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November 6, 2024 — No Comments

Inktober 2024

I've always had a passion for drawing. But over the years, my drawing shifted away from being a personal joy and became something I only did for work—quick, rough sketches to communicate ideas in my role as a UX designer. The kind of deep, focused drawing I used to love simply faded out of my life.

Inktober always seemed like an intense challenge that would add more stress than joy. I watched my partner, Jen, participate over the years, and it often seemed to leave her with just that—stress. But this year, something shifted. I wanted to reconnect with drawing as an act of creation rather than a task, to find out if I could still enjoy it.

So I decided to take part in Inktober, but on my own terms. No polished pieces, no pressure to create something grand—just 30 minutes each day, sketching whatever came to mind. My goal wasn’t to be perfect; it was to let go of my self-doubt and see where my pen would take me. I even convinced Jen to join me and share the sketchbook, hoping the experience might be lighter for both of us this time around.

Since we will be sharing a sketchbook, I have edited Jen’s images to appear in blue ink so you can distinguish who’s who. 

Let’s get on with the prompts.

Day 1: Backpack

I set my timer for 30 minutes and started sketching literal backpacks. I was just using an old fountain pen and drawing straight to paper, no pencil sketches to guide me. I drew a few things and even went out of my comfort zone, trying to draw people. When I passed the sketchbook to Jen, she zeroed in on my ladybug with a backpack and decided to draw bed bugs and ladybugs. Overall, the first day was a success—it got us both picking up a pen, laughing at each other’s sketches and most importantly…actually drawing.

Day 2: Discover

Like the first day, I sketched various ideas around “Discover.” This is also when I started putting in a little effort into the prompt titles. After finishing my 30 minutes of drawing, I put the pad down and didn’t look at it until the next day. Jen ended up sketching a single composition of a submarine discovering what I can only assume is the Titanic. Impressed with her scene she demurred and proclaimed it's not even close to being technically accurate. 

Day 3: Boots

I wasn’t feeling inspired, so I didn’t take the first crack at sketching. Jen took over and drew a climber going up a mountain. To avoid falling behind, I drew the first thing that came to mind: “Green Boots” on Mt. Everest. This was my first time trying to draw/ink a human from a photo reference straight to paper. I didn’t spend long on it, but it turned out to be somewhat recognizable and I was impressed I pulled something out at the last minute.

Day 4: Exotic

I struggled with ideas for “Exotic.” The concept of something being exotic is only true when it exists where it shouldn’t, so any animal or food I drew would have to be in an unexpected location to truly be exotic. Instead, I spent my time drawing the word “Exotic.” Jen, on the other hand, drew a fantastic, or should I say “Marvelous” Spatuletail bird. Feeling like I wasn’t contributing, I decided to draw, from a photo reference, a ridiculously fat Spotted Pardalote. Side note: the Spotted Pardalote call is a “Ding Ding”. 

Day 5: Binoculars

By this point, I was really struggling with the prompts and went back to randomly sketching things based on the theme. I was probably just not in the mood to draw humans, especially ones holding binoculars. Jen outdid me again and drew two different scenes. She mocks me…

Day 6: Trek

“Trek” felt redundant, especially since “Hike” was also coming up. I was so uninspired that all I could manage was a flying burrito with two hotplates, something vaguely Star Trek-inspired. Jen, being amazing at drawing humans, sketched actual Star Trek characters. And, to add insult to injury, she also drew a fantastic Himalayan scene. I felt so bad about my contribution that I quickly sketched a person walking away on a trail.

Day 7: Passport

I think at this point, I wanted to give up. I didn’t spend any time drawing the prompt title, and I spent my 30 minutes drawing random passport-related images. Jen also seemed uninspired but still managed to draw several things at a much higher quality than mine. At this point there are two things at play here. The first is the prompts felt too close together. Sometimes one scene could be several prompts combined. The other was I didn’t feel motivated by my output. Meaning, Just roughly sketching something wasn’t enough to keep me engaged.

Day 8: Hike

For some reason, I wanted to draw the scene from Roy’s Peak lookout in Wanaka, NZ. Having been there, I figured I would try drawing the shot and see how well I could depict mountain features, something I’d never done before. I was kind of surprised at the result, which gave me a much-needed boost in morale. Jen, after seeing my actual attempt at drawing something, decided to put me in my place with a detailed scene of two climbers bushwhacking their way to a crag.

Day 9: Sun

With my mood slightly improving, I decided to test myself again and draw a Sun Conure from a photo reference. Still, we weren’t using any pencils for base sketches. While the beak of the conure was off, looking more like an African Gray, I was impressed with the feather work. Jen, on the other hand, was at a bit of a loss and decided on a simple play on words: a sun using a computer powered by Sun Microsystems—nerd stuff.

Day 10: Nomadic

Resisting the challenge of drawing people, I decided to draw a ghost shark—close enough to the theme of a nomad, in my opinion. Jen went all out, drawing a camel jockey with three camels, making my fish look pathetic in comparison. I think this is where things started to change for me.

Day 11: Snacks

Jen, feeling confident, went first. She drew the title and an amazing illustration of Alex Honnold eating one of his favorite snacks, red bell peppers. I was furious (not really). I was tired of being shown up, and it was time to start being creative and serious about my contributions to Inktober. But I also wanted to draw what I wanted to draw. After spending 20 minutes watching videos of adorable Fennec foxes, I decided to draw one carrying a backpack of snacks, leaning into my ability to draw “cute” things.

Day 12: Remote

Jen, still high from her Alex Honnold illustration, once again grabbed the sketch pad and drew the title along with a fantastic scene of a location in Greenland. I especially liked the little boat. I, on the other hand, wanting to stay on the “cute train,” decided that drawing a robotic remote-controlled red-breasted nuthatch would be in my best interest. Once again, both of us have yet to use any pencil backing, and I was starting to resent this chosen burden.

Day 13: Horizon

Having had this idea in my head for some time, I once again became the first to draw and reclaimed the top spot on the page. I was chuffed to come up with an idea that was not only representative of the prompt but also a surreal form of a visual metaphor where the bill of this ibis is also the horizon. Jen, incensed that I stole her idea of a tall ship on the horizon, vowed revenge—or at least that’s what I like to tell myself. In response, Jen drew one of the most complex and beautiful illustrations of the entire challenge. Keep in mind, this is still without pencil and straight fountain pen to paper. Can I take this abuse much longer?

