How Did Journalism Help You Become a Designer?

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In journalism, it was really around interviewing, in talking to people and asking good questions. And then also with just soft skills in communication, being able to what i call control a room. A lot of that i learned from journalism and just having to talk to so many different types of people. It helped me get myon before i had to go to the more crazy topics like prototyping and motion design or all the other things that you do as a designer. I don't consider design or u x to be this, like, super special, different thing that no one can do. Like, everybody can do this if they want to.

Jessica Gaddis motivates us to realize that we belong here. Not only in the field of design, but in this often painful and perplexing world we call home. Why? Because somewhere, sometime, somehow...someone needs us. She inspires us to find our community because they’re already out there, searching for us and waiting for us to connect with them and even lead them. She reveals how she was able to on a very limited budget go all in and learn UX and go on to get her foot in the door as a Product Designer. From 0 to Netflix, and now Twitter. She touches on the unwelcome voice in many of our heads known as imposter syndrome, and reveals how she’s been able to successfully combat it. She also shares with us how advocating for black women in design by opening up her calendar as a mentor has been one of the most rewarding and impactful design decisions she’s ever made.

Origin Story (5:05)
Growing Up In a Techie Home (8:48)
Journalism + UX? (11:42)
The UX of Learning UX (18:21)
Teaching Should Be Every Company’s Core Value (32:15)
Have You Overcome Imposter Syndrome? (44:14)
How Do We Find Community? (50:00)
The Deep Value of Mentoring (57:59)
What Do You Want On Your Headstone? (70:13)
UX Superpower? (74:09)
UX Kryptonite? (75:37)
UX Superhero Name (77:38)
Habit of Success? (78:02)
 UX Resource or Tool (81:04)
Recommended Book (83:11)
Best Advice (84:56)
Connect & Keep Up (87:21)

Check out the detailed show notes including mentioned links, transcript and Eli Jorgensen's astonishing superhero artwork at userdefenders.com/075

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