My Journey to UX

My journey to UX will have it's ups and downs; it's ah-ha's and OMG moments. And I want to document them all. I've been journaling since I was 10 so this isn't new to me. But what is new is sharing my inner thoughts and being raw. Perhaps I'll find others who are trying to make their way to UX. But for now, I want to share how this process has been for me. When I write, it helps cement my findings and it also helps me remember just how far I've come. Welcome to My Journey to UX.

[myjourneytoux]

Where’s Bethany?

A few months have passed since my last update.  With my last blog post, we were in the throes of Snowpocalypse Valentine’s Day weekend here in Texas with intermittent heat and electricity.  I had just launched my research study a few days before but not obtaining much feedback from my volunteer participants. One of my ideas while ruminating through typing my last post ended up having a good result; I was able to get the founder of the organization to allow me to provide two $25 gift cards to encourage our participants to drive action.  (Lesson learned; make the simple 10 minute investment worthwhile to participants!).

I also had personally begun interviewing in February for a UX Strategy role at my current company and continued networking as well, which lead to another job lead internally.  While neither panned out, the UX Strategy role in particular was a huge blow to my confidence. I began questioning whether or not I should pursue UX as I kept getting to the final stages but ultimately didn’t have the related experience or right skills.  When pivoting into a new career, it’s not easy to have the experience up front. The feedback was too general and not truly helpful, thus I felt pretty helpless and rudderless.  Honestly the image I kept seeing of myself was being a small boat stranded in the middle of an ocean. It took a good two weeks for me to pick myself up off the ground and trudge on.  I knew I couldn’t focus appropriately on my UX research without making sure I was ok first.  So I put that project on pause, updated my client, and was thankful for her kind understanding.

I found a book, You Turn by Ashley Stahl, that helped really bring clarity to my situation. Within the first 10 pages, I underlined these 3 nuggets that gave me that fire I needed to get back to it.  

“I realized my experience had nothing to do with my capability, that I wanted to be more, have more, and do more.”

“(People) don’t want to take leaps in their career because they think they have “little experience,” but that’s a story many of us buy in to in order to stay small.”

“...when you feel fear in a situation that’s otherwise good for your growth, do it anyway. It’s a muscle you build.”

Failure happens. I get it. With two failed interviews back to back, it was a huge blow to my confidence. I needed these words to find the wind in my sails and reset my direction, my career, in UX. 

Since then, over the past month, I’ve made some amazing strides:

1) I was contacted by an individual in our group: Teaching: A Path to L&D who noticed I was working on UX and wanted to learn about my process. During our conversations, I decided the best thing for the both of us was to have her join me on my UX project. Rachel will be a great asset but this project will catapult her learning in UX as well. I’m looking forward to learning together and bouncing ideas off of one another.

2) I synthesized the UX research collected. It took awhile to figure out all of the cool metrics that Optimal Workshop pulls together. I have to be honest, I’m a data nerd but the stats were overwhelming.  Again, I’m teaching myself EVERYTHING so this took a bit of time to digest and figure out what actionable next steps needed to occur.

3) I provided a recommendations report to my clients (the director and founder of Teaching: A Path to L&D and the Social Media Manger).  I obtained feedback on the actions to take as well as obtained insights about new areas to focus on for round two of user research.

4) I solicited for another round of participants last week and within two days, already had 19 volunteers of 25 desired.  I enticed them with the opportunity to receive one of two $25 eGift cards to be raffled once the study is concluded. (Money talks!).

5) I began what’s been the most fun part of the process so far, wireframe prototyping! I put together my first sketches and linked them together on the Pop app to do some quick and easy moderated testing.  My partner, Rachel, works with teachers and can use our mockup as a way to test whether the new path is intuitive. You can find my first attempt here and my first wireframe sketches below.

6) And of course, I got back on the proverbial horse and submitted my application for HubSpot’s  AUX Rotational Program last month.  I restructured my resume (I’ve had 4 resumes in 5 months; always be iterating!) and submitted my cover letter.  Last week, I received a notification that I was being moved forward to their video interview round.  Here we go again! I submitted my responses last Friday and am eagerly checking my phone for updates.  I have a sense of validation now in all that I’m doing isn’t for nothing. Someone sees my self-directed learning in UX as valuable. They recognize my drive, that I’m all in. I’ll work a full day as a recruiter, then log on at 6p until midnight crunching away on my UX project. I’ll wake up and wish I could get back to where I left off.  The desire to do something that is extremely gratifying is what keeps me going.

