Greetings fellow designers!
I’m Uyên, a recent graduate and a passionate newcomer to the Product Designer realm. With a 4-year Marketing background and experience as a Landing Page Designer, I embarked on my UX/UI Design journey with high hopes. Everything seemed perfectly aligned, a stepping stone towards the world of UX/UI Design. However, reality quickly hit me as I encountered unexpected challenges right from the outset. This article aims to share my experiences and provide insights for those considering a transition into the exciting field of UX/UI Design.
Table of Contents
Misconceptions about UX/UI Design: A Rude Awakening
My initial foray into the world of UX/UI Design was marred by a fundamental misconception – I perceived it as a mere aesthetic endeavour, a realm where creativity and visual appeal reigned supreme. Having spent years as a marketer, crafting visually captivating landing pages, I believed that my skills were perfectly aligned with this role. However, reality soon delivered a resounding wake-up call, shattering my preconceived notions.
At the beginning, my design manager had a tough time shaping my mindset towards product design. I found myself fixated on creating visually striking interfaces, often overlooking the crucial aspect of “User Experience” (UX). This disconnect stemmed from a lack of understanding of the intricate relationship between UX and UI, a common pitfall for those transitioning from other fields. Design Manager tirelessly emphasized the importance of prioritizing user needs and aligning design decisions with stakeholders’ goals.
Through countless iterations and a deep dive into the intricacies of UX, I began to grasp the significance of creating user-centric designs that addressed their pain points and enhanced their overall experience. In my quest to truly understand the nuances of UX, I stumbled upon Steve Krug’s seminal book, “Don’t Make Me Think.” This book proved to be a revelation, shedding light on the principles of user-centered design and the importance of creating intuitive interfaces that guide users seamlessly through their tasks. Krug’s insights resonated deeply with me, reinforcing the notion that UX is not about creating visually stunning interfaces but about crafting experiences that are both functional and enjoyable for users. This realization marked a turning point in my UX journey, propelling me towards a deeper understanding of the user-centric approach to design.
There Were Too Many Concepts I Had Never Encountered
My first sprints were marked by a sense of bewilderment as I encountered a barrage of unfamiliar terms and concepts. Information Architecture, design process, wireframing, User Personas, User Journey Maps, and Usability Testing were just a few of the buzzwords that initially left me perplexed.
Despite the initial confusion, I discovered that these seemingly complex concepts were readily accessible through a wealth of UX resources. I was fortunate to have the support of BraveBits, my company, which provided me with access to a variety of UX-related courses and books. These resources proved invaluable in my quest to master the fundamentals of UX and UI Design.
Prioritizing Design Thinking over Tool Mastery
Despite my prior experience with Figma, a popular UX design tool, I decided to enroll in a comprehensive Udemy course to fully grasp its capabilities. During my initial days at BraveBits, I diligently completed Caleb Kingston’s “Learn Figma — UI/UX Design Essential Training” course, immersing myself in the intricacies of frames, shapes, the pen tool, components, prototyping, and more.
Initially, I was consumed by the desire to master Figma’s every feature, believing that proficiency in the tool was the key to success. While mastering tools like Figma is undoubtedly beneficial, it is crucial to recognize that they are merely tools in the designer’s arsenal. However, as I progressed, I realized that tools are merely instruments, not substitutes for design thinking, user empathy, and creative problem-solving. Therefore, prioritizing the fundamentals of UX remained paramount.
Navigating the Agile Landscape
My transition from the world of Marketing to the realm of UX/UI Design at BraveBits brought with it a paradigm shift in my approach to project management. Agile methodology, a stark contrast to the long-term planning and campaign-based structures I was accustomed to in Marketing, presented a unique set of challenges
In a scrum team, the Product Owner (PO) is responsible for managing the backlog and ensuring the team is working in the right direction to meet user and stakeholder requirements. Initially, I struggled with communicating and understanding the PO’s requirements. The PO often had clear expectations about the product but lacked detailed design knowledge, leading to continuous and unclear change requests.
The Scrum Master is responsible for ensuring the team follows scrum rules and works efficiently. This often results in significant time pressure, as sprints (short work cycles) require completing a certain amount of work within a limited time frame. However, this often resulted in intense time pressure, as sprints demanded the completion of specific tasks within a defined timeframe. As a newcomer, balancing design quality, usability, and time constraints was a daunting task. I still have many unresolved issues, but my communication within the team has improved significantly. We focus on results instead of letting personal feelings overshadow our work. This experience has shown me that soft skills are also crucial in this field. I started by thoroughly understanding the roles of the PO and Scrum Master and how a Scrum team operates. This helped me better grasp the workflow and expectations of all stakeholders.
I worked on improving my communication skills by attending meetings more frequently, listening, and asking questions to understand the PO’s requirements. I also learned to provide constructive feedback to improve our work process. Additionally, I learned to manage my time and tasks more effectively by breaking down assignments and focusing on one part at a time. This approach helped me reduce stress and complete my work on time.
Conclusion
The methodologies underlying Marketing and UX/UI Design share a surprising degree of commonality, allowing us to seamlessly integrate our Marketing knowledge into our UX/UI practice. Our background in Marketing has equipped us with valuable skills that are directly transferable to the world of UX/UI Design. We are adept at conducting market research, analyzing data, segmenting audiences, crafting compelling messages, and measuring results. We are accustomed to working in user-centric environments, understanding user needs, and employing empathy to drive our decision-making processes
Remember, the path from Marketing to UX/UI Design is not about starting from scratch; it’s about adapting and refining your existing skills to thrive in a new and exciting field. With dedication, perseverance, and a willingness to learn, you can successfully navigate this transition and establish yourself as a sought-after UX/UI Designer.
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