art wars: design as a force for good
TRANSCRIPT
Design as a Force for Good in any Organization
I. How to land a job
II. How to level up
III. When to to jump ship
IV. Freelance Bounty Hunting
V. Design Agency Jedi
VI. Going In-house with the Evil Empire
Let’s get started
Tailoring your application
One page each (seriously)
Customized for the company/position
Online portfolio & work samples
Action and outcome oriented statements
Have a friend proofread!
Nailing the interview(s)
Show up early
Dress like you want the job
Assume they want to hire you
Show energy, passion and interest
Sell, but don’t bullshit
Jedi Mind Trick:
Mirror body language
Ask thoughtful questions
Illustrate a process on the whiteboard
Your first job might suck
Here’s how to Level Up
First Order of business:
Master your current role.
Realistically: 1-2 years
Promotions aren’t automatic
You’ll be promoted when you:
Have a record of success
Bring new ideas to the team
Improve the process, not just the work
Could get hired in that role elsewhere
Specific
Measurable
Attainable
Relevant
Time-Bound
Jedi Mind Trick:
Ask for advice, don’t wait for permission
Solicit feedback early & often
Don’t undersell your accomplishments
Your first review always goes well. Why?
Expect 3-5% raises annually
Title change ~ 10-15% raise
To make more, you might have to quit
Consider total cost of living if you move
When to jump ship
No hope for new ideas.Constantly doing the same thing, but harder.
Unpredictable jobrequirements and frequent processchanges.
Management seems unstable
Design is an afterthought
Everything is on fire
“He wanted you to have it...”*
You are an experience designer
Branding
Industrial Design
Packaging & Display
Print & Advertising
Web, App & Interactive Design
Win-win problem solving
User Goals Business GoalsXD
“This party’s over!” - Mace Windu
Designers havemany tools.
But the process is what gets results.
Engage
Understand your users and their goals.
Engage Connect
Show how your solution is a good fit.
Engage Connect Convert
Eliminate friction and close the deal.
Engage Connect Convert Inspire
Turn customers into friends with benefits.
Engage Connect Convert Inspire
Experience design builds relationships.
Freelance Bounty Hunting
Sell the opportunity to work with YOU
Develop a broad set of skills
Keep what you earn (but pay your taxes)
Work on your schedule
*No disintegrations
There are some downsides
Half your time is spent on “admin” work
Clients don’t know what they want
Their nephew will do it cheaper
You become support for everything
Health insurance is expensive...
Proposal templates for common jobs
Document deliverables and timelines
Bid at least $50/hr to cover overhead
Discount your rate, not your time
Your #1 job is getting paid
Jedi Mind Trick:
“I believe in what you’re doing, and want to be a part of it.”
“I understand your customers because I am one.”
“I think there’s an untapped market here.”
Design Agency Jedi
High-concept vision and creativity
Fast-paced and competitive
Clients want special and unique
Tell a story - Make it personal
Create a “composite character” (or several)
Give them hopes, dreams, fears…
What keeps them up at night?
How does your solution meet their needs?
Jedi Mind Tricks:
Keep an organized archive of inspiration
Conduct hallway usability testing
Design for “less than ideal” content
Don’t get cocky – expect many revisions
In-house doesn’t have to suck
You have to learn some new tricks
Employees are often more concerned with not screwing up than trying new things.
Management understands this, but is all to often a part of the problem.
What’s a HIPPO?
Highest-Paid Person's Opinion
Change? Prepare for a battle.
Identify current User Experience problems
Conduct formal user tests
Review user flows for friction
Develop prototype solutions
Conduct A/B testing (limit risk)
Are we serving the needs of mobile users?
Do we compare well with our competitors?
Can we engage users with new features?
Link small projects as a part of a “program”
Share what you’ve learned
Always have a next step in mind
Don’t waste momentum
Update stakeholders & share credit
They see me rollin’
Millennials face serious challenges with student loans, housing costs, job market…
But there’s good companies out there and good people who want to hire you.
Bring a positive attitude, a sense of ownership, and your creativity
And we’ll rule the galaxy...or at least build something cool.
Thank You!Steve [email protected]/in/stevenoone