So that’s where I’ve been for the better part of two months. I’m definitely on a path now to finalize this project for TPLD by the end of May. As for HubSpot, if I am moved forward to the third round of interviews, I’ll be ready. I’ll take this info I’m learning and apply it to my interviews. But if I don’t make the cut, I won’t be deterred. I will get there. It may not happen within my targeted time frame but in time. And that’s all that matters.

Until then, I keep moving forward.

[myjourneytoux]

Insights Learned So Far...

I’ve been keeping a journal to log my thoughts, feelings and insights.  It also serves as my accountability partner to keep me on task.

Since January 24th, I’ve done a TON of work.  I didn’t realize how far I’ve come in such a short time. One of the things I’ve learned, is to celebrate the wins, however small. Itemizing these accomplishments just goes to show how far I’ve come, and how dedicated I am to reaching this goal of being a UX designer.

Here is my list of 16 accomplishments and insights in just 3 weeks’ time:

1) I finished the UX Research course on LinkedIn by Amanda Stockwell.  That course helped me outline the research for the project I’m doing for a group called “Teaching: The Path to Learning & Development.” (TPLD)

2) Conducted stakeholder interviews with the Founder and President, Sara Stevick, and Director of Marketing and Social Media, Erin Chancellor, to document their goals for the TPLD website

3) Continued networking by reaching out to 2 people at work; one who is working to help me find a mentor and the other who worked within design and can offer feedback about getting my foot in the door

4) Began reading “100 Things Every Designer Should Know About People” and finished it in 17 days. Already using insights from that to inform my design work (as you’ll see below in accomplishment #16!)

5) Completed two more LinkedIn Learning courses (Personas and Experience Mapping).

6) Created three personas after conducting a random assessment of 50 members in the Teaching: Path to Learning and Development group.  My assumptions of the group were changed, knowing that there’s a larger than realized group that’s internationally based (39%) and that not everyone is a teacher (only 40%), the next majority of occupations are education-related but are not teachers. 

7) Created a volunteer interest sign-up form and used the opportunity to ask a few questions. Thankfully, I realized I didn’t need a true screener questionnaire since I’m working with the members associated with the TPLD group, but I did want to validate a few key items within my personas.  Questions within the volunteer sign up form reflect just the basics.

8) Found a UX Design Learning Path within LinkedIn Learning; I’m already 3 hours into an 11 hour path and hope to complete that by mid-March.

9) I decided to use a tree test research study and compiled an outline of tasks associated with that research. 

10) Upon further reading, found an article within Nielsen Norman Group (NN/g) that discusses the advantages of conducting concurrent research obtaining both quantitative research (via tree testing) and qualitative research (via usability study).  Both will then point to either the Information Architecture (IA) or the Usability Interface (UI) when looking at the overall website design and use of ease.

11) Realized from another article with NN/g that both research studies would also benefit from post-task questionnaire as well as post-research questionnaires. I evaluated the and decided upon Single Ease Questionnaire (SEQ) for the tree test and System Usability Scale (SUS) for the usability research. 

12) I evaluated different software for each study and concluded that Optimal Workshop would be best for the tree test and Try My UI would be best for the usability study.  Uploaded content within and also created pre-research study demographic questionnaires.

13) I updated my Google Slides deck that I had been using as my rough draft for my portfolio while I work on finding a site that works best for me. This slide deck has been shared with people at work, to show I have more than just a passing interest in UX - that I’ve been diligently looking at design since November of 2019. Through feedback from my colleague Stacey,  I created more graphics and used iconography to help share more of my design work in a clean, digestible way.  I’ve since shared this with three others for their input, knowing that constant iteration is always a part of the design process.

14) This past weekend I created one portfolio and though it was ok, I realized the functionality wasn’t there that I desired so recreated my portfolio on UX folio.  Just finding the right site to host my work was key.  I didn’t want to opt for anything less than the best!

15) This past weekend I also created a new Tumblr blog and linked it to my new portfolio site as a way to document my findings throughout this experience.