Day 14: Roam

The gloves were now off, and I decided to change the rules. Pencils were now allowed. Keeping with the visual metaphor route, I decided to draw something I’d never thought of drawing before—an elephant. But not just any elephant, one that is so large it has the Roman Colosseum on its back. So it’s roaming with Roam. I also wanted to lean in with the texturing to complete the complexity of the image. Jen, awestruck and at a loss for words or ideas, defaulted to one of our favorite movies and drew the Orca from Jaws.

Day 15: Guidebook

After Roam, we took a short vacation, and in doing so, fell a bit behind on the prompts. At the same time, I had zero ideas for the prompt and contempt for the entire list. So I defaulted to what I naturally do and found a way to draw a cute animal I had recently seen on the internet. In this case, it was an Arctic Hare. They are amazingly fat when they fluff up, so I decided to draw one, giving it a timepiece around its neck as a reference to Alice in Wonderland and the white rabbit that guides her. Jen, sensing my weakness, pounced and drew a fantastic set of images of bird jokes about our experience in Tasmania earlier in the year.

Day 16: Grungy

Still trying to catch up on prompts, I needed to make this one a bit faster. One of my crutches is to draw things I know Jen likes. In fact, the previous night we were prompting ChatGPT to create Toyota Celicas rally racing, so I decided to draw a fourth-gen Celica blasting down a muddy course. And for fun, I threw in a chicken. Jen, in awe of my grungy Celica, defaulted to the common definition of “Grungy” and drew a young woman dressed in the grunge-era style of Seattle.

Day 17: Journal

This would be the third image in one day that caught me up with the list. At this point, I think my choice of imagery speaks volumes (pun intended) about my opinion of this challenge. At least I got to draw a burrowing owl. Jen, deciding to put in effort (as she usually does), leaned into her superpower of drawing people and sketched a hiker journaling over the view of the Pickets Range in Washington State.

Day 18: Drive

Wanting to challenge myself and do a better job than I did with “Grungy,” I decided to put in real effort and try to draw a car. I don’t think I’ve ever really “tried” to draw a car, so I decided to draw one of my favorites—a Nissan Fairlady Z. And for extra difficulty, I drew it in the streets of Tokyo, where I once lived. The results were terrible. I completed the drawing enough to call it “done,” but I never added more details. The perspective was so whack... more time would not have fixed it. Jen, being the car person she is, also drew one of her favorites and nailed an SC/Rambler with meats and a shoot package. It’s also important to note that this is the first set of drawings where we abandoned the basic fountain pen and moved to our preferred inking pens. I personally purchased a new set of Mangaka pens direct from Japan and chose to start using them for the rest of the challenge.

Day 19: Ridge

It was time. Time for me to go as hard as I could and attempt to draw something I had wanted to try drawing for some time after seeing it in person almost nine years ago. Mt. Fitz Roy is a sight to behold, and I wanted to try to draw the entire ridge. This would be my second attempt at drawing mountains after the Roy’s Peak drawing for “Hike.” The results were inspiring, and after recovering from “Drive,” it became apparent to me that I do better with organics than I do with man-made objects. Jen was so taken aback that she strangely drew something she strongly dislikes... trail running. She admitted to not being into the drawing and even smudged the heck out of it, having gone back to the overly wet fountain pen.

Day 20: Uncharted

Still riding the high from my Ridge drawing, I decided to lean into my love for organics and draw what became one of my best drawings (to date) of the challenge. While the composition calls for a giant robot, it is abandoned and falling apart, so no real perspective or measurement of angles is needed when you can cover it with growth. Also armed with an entire set of pens of different widths, I dug deep into my love of texture. Having seen the level of effort I put out in the last two prompts, Jen responded in kind and drew one of her favorite birds, the critically endangered New Zealand Rock Wren, building a nest with its partner. After talking to her, she also felt this was probably her favorite drawing thus far.

Day 21: Rhinoceros

I didn’t know what to draw this time, but I didn’t want to draw the obvious prompt of a rhino. Instead, I decided that the spire of Cerro Torre was close enough to a rhino. It just so happens that this same mountain is Jen’s favorite mountain. So here I am, once again drawing something I know Jen likes in hopes of impressing her. The finished result... it’s okay. I had to cobble together several reference photos because I was too lazy to pull out my own photos of Cerro Torre from nine years ago. And I feel like I messed up the linework where I tried to make the vertical lines closer to denote darker colors on the wall. Jen’s reaction? She wasn’t having it, as this was (in her mind) a blatant violation of the prompt. In response, she struggled to put together a sketch of a rhino trying to masquerade as a triceratops.

Day 22: Camp

Having tried drawing things outside my comfort zone (minus humans), I wanted to recall a previous lived experience when I was up at 3 a.m. defending our tent from a marauding flock of kea outside the Brewster Hut in New Zealand. The little bastards are as smart as toddlers and worked in a pack to try to draw me out from the tent. Serious “clever girl” vibes that night. Anyway, I had to study the kea form and sketch quite a few kea poses before I felt like I could tackle this drawing. The result? I think it’s okay. The kea could be better sized, but Jen said she loved it and that it told a great story. For her part, Jen went back to her love of cars and drew an amazing scene of a VW Westy. Pretty sure I would like to live in her drawing more than mine.

Day 23: Rust

Completely inspired by Fallout 4 and the corresponding art book, I wanted to draw a post-apocalyptic scene of a large vessel rusting away. I wanted to lean in heavily into the texturing and push my new pen set to the limit. The drawing itself is not complicated, but I love the perspective and vibe of the image. It is definitely an extension of what I drew for “Uncharted.” As for Jen, she struggled emotionally with this one. Being a car person who restores old cars, it took her some time to come up with the concept, but of course, with people as her power move, she nailed it—or rather, spot-welded it.

