UI Narrative: UX, UI, IxD, Design and Research

How To Facilitate a User Research Study Part 2 | Eniola Abioye, Meta

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 t...

Typography in Digital Interfaces | Thomas Girard, Assistant Professor of Design

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 f...

The Common Misconceptions About a Career in UX (Part 1) | Darren Hood, 26+yr exp

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 year...

What Does a Content Designer Do? | Aladrian Goods, Intuit

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...

How To Facilitate a User Research Study (Part 1) | Eniola Abioye, Meta

How To UX Audit Like a Pro

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...

How To Plan Your UX Career Goals

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 ...

Life Update as a Senior Product Designer

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 c...

10 Things I Wish I Knew Before Becoming a Product Designer

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...

Designing For Emotion | James Castro-Griffiths, Elvie

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...

Transition from HR Analyst to AIUX Researcher | Morgan Ramsey, Compass

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...

UX Mock Interview

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 character...

How To Lead a UX Project

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 ...

50th Episode | Listener Q&A

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...

Maybe You're Supposed To Be a UX Researcher | Nandi Manning, UX HER

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 Researche...

Becoming a T-shaped Designer or Researcher | Donald Burlock

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 ...

Approaching Design With a Builders Mindset | Randall Wilson, Capital One

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...

Starting Your UX Career With No Degree | Jeremy Gaston

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 @...

Day in the Life of a Interaction Designer in Mexico City | Omar Tosca, frog

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 mana...

How To Improve Your Design and Research Portfolios

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 w...

How To Be Receptive To Design Feedback | Shanique Shields, Shopify

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 l...

Empowering Black Designers in the Tech Industry | Mitzi Okou, WATBD

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 workplac...

You Need a Design Career Growth Plan | Catt Small, Asana

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/ind...

You Need a Design Career Growth Plan | Catt Small, Asana

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/ind...

Are You a Human-Centered Researcher or Designer? | Vivianne Castillo, HmntyCntrd

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 t...

Designers and Researchers Solving Real-World Problems | Rachel Smith, Design to Combat COVID-19

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 yo...

The UX Designer Salary Talk

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 Templa...

How Teams Can Be More Productive with Psychological Safety | Abadesi Osunsade, Hustle Crew

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'...

Is It Time to Quit Your Job

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....

Balancing Being a Parent While Making a Career Pivot | Terri Rodriguez-Hong

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.c...

How To Land a Product (UI/UX) Designer Job

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...

Top 10 Skills That Every Product (UX/UI) Designer Must Have | Aminah Cárdenas

Episode 33 Show Notes:   For this episode, Aminah Cárdenas and I discuss all the skills every product designer should have and how to obtain them. We think it’s super important to have a growth trajectory when you’re trying to level up as a designer. This list is super useful to have in mind as an aspiring or current product designer. Mentions:   List of Product Design skills we discussed https://uxdesign.cc/what-it-takes-to-be-a-product-designer-424a4151261e   Aminah’s Linke...

A Non-Traditional Product (UX/UI) Design Career Is Attainable | Nastasia Tebeck

Episode 32 Show Notes:   Did you know you don’t have to get a bachelor’s or master's degree in product design to be a product (UX/UI) designer? Nastasia Tebeck and I talk about her non-traditional path to becoming a product designer and how you can do the same. We also discuss her experiences as being a Latinx designer in corporate America.    Mentions:   Daily UI Challenge https://www.dailyui.co   Nastasia’s Twitter https://twitter.com/nastasiaelise   Nastasia’s Inst...

How To Use Your Multicultural Experiences For Product Design | Zalyia Grillet

Episode 31 Show Notes: Zalyia is an Afro-Caribbean UX Strategist striving for a world where emotions meet data. She shares how to use data and empathy to help craft something significant. We discussed her discovery of accessibility and invisible disabilities while her late mom was going through Parkinson's disease. We also talk about the importance of UX-ing your problems.   Mentions:   Website www.zgrillet.com    LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/zgrilletco   Instagram www.i...

