Building a successful career in design

How does one grow from being a beginner to mid-level?
What are the necessary skills for anyone looking to get into UIX designs?
These questions were answered during this talk.
I hope you enjoy reading my slides.

Transcript

1. by Thelma Dike Building a successful career in design Interface Designer, Softcom @dikethelmak
2. @dikethelmak
3. What Design is? @dikethelmak "Design can be art. Design can be aesthetics. Design is so simple, that's why it is so complicated." -- Paul Rand, graphic designer
4. What Design is? Design is more than just aesthetics, it’s all around us - Aesthetics - Asking questions - Practising - Storytelling and writing - Problem solving - An act of listening and empathizing - Function, then form @dikethelmak
5. Design and Technology What role does design play in technology? @dikethelmak
6. Design and Technology What role does design play in technology? @dikethelmak
7. Design and Technology What role does design play in technology? @dikethelmak - Helps companies and businesses stay ahead of their competition, (design is also taking its place as an important tool in ensuring that digitalization and technology doesn’t become inhumane or cold)
8. Learning curve What am I supposed to do to become a great designer? @dikethelmak - Trainings: online courses, academic programs, professional programs, learn from others, articles, books, learn a design tool and master it - Networking: design/tech events, non-design events, online communities(figma africa slack channel). - Projects: High profile projects, big impact, non-existent projects, great teams, ROI calculations
9. Learning curve What am i supposed to do to become a great designer? @dikethelmak - Expanding your expertise(learn more): New tools, research-design-strategy, qualitative-quantitative methods, business data - Demonstrate Value: ROI(aligning business goals with user needs), Communicating your design to mgt, reach out to help others - Get a mentor
10. Learning curve What am i supposed to do to become a great designer? @dikethelmak - Find UX champions to follow on IG, medium, twitter - Look out for leadership opportunities, start small, seek feedback - Building realationships: trust, learn from others, different persceptives - Be flexible: incremental improvements, don’t be a hardline UX person - Volunteer
11. Industry standards for designers @dikethelmak What you need to become employeable? - Be a master of your design tool - Be a researcher: build a lifestyle of asking questions - Have and follow a design process that works well (for you at least) - Be able to communicate your design - Be able to make great design decisions - Have a nice portfolio
12. Conclusion Perseverance and discipline will make you an expert. Keep building your skills — and your portfolio — by solving problems for people through design. @dikethelmak
13. Thank you @dikethelmak