Day 24: Expedition

If I am going to draw people, I am going to draw people I like. And as such, I chose one of the greatest expeditions of all time: the Orca out at sea fishing for the “SHAWK,” aka Jaws. In this scene, they are approaching the hunt as if it’s just a regular old shark fishing expedition. Brody is flinging chum, Hooper is setting up his gizmos, and Quint is pounding a beer and shit-talking both of them. My Hooper came out way too narrow, but I was impressed I was able to capture the disdain in the man's face. Jen reached into a fantastical place and decided to draw a school of Amazonian angelfish combined with a Greek sponge diver. She told me she struggled with the complexity of the angelfish and ended up erasing a sixth angelfish as she was “tired of drawing damn angelfish!”

Day 25: Scarecrow

Personally, there is something unsettling to me about scarecrows—not in the actual sense, but in the illustrative sense. It’s about as enjoyable as candy corn. So if I was going to draw one and couldn’t think of a way out that was tangentially related, I would combine my love of birds and draw a crow-scarecrow. As for pens, this would be the first time I tried out the brush pen from my Mangaka set. There is something very freeing about expression when drawing with one of these pens. More tests are needed. At this point in time, Inktober is over for me, but Jen is in catch-up mode. When I asked her about her drawing, she threw her hands up and said something I can translate to “whatever.” Personally, I love the idea of a plastic owl that doesn't do a damn thing—if anything, the seagulls find companionship in the owl. You will also notice that Jen has chosen to use markers here. When pressed, she said she really wanted grayscale but didn’t want to spend the time texturing. I will be curious to see if she continues to use them as she finishes the set.

Day 26: Camera

Complexity was the word that came to mind for me. I wanted to combine my human and machine struggles into one. Since I am still going through the Fallout art book, I came up with the idea of a camera robot that catalogs humans' past existence. There was no photo reference for this, just my memories of previous robots and cameras I have seen. For Jen, when asked why she chose to draw this, she stared at the illustration for a while and said, “because they are at a party and taking a selfie.” I did not follow up. It will remain a mystery to me.

Day 27: Road

Almost at the end, I asked Jen where she felt my weak points were. She said I should lean into spot black and focus on cars and perspective. I have admired all of her drawings where she uses spot black, so I wanted to give it a go as well. In addition, I wanted to give another shot at the brush pen. Originally, I thought of Route 66, but I was really just thinking of the high desert. I’ve never been there, but I love the idea. I wanted to draw a desert highway with a single car, but it turned out I really wanted to draw mountains and cacti, so I ended up with a remote gravel road. For me, this is my favorite piece of the entire series. But... it took me five hours to draw this. I had to learn about the flora and fauna of the high desert. I drew that damn lizard five times before inking it. I swear, if I had to sketch it one more time, I would have erased a hole right through the paper. Jen erased her first idea and then doubled down and drew a complex yet beautiful scene of a hairpin turn in the North Cascades.

Day 28: Jumbo

I love drawing cute things. And I love anime. Since I had already drawn an elephant, the first thing that came to mind was a giant frog—a JUMBO frog. One of the things I love about anime is the world where anthropomorphic creatures exist alongside natural creatures. So I ended up with a frog crossing guard protecting a pack of frogs crossing the street. The most difficult part was drawing the frogs hopping across the street. I had to research this extensively and draw them several times before I could capture four distinct poses. Jen claimed foul play—actually, she was too distracted by the cuteness of my little frogs. We chatted about the idea for a while and ended up with an idea for her from our past backpacking in Patagonia. The gist of it is that around 2 p.m., you would get curious/hungry Rayaditos hopping around your tent searching for food. And what if there was just the biggest Rayadito you ever imagined that made it into the tent?

Day 29: Navigator

I hated this prompt. I tried to pull from the expedition concept and think of something from a movie, but all I could pull were H.R. Giger ideas, and they were too complicated. Wanting to use the brush pen one last time and practice spot black, I was reminded of the fishermen in China who use cormorants to fish. The result... well, the man crouching is facing away because I am scared of drawing faces. I think I succeeded in drawing the two cormorants with the brush pen. Either way, this is pretty low on the list for effort. Jen, however, leaned into her love of fifth-gen Celicas and drew their WRC championship-dominating car dripping in Castrol livery. Honestly, I am surprised it took her this long to draw this.

Day 30: Violin

I wasn’t going to draw a violin—and definitely not a person playing one. As I thought through the idea, I ended up with a fiddlehead fern. But ferns are just boring. What’s not boring is Jen’s favorite New Zealand bird, the Piwakawaka (New Zealand Fantail). So I went all out on drawing a Piwakawaka on top of a fiddlehead fern. This was probably one of the more nerve-wracking images I have drawn—making sure it was scientifically accurate and trying to nail the texture took me several hours. As for Jen, she went with a concept she has previously explored based on a string wielding crustacean who has a panache for high places.

Day 31: Landmark

Just to be honest, October has passed. It’s November 2, and I have been beating myself up trying to cross this damn finish line. I don’t want to cheap out, and I want to do this, but I’ve built this thing up to quite the production level of effort. It’s now Saturday, and I have time in front of the sketchbook to focus. I want to draw another mountain—one that we consider a landmark when orienting ourselves in the mountains. Originally, I thought of Prusik Peak in the Enchantments. I have several photos from my time at Gnome Tarn looking at Prusik, but when I thought about drawing that level of detail, I decided to look elsewhere. One of my other favorite mountains in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness here in Washington State is Kaleetan. It stabs skyward from any angle you look at it, so I found a photo reference I wanted to tackle. After outlining the main features, it quickly dawned on me, I’ve made a huge mistake. How was I going to draw this mountain with details and texture, and how was I going to draw the surrounding forests? Over 900 trees later, I have my answer—through complete and utter obsessive-compulsive focus. I won't say this is the best one of the lot, but it’s one where I really leaned in and started learning what it takes to recreate the world around us with a detailed eye. I also learned how to draw a shit-ton of conifers as fast as possible. Jen: pending

Closing thoughts

Inktober. It feels strange to be done, yet satisfying in a way I hadn’t expected. Jen is still working on it—she has five images left, with two still completely blank. But for me, this journey turned out to be more than just completing a series of prompts. It was about transformation—about reconnecting with a part of myself I’d almost forgotten.