Using Your Work History To Your Advantage | Maya Rhinehart, athenahealth

Episode 30 Show Notes: I really believe that having a work history is a valuable thing to have no matter the industry. Maya Rhinehart shares her story of how she started as an environmental engineer and used transferable skills since becoming a UX Designer. She also discusses her successful DIY method for getting an education in UX Design, which is especially beneficial for those with little to no budget for a boot camp.   Mentions:   Maya's Twitter @merhinehart   Maya's Inst...

How To Become An Adaptable Product Designer | Jay Allison, Microsoft

Jay Allison is a senior product designer, animator and illustrator with 8 years of professional experience. They have a long history of self-teaching and working in a wide variety of work environments has made them an adaptable designer. We go through their entire work history and how they learned new skills at each role to adapt to the position.   Mentions:   Jay Allison’s Twitter  https://twitter.com/allison_janiece   Jay Allison’s Instagram  https://www.instagram.com/janie...

The Different Types of UX, UI, and Product Designer Roles

Episode 28 Show Notes: Have you been confused about what UX or UI role you should apply for? This is the episode for you! I go over all the types of UI and UX roles out there and define what they mean.   Mentions:   Pttrns https://pttrns.com   Mobbin https://mobbin.design   Layout Grading System https://learn.uinarrative.com/gradingsystem/   Ready to become a UI/UX Designer? Book your appointment with me today. 1:1 Mentoring - Includes a Career Pivot guide for F...

Building Better Relationships Within The Design Community | Kat Vellos

Episode 27 Show Notes:   Here are some topics Kat Vellos and I discussed: Her journey to becoming a principal for your own company, Kat Vellos Design  How to cultivate adult friendships and build better relationship with others in the design community Gives tips and resources on how to combat the loneliness epidemic Gives advice for a POC/Black person looking to start a design community in their city   Mentions:   Book: Connected From Afar https://bookshop.org/a/13365/97...

Inclusive Design For A Digital World | Regine Gilbert

Episode 26 Show Notes:   "When you understand yourself and then you understand your bias and what bias you may have against whomever... you are better able to... emphasize. Because a lot of times when you're working on something, you're like I wouldn't do that. Well why wouldn't you do that first and foremost. And then think about the people who would." Regine Gilbert   Mentions:   Regine’s LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/reginegilbert   Regine’s Twitter https://twit...

UX Writing For Tech | Kimmoy Matthews, Tech Copy Expert

Episode 25 Show Notes:   Kimmoy goes through everything you need to know about UX Writing. How to get started, where to find jobs, and what it’s like working for Google.   Mentions:   UX Writing https://www.keepingupwithkimmoy.com   Tech Copy Expert (Portfolio) https://www.techcopyexpert.com   Kimmoy’s Instagram kimmoym   Podcast Info:   Transcripts available on episode web page.   Listen on Apple Podcasts, Soundcloud, Stitcher, and Spotify.   RSS f...

Designers Working With Software Engineers | Kaya Thomas, Calm

Episode 24 Show Notes: Kaya goes over best UI practices for iOS development, common UI misconceptions about development, and how to get started with software engineering. Mentions: Kaya’s We Read Too app https://apps.apple.com/us/app/we-read-too/id908782619 Kaya’s Twitter https://twitter.com/kthomas901 Kaya’s Website https://kayathomas.info/ Kaya’s Email [email protected] Paul Hudson: 100 Days of Swift UI https://www.hackingwithswift.com/100/swiftui Podcast Info: Trans...

The UX Process | Shanisha Collins

Episode 23 Show Notes: Shanisha and I go over the entire UX Process step by step. Here’s an outline of what we discussed. Discovery and Research Phase Identify user needs and find inspiration for our design Synthesizing Research and Design Strategy Explore our research to find trends and meaning in our data and develop a clear understanding of our target users. Placement and Layout Design Sketch solutions based on our user research and discuss their strengths and weaknesses Executi...

