the design graduate's toolkit

THEDESIGNGRADUATE’STOOLKIT Zac

Bedell

ZAC

UX DESIGNER WEB APPLICATION LEAD

UW GRAD 2005 VCD

TWO KIDS

HAPPY

@zbedell

PLACES

STUDENT

GRAD

CONTRACTOR

MICROSOFT

STARTUP

LEADER

TRANSITIONS

STUDENT

GRAD

CONTRACTOR

MICROSOFT

STARTUP

LEADER

STUDENT

ART TECHUX

1. Focus on an application of design you enjoy

Why is this valuable?

• Better design product• Motivating

• Infinitely interesting

STUDENT

GRAD

A CASE FOR CONTRACTING

– Steady employment with benefits

– Exposure to real business processes

– Possible to go full-time– Trial run of job and company

2. Look for and take opportunity

How do you find opportunity?• New situations

• University resources

Take it or leave it?• List pros and cons

STUDENT

GRAD

CONTRACTOR

STUDENT

GRAD

CONTRACTOR

ASPECTS OF SOFTWARE DESIGN– Storytelling– Illustration– Animation– Typography– Composition– Information

Architecture

• IxD• UX

YOUR PORTFOLIO

– Full of high quality design

– Finely crafted– Perfectly presented– Entirely considered

3. A strong portfoliohas stories to tell

Worried your portfolio is not strong yet?

• Trust the faculty• Feature the type of design or content you

enjoy• Portfolio reviews• It’s not everything

CONTRACTOR

MICROSOFT

ADDING TOOLS

Target a skillset

1. Observe2. Assist3. Contribute4. Implement

Repeat

4. Establish patterns for learning

How do I learn?

Assign yourself a design task:• Analyze your learning, identify steps

• Create a 10min preso• Teach how you learn to your roommate

STARTUP

STARTUP

5. Show value beyond your job description

How do I show value?• Contribute to your coworkers success, help

• Fight entitlement: you deserve what your earn• Be resourceful: don’t ask until you’ve looked

• Take action before asked• Be decisive: speech, posture, self presentation

• Take on extra projects

STARTUP

STARTUP

LEADER

6. Be ambitious

TRANSITIONS

INTERVIEW AMBITIOUSLY

Demonstrate

1. Extra energy & effort

2. Preparedness3. Attentiveness4. Follow-through5. Resilience

6. Be ambitious

Not feeling it?

• Set and achieve goals: write them down• Engage with those more experienced• Welcome mistakes: you can’t go wrong

STUDENT

GRAD

CONTRACTOR

MICROSOFT

STARTUP

LEADER

DESIGNER’S UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE

In software design…

• Spec/story• User• Research• Competition• Business drivers

• Feasibility• Other roles• Delivery

…and design the UX

DESIGN YOURSELF

You are the deliverable

– Who is your audience?

– What is your message?

– What are the best means to deliver?

7. The designer’s balcony

All work is the result of design, but we are a rare operators.

• Highly trained and skillful• Able to design oneself

• Design thinking has high business value

1. Focus on an application of design you enjoy2. Look for and take opportunity3. A strong portfolio has stories to tell4. Establish patterns for learning5. Show value beyond your job description6. Be ambitious7. The designer’s balcony

THE DESIGN GRADUATE’S TOOLKIT

THANKS Q&A

@zbedell