These drawings are some of the best and most complex I’ve ever done, and I didn’t think I was still capable of this level of detail and creativity. Twenty years ago, drawing was a huge part of my life, but somewhere along the way, I let it slip, reducing it to utilitarian sketches at work. Inktober was a chance to take back drawing as a source of joy rather than a chore. It pushed me, challenged me, and ultimately helped me let go of my need for perfection.

Through this challenge, I realized that just because I have a skill doesn’t mean I need to monetize it or turn it into something grand. Sometimes, the best part of creating is doing it for yourself, for the pure enjoyment of it. I’ve been selling myself short, thinking I "cannot draw," but the truth is, I just needed to reconnect with the reasons I love it in the first place.

The past few days since Inktober ended have felt strange—I’m no longer beholden to the sketchbook, yet I find myself wanting it again. I’m craving that time spent exploring, trying, and sometimes failing, but always drawing. Jen and I have already agreed: next year, we will not share a sketchbook. Right now, I’m eager to find another commitment—something small, just for myself—so I can grab that sketchbook and keep going.

Published by Nick in Design, Design Thoughts
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August 25, 2024 — No Comments

Breaking into UX Design

Lately, I've been thinking a lot about careers, progression, opportunities, and what sets people apart from one another. After participating in an online event at AskBadger.com, focused on new UX grads getting their foot in the door, I was reminded of my own journey into the design world.

Fresh out of Full Sail University, with aspirations of working at a flashy design agency in a big city, I found myself designing product catalogs for a mainframe software company in my tiny hometown. Not exactly the glamorous start I'd envisioned. But that mundane first job? It was the initial step towards building the design career I have today.

Let's be honest. Getting a job in tech right now is brutal. The market is flooded with talent, and competition is absolutely fierce. Open roles are receiving up to 1,000 submissions in the first week. But don't let all of that discourage you. In this article, I’ll lay out several strategies to help you stand out in the crowded UX field. I’ll go over why I think a formal education isn't always necessary, how to build a compelling portfolio, the importance of showcasing your unique perspective, and ways to expand your professional network. I’ll also cover crucial communication skills and the mindset needed to seize opportunities, even when they're not exactly what you imagined.

So whether you're a recent graduate or considering a career switch, these insights will hopefully help you navigate the challenging but rewarding path into UX design. And who knows? Your first "boring" job might just be the catalyst to an exciting career in UX design!

Skills over degrees

People look at my path into design and ask me about the value of my degree (Associates of Science: Multimedia at Fullsail University) and whether it was worth the expense. Back then, it was affordable. I took out $25K in loans and graduated in 14 months. Nowadays, I would strongly question any design school that wants to put you deeply in debt. I'm not saying formal education is bad, but for intro-level jobs, people are more concerned with actual experience and design skills, not the school you graduated from. 

With the amount of free resources on the net, you can self-teach yourself a whole lot these days. If you want to level up a little faster, join an online course or two. I recommend taking a look at Shift Nudge run by Matt D. Smith. Courses like this give you some hands-on class work and the ability to build your network. 

Nowadays, it's unrealistic to come out of school with a 4+ year degree and think you’ll be fighting off the offers as people swoon over your freshly minted design mind. Instead you’re going to be looking at job postings and see "Needs 2-years of experience, or more."

So how do I get an intro job when it wants experience and I have no experience?

Building your portfolio

Employment requirements are often not as rigid as they seem. While it’s ideal to meet all the listed qualifications, the reality is that strengths in certain areas can often compensate for gaps in others. With this in mind, you can address most employment requirements through other means—primarily by showcasing a strong portfolio.

Here are three effective ways to build your portfolio:

  1. Take UX classes. These design courses are mainly structured for you to come out of those lessons with one or more case studies for a portfolio. But honestly, that will not be enough.
  2. Side projects. Nothing gets a future employer's attention better than seeing a concept or project you created because you wanted to. Case in point: I got my foot in the door at Google as a contract designer (TVC) because the hiring manager saw my work on Dribbble.com redesigning Ocearch's iOS shark tracker app. I took on this project because I wanted to try designing cutting-edge data visualizations on a topic I'm passionate about—sharks.
  3. Freelancing. There are freelance market sites that allow people to post projects and you bid for them. This is hard because you need to be careful and don't do work for free or get taken advantage of, but you need the work to put in a portfolio. Just don't sell yourself short. It can be a predatory landscape.

Showcase your uniqueness

Remember the shark tracker redesign I mentioned? Not only was it unique in that no one else on Dribbble was posting such content, but most designers aren't out there professing their love of sharks and making sea creatures part of their identity. Uniqueness is an opportunity to show others what makes you you. When presenting unique work, it catches people's attention. It stands out like a shining sea star in a sea of mediocrity.

Think about it like this: You're competing with people who have little to no experience. Most people will show their templated school project or reimagine a popular brand/experience. You're going to dig deep and show the things you're truly passionate about in a space you're interested in getting a career in.

Let's try an example. Say you're passionate about shoes and environmental conservation. Consider a 'Sustainable Footprint' app that tracks the lifecycle and environmental impact of your footwear. The app could scan shoe barcodes to input details, estimate wear and lifespan, provide care tips, locate recycling centers, and calculate each pair's carbon footprint. It could gamify sustainable choices, offering points for repairing shoes or choosing eco-friendly brands, and connect users with local cobblers and upcycling workshops. This app would help shoe enthusiasts make informed, environmentally conscious decisions while encouraging the industry to adopt more sustainable practices. Or, just make a dating app for shoe lovers…that includes all the details from the previous idea.

This approach shows people an area you're passionate about and how you'd tackle a problem space by identifying it and proposing solutions.

Expand your network

Remember those earlier stats on hundreds of applicants? When small teams with little to no HR support get overwhelmed, they lean on connections to trim the pool. It’s not always the first few people who apply that get looked at; it’s those with internal referrals or connections. Having a referral is like having someone vouch for you, significantly increasing your chances.

Most candidates apply for jobs and overlook the power of networking. However, building genuine connections can set you apart and make a lasting impression beyond your resume. When networking, think of it like getting to know someone—don’t start by asking for a job right away. Instead, seek advice or share a common interest to build rapport, making it more likely they’ll think of you when opportunities arise.