Your First Remote Hackathon | Olabode Felix Akinyemi

Episode 22 Show Notes: Felix and I go on a rant about our experience with the Hack From Home hackathon. We talked about the good and the bad. Also prepare you for your first hackathon.   Mentions: Hackathon.com Devpost.com hackathon.io   Podcast Info: Transcripts available on episode web page.   Listen on Apple Podcasts, Soundcloud, Stitcher, and Spotify.   RSS feed: https://uinarrative.libsyn.com/rss   Don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review if you like w...

Preparing For UX Interviews | Nasom Ikoko

Episode 21 Show Notes:   Nasom and I talk about what to prepare for a UX interview and what to expect. We also go on a rant about design challenges and advice for when your’re nervous at an interview.   Mentions: Book a 1:1 Discovery Call with Tolu https://uinarrative.com/discovery Job Board https://www.angel.co Glassdoor https://www.glassdoor.com LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/ Indeed https://www.indeed.com/ Slack Groups Design X - Canada|USA|Europe http...

A Day In The Life Of A Multimodal Designer | Jen Cotton, Google Nest

Episode 20 Show Notes:   "What people never tell you is if you cold apply, you're put into a pool with everyone else. But if you just know somebody on the inside. That now puts you in an internal referral pool, for you to now be bumped up for a recruiter actually reaching out to you about a job opportunity." -Jen Cotton, Staff Designer | Google Nest Mentions:   Jen’s Twitter https://twitter.com/jencotton Jen’s Medium https://medium.com/@jencotton Jen’s Talk at Frontier Con...

How To Freelance With A Full-Time Job

Episode 19 Show Notes: Freelancing with a full-time job can affect your social life, depending on how much work you take on. You can get lonely if you aren’t aware of how you’re feeling. So out of everything I’ve said today, the most important thing is to take care of yourself.   Book a 1:1 session or workshop with Tolu 7 sessions available are: Professional Opinion, Portfolio Review, Discovery, Mobile App Design Workshop, Mobile App Review, UX Research Workshop, and Follow-up. uin...

How UX Designers Work Well With Agile Methods

Episode 18 Show Notes:   Not everyone works well in this type of environment. I personally like it because I see my ideas come to life very quickly. Is an agile process hurting you or helping you as a designer? Or could you adapt? It takes a bit of time to get used to working in agile, and I think it’s like this for everyone when they first start doing it.   Mentions:   Working Collaboratively https://trello.com   Remote User Testing https://usabilityhub.com https://www...

Why Do We Suck At Accessibility Design?

Episode 17 Show Notes:   We need to take time to think about if the products we’re creating are accessible. We can’t miss out on these potential relationships with people. You never know who could impact from the product you’re helping create. We must consider them while designing. Mentions:   Research: https://uxdesign.cc/designing-for-accessibility-is-not-that-hard-c04cc4779d94 https://www.w3.org/WAI/business-case/ https://digileaders.com/the-business-case-for-accessibilit...

Empathizing With Users

Episode 16 Show Notes:   Mentions:   10k Giveaway Enter the Sweepstakes here: https://www.uinarrative.com/10k   Entry Requirements Follow me on Instagram (@uinarrative) or Twitter (@uinarrativeco) Leave a comment about why you like the podcast UI Narrative on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, SoundCloud, or Website. Go to uinarrative.com/10k to let me know you’ve entered. Did you already leave a comment? Make sure you’re following me on Instagram or Twitter and head to uinarrati...

How Do Heuristics Affect UI/UX Design?

Episode 15 Show Notes:   We each have our heuristics for UI & UX Design, but what if the information we know leads to lousy UI and UX heuristic judgment.   You can improve your heuristics by continuously challenging what we think we know. In the latest episode, I talk about how you can make better heuristic decisions. Mentions:   https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heuristics_in_judgment_and_decision-making   https://careerfoundry.com/en/blog/ux-design/what-is-a-heuristic-eval...