With User Experience designers in such high demand, those entering the field today have more choices than ever before. There’s no single right way to embark on your journey, but many before you have uncovered a path to success, so why not learn from them? Matt Dente has shared insights from surveys and interviews with UX professionals in this presentation. If you’re planning your first step in a career, or considering your next move, this presentation will provide insights that will help you make the right choices for your own path.

1. Hello

2. Your UX Career Path:
In-house, agency,
both or neither?

3. What’s your next move?

5. In-house, agency,
both or neither?
!
This is a superficial
question.

6. The deeper question:
!
What leads to UX
career satisfaction?

7. Research

8. Approach
• Surveyed 96 UX Pros
• Interviewed 11 UX Pros
• Joined discussions online
• Discussed with colleagues

9. What is your role?
User Experience Designer
Interaction Designer
Information Architect
User Researcher
User Interface Designer
Experience Designer
0 12.5 25 37.5 50

10. What is the highest level of
education you have completed?
High School
Some College
Bachelor's
Master's
Graduate
0 15 30 45 60

11. Where do you work today?
Design Firm or Agency
In-house at a Large Company
Freelancer or Consultant
0 12.5 25 37.5 50

12. How many years of experience
do you have in this role?
Less than 2
3 to 5
5 to 7
7 to 10
10 to 15
15 or more
0 7 14 21 28

13. Key
Findings

14. 1.
UX Pros that have worked
in a variety of places are
perceived to be more
successful by their peers

15. The most successful user experience
professionals I know have worked:
In-house only
Agency only
Freelance only
In-house + Agency
In-house + Agency + Freelance
0 10 20 30 40
*Not even close to statistically significant

16. 2.
People working in
UX feel happy
and successful

17. I love what I do.
Strongly Agree
Agree
Neither Agree or Disagree
Disagree
Strongly Disagree
0 12.5 25 37.5 50

18. Based on my own definition of success,
I feel I am successful in my career today.
Strongly Agree
Agree
Neither Agree or Disagree
Disagree
Strongly Disagree
0 15 30 45 60

19. I am happy with my current
overall compensation.
Strongly Agree
Agree
Neither Agree or Disagree
Disagree
Strongly Disagree
0 15 30 45 60

20. I am happy with the level
of autonomy I have in my job.
Strongly Agree
Agree
Neither Agree or Disagree
Disagree
Strongly Disagree
0 10 20 30 40

21. My current job enables me to get
better at skills that matter to me.
Strongly Agree
Agree
Neither Agree or Disagree
Disagree
Strongly Disagree
0 12.5 25 37.5 50

22. My current job enables me to do what I like to do
in the service of something larger than myself.
Strongly Agree
Agree
Neither Agree or Disagree
Disagree
Strongly Disagree
0 12.5 25 37.5 50

23. Autonomy
+
Mastery
+
Purpose

24. –Dan Pink
“Pay people enough so that they’re not thinking
about money and they’re thinking about the
work. Once you do that, it turns out there are
three factors that the science shows lead to
better performance, not to mention personal
satisfaction: autonomy, mastery, and purpose.”
http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2013/05/09/daniel-pink-drive-rsa-motivation/

25. Career Path
Options

26. Just a Few
• In-house at a Large Company or Org
• In-house at a Start-up
• Agency or Design Firm
• Freelance or Consulting

27. In-house
at a Large
Company

28. Pros
• Resources (financial and otherwise)
• Long-term involvement in projects
• Stability and predictability
• The ability to take ownership
• Career path options (CXO?)

29. - Khoi Vinh
“I think being "in-house" is the best job a
designer can have at this point in time. It
allows you to really get a product right, which
is, more than any other factor, what's
necessary to succeed in digital media.”

30. Cons
• You may be led towards specialization
• You may work on the same project
for years
• Expect politics

31. In-house
at a Start-up

32. Pros
• Dynamic and exciting
• Close knit team of dedicated people
• Exposure to different roles and
responsibilities
• Special financial opportunities
(if you’re lucky)

33. Cons
• You may be the only UX pro on the team
• When things get bad, they can get
personal
• You have a greater chance of
getting laid off
• Longer hours may be the norm

34. Agencies &
Design Firms

35. Pros
• Exposure to a variety of project types
• Opportunities to network
• At smaller shops you can be a generalist
• Client service is rewarding

36. Cons
• Less influence and involvement
on products
• It can be very deadline driven
• You’ll encounter bad clients
from time to time
• There could be bench time
• Your performance is tied to billable time

37. Freelancing

38. Pros
• Be your own boss
• You can potentially make more money
• Learn about business (on training wheels)
• Work from home, Mexico, or anywhere

39. Cons
• You need to market and find clients
• Downtime can be financially stressful
• Fewer opportunities to collaborate
and learn
• You may get lonely
• Early in your career this could
stunt growth

40. Things to
Consider

41. 11 interviews
!
21 Suggestions

42. 1.
Discover what makes you
happiest and pursue it

43. I love what I do.
Strongly Agree
Agree
Neither Agree or Disagree
Disagree
Strongly Disagree
0 12.5 25 37.5 50

44. 2.
Define success
for yourself

45. Based on my own definition of success,
I feel I am successful in my career today.
Strongly Agree
Agree
Neither Agree or Disagree
Disagree
Strongly Disagree
0 15 30 45 60

46. 3.
Work in a field or
industry that aligns
with your values

47. 4.
Request informational
interviews

48. 5.
Evaluate the culture
of an employer by looking
at the founders

49. 6.
Determine how hard you
want to work

50. 7.
Early in your career, find
a job that enables you to
work with as many
talented people as you can

51. 8.
Early on, don’t stay in
one place too long

52. 9.
Take risks when
you’re starting out

53. 10.
Avoid specialization,
be a generalist

54. but…

55. 11.
Don’t try to be an
expert in everything

56. T
I N T E R E S T/ E X P E R I E N C E
SPECIALIZATION

57. 12.
Compliment
your core skills

58. Consider
• Enhancing your writing / speaking skills
• Study graphic design and typography
• Code a little
• Learn about project management
• Learn about business & finance
• Learn about the sales process

59. 13.
Network, go to events,
reach out on social media,
talk about what you do
everywhere you go

60. 14.
Accept that it’s ok
“not to know” and reach
out to an expert

61. Tell them
“I don’t know,
but I will find out”

62. 15.
Be aware of internal
politics and realize you
are not immune

63. 16.
Understand your
employer’s (and client’s)
financial health

64. 17.
Always have your
portfolio or resume ready

65. 18.
Determine if you’re
interested in a
management track,
if you are, plan ahead

66. 19.
Don’t get stuck thinking
you need to pay your dues
too long–when you feel
ready, go for it

67. 20.
Analyze your setbacks
and learn from them

68. One more option

69. –William Blake
“I must create a system or be
enslaved by another man’s.”

70. 21.
Start a business

71. Better yet,
design a business

72. Can I help you?
!
matt@fellswoop.com
206-369-1919