16) Used this snowy, chilly day in Texas to snuggle up and create an outline of my case study.  In doing so, I noticed I only had 4 individuals complete the unmoderated research.  Out of 13 participants, that’s a meek 31%.  Even though I’m asking for just 10 minutes of their time, I reflected on this while writing out my case study and realized time is a huge commodity.  While finishing up my book (100 Things Every Designer Needs to Know About People), there was a chapter called “People May Care About Time More than They Care About Money.”  In it, she says people are motivated when they have a personal connection and will offer their time. Me being a random member doesn’t garner any personal connection beyond basic affiliation. 

Since my study is wrapping up this Friday, and I don’t have the benefit of time to get to know people, the suggestion was to “err on the side of time and experiences and delay the mention of money as long as possible.” I had called out yesterday the low cost of time involved and still have no new research collected.  I reached out to the Director for this group and mentioned offering a small incentive ($5 gift card for each completed survey). She responded saying the cost could be too high and recommended we offer a raffle.  We’ve decided to randomly select two individuals to receive a $25 gift cards to the location of their choosing. Will be interesting to see if this boosts results.  I’ll share more findings in my next update!

17) And finally, because if this past weekend’s work wasn’t enough, I started a new book today, Creative Confidence. When I initially began looking at UX, I thought I’d have to be more of a visually creative designer. I realize that’s on the second diamond of the double diamond of design.  I’m more comfortable, now, in the first diamond  - discovery and defining through research and strategy, and am looking forward to entering the second diamond of developing by putting wireframes together this upcoming weekend.  But I need to get comfortable with the visually creative - the final delivery, which is why I’m being really conscious of the look and feel of my portfolio.  But to be a utility player, I know it helps to play both sides of the diamond. 

These next few weeks of putting some polish on my portfolio and moving into the developing aspect of the TPLD project will challenge me to do just that.  And I’m so freaking excited. :)

[myjourneytoux]