If you've just graduated and haven't landed your first job yet, tap into your classmates who have—use them as your network. Engage with the local tech scene by attending UX conferences or meetups, even if they push you out of your comfort zone. If you're an introvert, consider posting your work in online communities like Behance or Dribbble. Don’t just upload your portfolio—engage with others, comment thoughtfully, and build real connections. Transition from being invisible to being visible.

Don’t forget the importance of following up and expressing gratitude. A simple thank you can leave a lasting positive impression and strengthen your relationships.

As an introvert myself, I understand how daunting networking can be. Crowds and strangers are my worst nightmare. I’m terrible at conventions, and meetups fill me with dread. So, I leaned on what I do best: putting my work out front and building a network of designers on Dribbble. Some of those connections are still active today, providing me with insights, advice, and opportunities.

Mastering communication

There are three places at this stage in your career where communication is key: your portfolio, your networking, and your interviewing.

For your portfolio, understand the pressure hiring managers and recruiters are under. If you get the opportunity to have someone look at your portfolio, they'll spend seconds, not minutes, reviewing your case studies. Get the actual designs as close to the top of the page as possible. Keep the design process talk to a bare minimum. All of the process and methodology comes out in the interview stages.

When networking, you need to be able to communicate who you are, what you're passionate about, and what you're looking for. You'll find this skill comes up again and again as you progress through your career. It's going to become even more important that you develop a strong point of view on topics related to design and user experience. At the end of the day, you're being paid to have an opinion, and you need to be able to communicate that effectively.

Finally, interviewing is a skill you'll need to call upon repeatedly. As a designer, you'll need to present your work. This means building a presentation of your case studies and presenting it to a panel of your peers. You have to be able to talk about the work and respond to questions about it. You'll be judged not so much on the quality of the work, but more on how you talk about it and respond to feedback or criticism. You'll be probed about your decisions and need to develop the skills to navigate this exchange positively.

One additional thing to consider, courses like toastmasters to help you with your public speaking and presentation skills. And online speech improvement services from Yoodli help you improve your communication skills with interviewing, presenting, and having crucial communications. 

Feedback is a gift

The goal of networking and mastering communication isn’t just about landing a job. When you make connections, you should be actively seeking feedback on your portfolio and resume.

Suzanne Pellican, our VP of UX at Google Ads, recently gave a talk where she highlighted the value of feedback and how it has shaped her career. She also discussed how she uses feedback to help her team grow. The takeaway is this: without feedback, how do we know how we’re showing up? Who’s going to give you this kind of feedback without being prompted? You need to actively seek it out so you can learn and grow. Sometimes, the feedback you receive during a review cycle or unsolicited can be tough, especially when it’s not positive. Suzanne’s insights resonated with me because I always strive to have candid conversations about how I’m showing up and the quality of my work to ensure I’m meeting everyone’s expectations.

Think about it like this: every new person you meet brings a new relationship that you need to navigate and nurture. The feedback you get from one person can be entirely different from another. Make the effort to gather feedback and differing perspectives from as many people as possible. This will help you identify the changes you need to make to raise the bar. Multiple sources of feedback also allow you to filter out advice that might not be helpful. However, sometimes only one person will give you the hard feedback you really need to hear.

Critical feedback is the greatest gift of all, but giving it is an art form. The next time someone gives you critical feedback that makes you question yourself and your work, take the time to understand where it’s coming from and what you can do to address it.

Get professional help

I think of this as the next level after soliciting feedback. When you want to go deeper than just feedback on your output, seek opportunities for mentorship and coaching. Nothing beats talking directly with someone who has the experience and insight you need.

There are a few ways to approach this. ADPList.org is a fantastic resource for finding a mentor for free. The mentors here are vetted, so you have a good chance of getting solid advice from someone who knows what they’re talking about. The challenge is that you’re competing with others in the same position, hoping to find a mentor. Keep in mind that many of the best mentors have pretty full schedules.

Another free option is to reach out to someone who might be open to mentoring. Try searching on LinkedIn for people who have expressed a willingness and passion for mentoring. Send them a connection request with a sincere note about what you’re looking for help with. Chances are, they might be open to an initial chat or could point you in the right direction. The key is to put in the effort and include a personalized note with your request. Cold-connecting with people on LinkedIn has a very low success rate.

If you’re striking out on finding someone willing to talk to you, and you can afford it, consider paying for mentorship or career coaching. I’ve personally used BetterUp here at Google as part of my career development. I’ll be honest, my first coach wasn’t a great fit, but that wasn’t entirely their fault. I’d never been coached before and didn’t understand how the relationship worked. After a few sessions, I decided to try a different coach, and the experience was wonderful. They guided me through the process and helped me focus on the areas I wanted to grow in. Do I recommend paying for a service like BetterUp? Yes, but with a major caveat: you’ll have better success if you go into it with a clear idea of what you want to get out of it. The same goes for mentoring.

To help clarify the difference between coaching and mentoring: a coach helps you improve specific areas of your life or career through structured, short-term engagements, while a mentor offers ongoing, broad-based guidance and support based on their experience and relationship with you. Both roles are valuable but serve different purposes in personal and professional development.

Embracing opportunities

One final piece of advice: new grads often want to work for specific brands or companies, and they all target these same companies. Looking back through all of this advice, we can distill it down to finding opportunities where there's less competition, hopefully a network effect, and where your uniqueness taps into that brand in a relatable way.

You need to be humble about your expectations. Your first shot at employment likely won't be at one of those fancy places. It's going to be somewhere that isn't flashy and might not resonate with you. But it's an opportunity for you to build on all of these skills I've listed here so that you can take that experience and move on to the next one.

When I first graduated with an associate's in multimedia design from Full Sail University, I sent my demo reel and resume to all the amazing design agencies at the time in Boston, Atlanta, and London. I didn't hear a peep from any of them. So I lowered my expectations and applied to a mainframe software company back in my hometown. I got that job pretty quickly because there were no designers at my skill level applying to a boring mainframe software company.

