21, 2021•23 min•Ep 51•Transcript available on Metacast Episode 50 Show Notes: We've made it to the 50th episode of the UI Narrative podcast!!!! 🎉 I started this out as a hobby, and now I've made it a business. I will forever be thankful for you all listening and supporting my niche podcast. It means so much... truly. The moments that have brought me the most joy on this podcast are connecting with people worldwide. From different countries, backgrounds, and hearing their stories of getting into UX is hugely inspiring. I had to do something special ...
Oct 07, 2021•55 min•Ep 50•Transcript available on Metacast Episode 49 Show Notes: As a designer, a lot of my podcast topics are about design. However, some of you may be struggling more than others with design, or you’re finding that your day-to-day pixel-pushing isn’t making you happy. So I must ask you, have you considered that maybe you’re not supposed to be a designer? Perhaps it’s UX Research that you’re genuinely passionate about. Nandi Manning is currently a UX Researcher at Mailchimp, but she didn’t start her career out as a UX Researcher. She w...
Sep 21, 2021•52 min•Ep 49•Transcript available on Metacast Episode 48 Show Notes: I've talked a lot on the podcast about how crucial it is to become a multitalented UXer to stand out amongst the competition. A way to do that is to have T-shaped skills. T-shaped skills mean having deep expertise in one particular area but also broad experience across the field. As an engineer turned designer, Donald Burlock shares in this episode the skills he's gained over the years that help organizations understand the value of the design process. Take a listen and ta...
Sep 07, 2021•1 hr 2 min•Ep 48•Transcript available on Metacast Episode 47 Show Notes: Randall Wilson has been a designer for several years and has spent a decade working at Capital One. I was surprised when I saw his long tenure with a company because I've had to jump to new positions to achieve growth opportunities and salary increase in my career. His response to why he's stayed so long was, "People don't leave jobs, they leave managers," and that phrase has stuck with me because it's so genuine. There's a lot more I'd love to share with you about Randall...
Aug 26, 2021•50 min•Ep 47•Transcript available on Metacast Episode 46 Show Notes: You can indeed start your career in UX with no college degree, but how is it possible to land a job afterward? In this episode, Jeremy Gaston and I discuss his journey to becoming a UX Designer with no college degree. He stresses the importance of understanding the value you bring to your clients and finding education tailored to your learning needs. We also break down methods he used to grow and how he learned to excel with imposter syndrome. Take a listen and tag @uinarr...
Aug 10, 2021•55 min•Ep 46•Transcript available on Metacast Episode 45 Show Notes: Omar Tosca was born an engineer but was raised between designers. He has over seven years of experience as an interaction designer in Mexico, working with almost fifty companies. In this episode, we discuss his journey and the impact a mentor can have at all stages in your design career. "I always thought that you always needed to manage people all the time to improve. Some designers just want to improve their skills. They want to be better at illustration or managing colo...
Jul 27, 2021•52 min•Ep 45•Transcript available on Metacast Episode 44 Show Notes: I recently reviewed over 200 portfolios for a Junior Product Designer position we needed to fill. As I was going through these portfolios, I noticed a common problem. A lot of candidates don’t know what to put in their portfolio or how to keep a hiring manager on their portfolio for at least 2 minutes. This episode will be me ranting and providing guidance for anyone who is a designer or researcher with a portfolio. After reviewing these portfolios, I understood what most ...
Jul 13, 2021•38 min•Ep 44•Transcript available on Metacast Episode 43 Show Notes: As designers, I think most of us consider our work a piece of our inner selves because creating design requires us to draw inspiration from our thoughts. So when someone challenges or criticizes our work, I think it's a bit challenging not to take it personally. In this episode, Shanique and I talk about how we equip ourselves mentally to be receptive to design feedback. We also share our worst feedback sessions and how we've grown to speak up for ourselves. Take a listen ...
Jun 29, 2021•50 min•Ep 43•Transcript available on Metacast It's 2021, and Black designers only make up 3% of the workforce at major tech companies. It's disheartening to think about, but you have the power to make a difference, especially if you're a white creative leader, educator, or designer. Representation is crucial to attracting people of color to the tech industry and ensuring an inclusive environment, and retaining them as employees. In this episode, Mitzi Okou and I discuss the importance of empowering black designers in your workplace and comm...