Eyeing that Finish Line

I'm going to let you in on a little secret. I've actually been a designer for a while but even I didn't realize it until a few weeks ago.  The funny part is I consciously set out to learn more about design back in November of 2019, when trying to determine my next professional step.  As someone within HR, working as a recruiter and program manager, I have been drawn to individuals within the creative space for awhile now. Through my phone screens with candidates, I learned about the work they do and through those conversations, I got hooked. It was then, back in November of 2019, that I began investing time to learn more about the design world.  Through my findings, I realized I have been applying a lot of the design fundamentals in my work, whether I was a teacher, or higher education professional, or even now as a recruiter.  I have conducted research and empathy interviews, iterated designs of services and programs, created pilots and assessed them, re-worked designs and continued to evaluate, always striving for better user experiences.  I drove the project's vision and presented findings to stakeholders, many in the C-suite.  So yeah, I've been a designer and didn't know it! I've made career pivots before, so this isn't new to me. But what has been different is this time, I'm older. And I have insight now into what recruiting looks like for people in the UX space.  We set a high bar for people at my company who want to work in UX so that honestly slowed my roll for a bit this past summer.  I felt to be seen as credible, I'd need to get a formal certification. Naturally, I had to figure out if that was true.  I sought out answers by reaching out to people and just started asking questions. One endearing comment I continue to hear is that I don't need a formal certification.  Empathy is what matters most and that can't be taught.   As a recruiter, I actually have a LOT of empathy for those that I speak with; whether they get the job or not.  I put myself in their shoes as many are as vulnerable as I am right now, just trying to start something new. As I began investing time to learn more about this new world, I started listening to a podcast.  During one of my midday strolls, I tuned into the User Defenders podcast and heard the OG of UX designers, Jared Spool declare that everyone is a designer (which I later heard drew a lot of criticism from people).  But then Jared gave examples and mentioned that even recruiters are designers because essentially, the hires they bring into an organization can change the user's experience.  I mean, if Jared Spool thinks I'm a designer, then hell yes, I'm a designer! The balance of 2020 was filled with consuming information by reading books like General Assembly's The Practitioner's Guide to User Experience Design, UX Bites by Gabriel Kirkmeier, The Design of Everyday Things by Don Norman and Susan Weinschenk's 100 Things Every Designer Needs to Know about People. I also read a lot of UX-related blogs and completed UX related courses via LinkedIn learning.  I obtained a mentor and started putting some ideas down on paper.  I was even asked to serve as the UX Director for a non-profit.  Things were in full swing but I hadn't yet figured out how to climb that mountain -- taking this information and leveraging it to a new job within UX. Fast forward to December 2020 and I get a random request from someone at my company to speak about my interest in design as it relates to HR.  During my exploration phase, I realized, as with any job, there are a lot of different things you can do within design.  In looking at the double diamond of design, I'm more confident in my skills on the early side of design.  I can research and analyze and synthesize information into recommendations for a future iteration and create the prototypes for those designs.  I began focusing on design strategy and service design as potential easy career pivots.  But I wasn't sure if a place for someone with my interests existed at my current company. I was ecstatic when I heard there was a place, albeit new, and they were focused on the experience individuals have within different touchpoints in HR.  It was crazy to know that my many random conversations led me to an individual that was curious to know more about me and my journey. That conversation sparked yet another with a hiring manager who informed me about an opportunity and asked me if I'd be interested in an HR UX Strategist role.  After a two week courtship of learning more about the team she was building in HR and setting the stage for some huge goals, not to mention meeting a few individuals on her greater team, I was hooked. I went from, "you want me?" to "you want ME!"  I was on cloud nine.  So that's the end of the story, right? We lived happily ever after? Not quite. Unfortunately, right before I was to interview for the role, I learned I was not able to move forward due to strong business needs and some big wins this new group needed to make in a short period of time.  Being a new group with an even smaller team of 3, the opportunity of having me join was not feasible at this time.  Even though the director was happy to mentor me and saw my abilities, it was a no go. Of course, it was a hard pill to swallow.  To be approached by a director who saw my unique perspective being in HR and relentless effort to transition into design - it was the perfect role. But this setback just gave me time to hone my abilities through side projects; demonstrating my knowledge of the design process.  In the two weeks since receiving that unfortunate news, I have been on a passion-fueled binge of all things UX. For one, I needed to establish some big goals. I'm a junkie when it comes to setting goals and challenges that seem insurmountable. For example: I went from not being able to swim 20 meters in a pool to swimming 350 meters 6 weeks later in my first sprint triathlon.  But I wasn't finished there. Four months later I finished a one mile open water swim in a lake for a triathlon that was 50 total miles.  And 7 months from there, I completed my first half Ironman. And finally, 18 months after my first half Ironman, I had my fastest swim to date by swimming 2.4 miles in an ocean to compete in and finish my first Ironman.  But that wasn't enough. I traded the water for trails and 2.5 months later completed a 50 mile trail run in difficult terrain.  So setting a few professional goals? No problem.  My friends and family know when I set a goal, there's nothing that can stop me. In reading 100 Things Every Designer Needs to Know about People, I learned that people are more motivated as they get closer to a goal.  I know I certainly became more motivated after coming so close to achieving a dream job.  Therefore, I kickstarted this journey into high gear by establishing the following goals:

1) Pivot into UX by the end of 2021.  The short-term goal is to pivot mid-year, but I'm giving myself grace.  Again, I know how hard it is to get into design at my company. Giving myself ample time to accumulate more knowledge and apply them to various projects, will be a huge win.

2) Work on a side project through the non-profit group, "Teaching: A Path to Learning & Development."  I'll document this work separately in a follow-up blog as a lot of work I'm doing here is opening my eyes as I put theory into practice. 3) Obtain skills through an internal mobility project.  Remember those conversations I had during my two week courtship by this director for the HR UX Strategy role? Well my passion about internal mobility shined through and one of the people I spoke to asked if I'd be interested in assisting. I finally got the go ahead from my current supervisor to spend time helping; now I just need to lean in! 4) Finish the UX Design Learning Path via LinkedIn Learning. A lot of my strong abilities thus far have been on the first diamond within the double diamond design. I want to be more knowledgeable about the second diamond so that I can be a utility player in this space. Now that I've set these goals, I can see, in my head, the finish line. I'm literally applying the same training mentality as I had with my endurance races to my new career by dedicating at least an hour a day and 2-3 hours on the weekend, just chipping away at the larger goal ahead of me. My journey to UX will have its ups and downs; it's ah-ha's and OMG moments. And I want to document them all. I've been journaling since I was 10 so this isn't new to me. But what is new is sharing my inner thoughts and being raw. Perhaps I'll find others who are trying to make their way to UX. But for now, I want to share how this process has been for me. When I write, it helps cement my findings and it also helps me remember just how far I've come. Welcome to My UX Journey.