The job was 100% graphic design, and all my other skills in web design, 3D, VR, and music production were shelved. Instead, it was print design and illustration. It wasn't the flashy agency work I had dreamed of, but it got me in the door. I had a paycheck, got my first apartment, purchased my first decent car, and took my parents out to dinner for the first time in my life because I could finally afford to. This initial opportunity allowed me to start building the life I wanted, and over time, as my skills and network increased, I chased bigger and bigger opportunities that aligned to my values and interests.

Bringing it all home

Breaking into UX design is tough, but it's far from impossible. Armed with a killer portfolio, a unique perspective, solid communication skills, and a growing network, you're already ahead of the game. Don't get discouraged by rejection – it's part of the process. Remember, every UX designer you admire started somewhere, probably facing the same challenges you are right now.

As you embark on this journey, keep in mind that your career is a marathon, not a sprint. It's easy to get caught up in the race for the perfect job, but don't lose sight of the bigger picture. Each experience, each project, even each rejection, is shaping you into the designer you're meant to be. Embrace the challenges, celebrate the small wins, and keep pushing forward.

Stay persistent, keep refining your skills, and that first opportunity will come. And when it does, grab it with both hands and run with it. The tech world needs fresh perspectives and passionate designers like you. So go out there, make your mark, and redefine what it means to be a UX designer in this ever-changing landscape. Your UX journey is just beginning, and the best is yet to come.

Acknowledgments

I want to extend a special thank you to Greg Denton for his invaluable feedback on this article and for inspiring me to write it after my involvement with his AskBadger platform. Participating in a session on helping new graduates break into UX design sparked the ideas that led to this piece. Your insights were crucial in refining the content and ensuring it resonates with our readers.

I also want to express my gratitude to my connections on LinkedIn who generously shared their recommendations and insights when I sought help compiling these resources. Your contributions have made this article richer and more comprehensive.

Thank you all for your support and for helping to make this a resource that can truly benefit those breaking into the UX field.

Resources

This list of resources is just the beginning, not an exhaustive guide. As you embark on your unique UX journey, you’ll discover additional tools and resources that align more closely with your personal goals and aspirations. Keep exploring, and let these resources serve as a strong foundation for your growth.  

Learning Platforms & Online Courses

These platforms provide structured learning paths, practical exercises, and the opportunity to build a strong foundation in UX design. They are essential for both beginners and those looking to deepen their expertise.

  • Shift Nudge by Matt D. Smith: A hands-on course focused on visual design within UX, offering project-based learning to help you build your portfolio.
  • LinkedIn Learning - UX Design Courses: A comprehensive collection of courses covering various aspects of UX design, ideal for building foundational knowledge and practical skills.
  • Bitesize UX: Workshop-style live sessions that offer practical experience in UX design, great for those who prefer interactive learning.
  • Hexagon UX: A community offering mentorship opportunities, crucial for personalized guidance and career advice.
  • ADPList.org: A platform to connect with industry mentors, providing one-on-one coaching and advice.

2. Books on UX Design Fundamentals

These books are foundational reads that provide essential knowledge on usability, design principles, and UX processes, equipping you with the theoretical background needed to create effective user experiences.

3. Articles, Blogs & Thought Leaders

These resources offer a wealth of knowledge from industry leaders, providing ongoing learning and insights that keep you updated on the latest trends and best practices in UX design.

  • Colm Tuite’s Quora Article: A straightforward introduction to UX design, perfect for beginners looking for concise advice.
  • Luke Wroblewski’s Writings: Insightful articles from a recognized UX designer and author, offering practical tips and thought leadership.
  • Julie Zhuo on Medium: UX-related writings by Facebook's former design director, providing insights into high-level design thinking and practices.
  • Smashing Magazine: A well-known resource for web developers and designers, featuring articles on UX best practices and trends.
  • UX Myths: A collection of common UX misconceptions, debunked with explanations and evidence.
  • Nielsen Norman Group Articles: Authoritative articles from a leading UX research firm, useful for gaining advanced insights after some practical experience.

4. Design Inspiration & Portfolio Building

These platforms are essential for staying inspired, keeping up with design trends, and learning how to present your work in a way that stands out to potential employers.

  • Dribbble: A platform for showcasing design work, particularly useful for gaining inspiration and visibility within the design community.
  • Mobbin: A collection of mobile and web UI patterns, great for visual inspiration and understanding current design trends.
  • UI Movement: A platform showcasing the latest UI design trends, helpful for sparking creativity and inspiration.
  • Pttrns: A curated library of mobile UI patterns, useful for finding design inspiration for your projects.
  • Bestfolios: A gallery of top UX/UI portfolios, providing examples of how to structure and present your work effectively.
  • Adobe Behance: A platform where designers showcase creative work, including UI/UX designs, providing a rich source of inspiration across various design disciplines.

5. Tools & Software

Mastering these tools is crucial for translating your design ideas into actionable and collaborative work. Understanding the technical side of UX also enables more effective collaboration with developers.

  • Figma: A leading design tool for creating and collaborating on UX/UI projects, offering powerful features for prototyping and design systems.
  • Axure: A tool for creating detailed wireframes and interactive prototypes, particularly useful for complex applications.
  • OmniGraffle: A diagramming and wireframing tool that’s great for creating detailed schematics and flowcharts.
  • Visio: A Microsoft tool for creating diagrams, flowcharts, and wireframes, useful for both technical and design work.
  • Keynote / Google Slides: Presentation tools that are also often used for wireframing and creating quick prototypes.
  • Sketch: A popular design tool focused on UI/UX design, known for its robust plugin ecosystem and vector editing capabilities.
  • Basic Tech Knowledge (HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Flutter, etc.): Understanding front-end technologies is essential for effective collaboration with developers and making informed design decisions.

6. Professional Development

Professional development resources, such as coaching and mentoring platforms, are essential for ongoing growth, skill refinement, and career advancement in UX design.

  • ADPList.org: A global platform that connects designers with mentors for one-on-one coaching, offering personalized advice and guidance.
  • BetterUp: A coaching platform focused on personal and professional growth, helping you build soft skills like leadership, resilience, and communication.
  • Hexagon UX: A community offering mentorship opportunities, crucial for personalized guidance and career advice.
  • Toastmasters: A global organization that helps individuals improve their public speaking and leadership skills through structured practice and feedback.
  • Yoodli: An AI-powered speech coach that provides real-time feedback on your speaking skills. 