Jun 15, 2021•43 min•Ep 42•Transcript available on Metacast Episode 41 Show Notes: It's essential to be intentional about your career growth. I know that we are looking for a job to get by a lot of the time, but I think we can use every job experience to our advantage. In this episode, Catt and I discuss creating a design growth plan and the benefits of having one. Knowing how you want to use each job opportunity towards your life goals is crucial to your mental health. Mentions: Designer Levels, Marissa Louie https://malouie.com/individual-contributor-i...
Jun 01, 2021•1 hr•Ep 41•Transcript available on Metacast Episode 40 Show Notes: Are you as human-centered as you think you are? In this episode, Vivianne challenges us to push past the status quo of what it means to be human-centered. She has an 8+ years background in psychology and user research and is passionate about helping researchers and designers build more holistically human-centered leaders through community, coaching, & courses. She brings UX professionals together who want to move beyond the jargon and cliches of our industry so that we can...
May 18, 2021•48 min•Ep 40•Transcript available on Metacast Episode 39 Show Notes: As a Product Designer, I’m always curious about the impact the products I create have on society. In this episode, Rachel shares her journey to founding her company, Design to Combat COVID-19. Over 2000 Designers and Researchers are working together to support our communities affected by COVID-19. This episode will inspire anyone who’s ever asked themselves, how can I possibly make a global impact as a designer or researcher, or if you’re interested in turning your idea in...
May 04, 2021•57 min•Ep 39•Transcript available on Metacast Episode 38 Show Notes: It’s time to have the UX Designer Salary Talk. In this episode, I reveal everything you need to know about getting the UX Salary you want. I go over my tips for getting the salary I desired and how you can have the same results. We also discuss the 16 signs that you may be underpaid. This episode is excellent for those looking for a script for how to negotiate a salary or ask for a raise/promotion. Mentions: CareerContessa, GIMME Method - Raise Template https://www.careerc...
Apr 20, 2021•41 min•Ep 38•Transcript available on Metacast Episode 37 Show Notes: Abadesi and I talk about whether it's worth staying at a company to advocate for inclusion and diversity. She also offers advice to help with building up your self-confidence. "Each of us as individuals almost has to apply certain frameworks to help us process the environment that we're in and help us decide around if this an environment that you genuinely believe is moving in the direction you want it to or is this an environment that's stagnating or that's even opposed t...
Apr 06, 2021•50 min•Ep 37•Transcript available on Metacast Episode 36 Show Notes: There’s no perfect job out there because our wants and needs are always changing depending on what we’re going through in life. What you want this month might change to what you need next month. Ya know? Changing jobs every 1-3 years is okay. I usually know after 6 months when I’m going to quit my job. And every 6 months I make the evaluation to see if that date has changed. I like to have options. I don’t like to feel stuck. I don’t want you to feel stuck. In this episode...
Mar 23, 2021•28 min•Ep 36•Transcript available on Metacast Episode 35 Show Notes: Becoming a parent is most likely the most challenging job you'll ever have. Terri Rodriguez-Hong shares her story of getting into UX Design and encourages parents looking to make the career pivot. Mentions: Contact Out (Chrome plug-in) https://contactout.com/ Online communities UX Her - Woman of Color product design group https://community.uxher.com Where are the black designers - Slack group https://wherearetheblackdesigners.com Black By Design https://www.linkedin.com/gr...
Jan 26, 2021•48 min•Ep 35•Transcript available on Metacast Episode 34 Show Notes: How the hell do you land a Product (UI/UX) Design job during a pandemic? Are you looking for a job, or plan to soon? This episode is for you. We are in the middle of a pandemic, so you must be wondering how I will get a job when the economy is down. Here's the real truth: companies are still hiring, and some companies laid people off. I can only speak about the American economy when I say the pattern of how this works. Tech jobs will only go up from here because there will...
Jan 12, 2021•35 min•Ep 34•Transcript available on Metacast 