7. Podcasts & Additional Media

Podcasts offer an accessible way to keep learning while on the go, providing a steady stream of inspiration and knowledge from industry experts.

  • Dive Club Podcast by Michael Riddering: A highly recommended podcast covering various aspects of design, including practical advice and industry insights.
  • Design Better Podcast: Features interviews with industry leaders, discussing topics like design thinking, leadership, and the intersection of design and technology.
  • UI Breakfast Podcast: Focuses on UI/UX design, product strategy, and user research, featuring interviews with industry experts.
  • The NN/g UX Podcast: Offers insights from UX research, practical tips for improving user experiences, and discussions on the latest trends.
  • User Defenders: Features inspiring interviews with UX superheroes, offering advice on career growth and overcoming challenges in UX.
  • What is Wrong with UX: A humorous and candid podcast that dives into the challenges and realities of working in UX.
  • The Hacking UI Podcast: Covers topics around design, technology, and the business of products, featuring interviews with top designers and entrepreneurs.
Published by Nick in Design Leadership
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August 10, 2024 — No Comments

From AI2 to Ai2: Navigating the joy and envy of a designer’s long-awaited change

Just the other day, I was reading a GeekWire article about Seattle's Mayor Bruce Harrell speaking at the opening of the "AI House" in downtown Seattle. In the cover photo's background, I noticed the logo I had created for the AI2 Incubator.

Image is courtesy of Geekwire, from: ‘AI House’ in downtown Seattle will serve as a hub for AI startups and entrepreneurs

As I read the article, I immediately noticed the abbreviated usage of the Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence as "Ai2". Having been a long-time GeekWire reader, I found it odd that they would use this incorrect spelling instead of the official "AI2".

You see, in 2019 to 2020 I worked for AI2 as their Lead Brand and Product Designer, and alongside the Director of Communications, Carissa Schoenick, we went through an extensive rebranding process for AI2. One of my tasks was to avoid having the logo read as A12. To achieve this I strongly advocated for using "Ai2" due to its visual clarity, but was ultimately unsuccessful. The argument against this was that "Artificial Intelligence" should not be incorrectly abbreviated, emphasizing our identity as a scientific research company committed to accuracy.

Fast forward to today, while reviewing my LinkedIn page, I noticed a strange pink logo in the AI2 portion of my work history. Confused, I refreshed the page, but it persisted. Things started to click.

I clicked through to Ai2's LinkedIn page and started scrolling through their posts and there it was. A brand refresh announcement, not only explaining the shift from AI2 to Ai2 but the overall brand refresh.

Link to brand refresh

As a designer, seeing something like this evokes mixed emotions. There's elation that changes I felt were necessary have finally happened, even though I wasn't part of this particular update. The other emotion is trickier. Is it Anger? Jealousy? RAGE!? Definitely not rage. It's probably closer to envy.

Maybe I am also feeling a bit of self-doubt. Was I not good enough of a designer to be able to advocate for my opinion to be heard? And then the envy comes from being jealous that this agency, who was tasked with the redesign, wasn’t saddled with the same restrictions and burdens that I faced. Maybe they were in the beginning, but that's not how things ended up.

But either way, it’s silly to sit here and think about things that transpired almost 5 years ago under different leadership and different industry environments. A designer should never try to compare their work from the past to the work of others today, unless it’s to see how you’ve grown. If Ai2 was going to continue to compete in this new landscape, they definitely needed to rebrand past what I once created.

So with that, I'm genuinely pleased that Ai2 has rebranded and evolved from our previous design. The AI2 logo we created was a catalyst for change. While not perfect, it moved AI2 away from its original logo to something fresher that made sense, at that time and in that environment.

Ultimately, I’m proud to see Ai2 evolving. The logo we created served its purpose then, just as the new design will now. It’s a reminder that design is never static—it's about creating what fits the moment and the future. And in that journey, I’m glad to have played a part.

For those curious, here's a mockup of the 40 logo concepts I created back in 2019 during that rebranding process:

And if you are curious about the rest of my work at Ai2, you can read about it here on my portfolio.

Published by Nick in Design Thoughts
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May 19, 2024 — No Comments

Selling your design vision: turning ideas into reality

I've learned one crucial truth: if you can't sell your design vision, it's going nowhere. 

As a design leader who's worked in both large and small organizations, passion and big ideas are great, but they mean nothing without the ability to translate them into concrete plans and get buy-in.

In this article, I'll share my experiences in selling design visions and how I've grown as a designer by developing a strong point of view (POV) and effectively communicating it.

The frustration that fueled change

While leading design at Gaia GPS, I vividly remember a conversation with the CEO about some design initiatives I'd created, focusing on the core mapping experience for the web. The backstory is I was tired of the map tooling interface's unresponsive UI, with its haphazard layout of floating buttons and hidden drop downs. 

It got to a point where I became so tired of dealing with this frustrating UI that I completely redesigned the interface and re-architected the experience in a way that better supported our core workflows and enabled the interface to scale with future functionality.

I'll get to the outcome of this story later, but it all boils down to building the right working culture and setting yourself up for success. From a very high level, here are some of the steps I consider important to achieving this goal.

How to sell your vision

1. Build a relationship that enables you to manage up

I'm not going to go into an in-depth how-to on managing up here; I'll save that for another article. But here's the high-level thought: To make space for yourself and have the time and influence to come up with your own initiatives, you need to be able to manage up. Basically, your manager needs to trust you and trust that you're spending your time effectively. This means not needing to be micromanaged and told what to do all the time. 

You should be able to effectively manage your workload (saying no when necessary) and give your manager what they need to be successful in their own expectations. When you create enough space for yourself, it gives you the time to identify what you think is important and work on making it a reality. In combination with this, the trust you've built with your manager increases the likelihood that they'll be more supportive and responsive to your ideas and initiatives.

2. Develop a strong POV on your work

"We pay you to have an opinion." Once you're able to make space for your work, you need to be able to talk about it with conviction. The gist of it is, you need to become a domain expert in your area and have strong opinions. Some people say "Strong opinions, loosely held," which means you've developed a position/opinion but are always open to other POVs or discussions on those POVs. 

Building a POV on topics and initiatives allows others to clearly see where you're coming from and enables them to more accurately engage with you. This can be in the form of wanting to collaborate with you to achieve your goals or discuss your POV from their standpoint to see how their different POV aligns or clashes with yours. For example, I have a co-worker who passionately hates mustard—all kinds. This tells me they care deeply about condiments, and I'm curious why they dislike mustard so much (personally, I love it!). It also opens the door to discussing their preferred condiments and why. Beyond condiments, when someone strongly dislikes something, it's an opportunity to learn about it from a different angle.

3. Foster collaborative relationships with cross-functional peers

It's not just about being able to debate each other's POVs. You also need to actively seek out and understand what goals and outcomes your cross-functional peers are trying to achieve. 

For instance, when working with a PM, it's critical you understand from the business perspective what metrics they're trying to drive. You can help them achieve those metrics, but in a fashion that puts the user first. As for engineers, maybe it's their velocity they're trying to maintain or increase. You can work with them to break up your ideas into phases that they can deliver on time. Building this shared understanding of each other's goals creates an environment of trust. Your cross-functional peers will start to trust that you have their best intentions in mind when you show them your latest crazy idea.

4. Take the initiative and document your vision

Let's get back to that initial story of redesigning the mapping interface. At that time, I had achieved those three previous steps. I was actively managing up to the CEO, I was very opinionated about what makes good UX architecture in the mapping domain, and I had built trust and psychological safety into my relationships so that I could have candid conversations about the product and business.

Fed up with the interface, I dedicated time to a redesign. I created a few concepts covering core use cases and presented them in my next 1:1 with my manager. Walking through Figma mocks and highlighting key points generated excitement.

Here are the essential steps I followed:

  • Choose your audience: Tailor your presentation to who you're speaking with. Understand their level of design knowledge and interest.
  • Match fidelity to the goal: Use sketches for early feedback, high-fidelity mocks for detailed discussions, and interactive prototypes for showcasing functionality.
  • Create artifacts for discussion: Whether it's Figma files, slide decks, or prototypes, having tangible materials helps facilitate feedback and generate excitement.

A quick story to illustrate this point

I remember when I was leading design at the Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence and I got fed up with their old logo. In my spare time, I made some off-the-wall ideas on what a new logo could look like. I showed these to my manager (Director of Communications), and she loved it. I didn't spend a whole lot of time on it, but it was just enough to get them excited about the idea, which then allowed me to make more space to continue working on it. I got the designs to a place where I could build a deck and present a few ideas to our CEO and see what they thought about it. I remember being rather nervous as I had never presented to this individual and had no close working relationship with them, so I didn't know what to expect. And in return, they didn't know what to expect from me. 

After it was over, I was successful in convincing the CEO to greenlight further work into a redesign and what process they would like to see moving forward. To quote the CEO (to the best of my memory) at the end of the presentation: "I was coming into this meeting thinking I would hate everything, and I am leaving it loving the idea of a new logo!" You can see more about this project on my portfolio here.

Back to the mapping redesign 

With the team being small and the CEO driving the roadmap, we had one of the Frontend Engineers work on implementing the design. After soft launching and then progressively rolling it out, it was clear that the new redesign was a huge success. We tracked engagement metrics like object creation and map layering. I don't have the specific numbers anymore, but users were now organically finding and using features that were previously showing very low usage due to them being hidden or just poorly designed and implemented. 

After the redesign was considered a success in driving retention and usage, I remember having a candid follow-up conversation with the CEO, to which I said he should listen to my ideas more. He pushed back and said my idea wasn't unique and that "everyone" had thought of redesigning the interface and they all knew it was poorly done. Which led me to respond with, "We can have all the ideas in the world. We can all agree something sucks. But if no one is going to step up and do something about it, then those are just ideas and nothing more."

So in an attempt to bring this home... 

If you are finding your ideas are not getting much traction or are actively being shot down, it's not because they are bad ideas (ok, maybe they are, not every idea is a good idea), it's because they cannot see the vision you see. Leadership makes instant decisions constantly. They are pressed for time and need to move fast with what they know. And most people are not thinking about the things you as a designer are thinking of. So of course, if you say "we need a new logo" or "we need to re-architect this entire interface," you are more than likely going to get hit with a "Hell no. We already have a full roadmap, and how does that fit into our predetermined catchphrase of the quarter?”

You as a designer are uniquely positioned and empowered to be the change you seek. You can bring ideas to reality. You have the ability to shape the future. But remember, it all starts with effectively selling your vision.

Key takeaways

  • Don't underestimate the power of relationships: Building trust and rapport with your manager, cross-functional peers, and stakeholders is crucial for gaining support for your ideas.
  • A strong POV is your foundation: Develop expertise in your domain and articulate your design decisions with conviction. Be open to discussion, but stand firm in your beliefs.
  • Collaboration is key: Understand the goals and constraints of your cross-functional partners. Work together to find solutions that benefit everyone involved.
  • Take initiative and be proactive: Don't wait for permission or perfect timing. Start working on your ideas, document them, and be ready to present your vision when the opportunity arises.
  • Excitement is contagious: Passion is infectious. When you're genuinely excited about your ideas, others are more likely to get on board.

Your call to action

Now that you've read about the importance of selling your design vision, it's time to put these principles into practice. Identify an area where you see potential for improvement, develop a strong POV, and start building support for your ideas. Remember, even small changes can have a big impact.

Published by Nick in Design Leadership
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January 12, 2020 — Comments are off for this post.

2019 Year in Review

It’s 5:30am and I’m sitting in my bed with my cat and a cup of coffee...being as quiet as I can because my in-laws have taken over my home. With my morning routine out the window, I figured I would take some time to reflect on my achievements from 2019 and what 2020 might hold for me.

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Published by Nick in Annual Review, Design Thoughts
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September 14, 2019 — Comments are off for this post.

New Zealand 2019

Two years ago Jen and I visited Australia. While there, someone told us that if we loved Australia so much, we needed to visit New Zealand. Taking them up on their suggestion, we spent three weeks in the south island. This a photo blog from that time.

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Published by Nick in Photo Blog