Beyond UX Design

This week, we chat with career coach Meltem Naz Kaso, who shares a unique framework for overcoming career stagnation. Discover why feeling “stuck” might be an invitation to explore new possibilities and how you can strategically navigate your career.Are you truly stuck in your UX career, or is it just a phase?Meltem Naz Kaso is a UX career coach with a decade of experience in both in-house and consultancy roles. Meltem now dedicates her time to helping professionals rebuild their careers with passion and self-awareness. In this episode, we dig into her unique approach, inspired by UX methodologies, to help her clients achieve career clarity.Meltem shares her journey from being a UX research manager at Glovo to becoming a career coach. She emphasizes the importance of understanding the cyclical nature of UX roles. We discuss the challenges posed by the current job market and explore how adaptability can become a key asset in successfully navigating career transitions. Meltem offers valuable insights on balancing work-life dynamics, especially for those juggling family responsibilities alongside career growth.We also unpack the themes from Meltem’s recent article in Fast Company, where she highlights the importance of personal branding and networking. Tune in to learn practical strategies for identifying career opportunities and enhancing your skill set to stay relevant in an ever-evolving industry. Don’t miss out on this enlightening conversation that promises to transform your career perspective.

Join us for a thought-provoking discussion with Jen Blatz as we reimagine the role of personas in UX design. Discover how the Jobs to Be Done framework can lead to more meaningful, user-centric strategies that align with real-world needs.Is your UX design truly user-centered, or are personas leading you astray?Discover a game-changing approach that could redefine your strategy.Tune in as I chat with Jen Blatz, who challenges the conventional use of personas in design. With a rich UX research background, Jen critically analyzes how personas can sometimes misguide design efforts by fostering stereotypes that do not capture the complexity of user needs. She questions the real value personas bring to the table and urges us to look beyond surface-level user profiles.Jen champions the Jobs to Be Done framework, which shifts the focus from demographic data to understanding users' true objectives. This approach offers a more grounded understanding of user behavior, enabling designers to create solutions that genuinely address user challenges. Jen also introduces the Scenario Alignment Canvas, a tool she developed to help teams focus on specific user scenarios and enhance collaborative efforts.Jen Blatz provides actionable insights and innovative strategies to help you move beyond traditional personas, ensuring your designs are driven by authentic user needs. This episode is a must-listen if you want to enhance your UX methodology and create more impactful designs.

Discover how accumulated knowledge can cloud our communication. Experts often misjudge what others know, leading to misunderstandings. The discussion includes personal stories and experiments that reveal the challenge of sharing information across different expertise levels. Practical strategies for fostering empathy and clarity are shared, helping improve teamwork and effective communication.

Explore the cognitive biases plaguing your team with our series, inspired by the Cognitive Bias Codex. Each week, discover a new bias with insights and examples for the entire software team. Subscribe now to stay up to date on this enlightening journey. The post Introducing the Cognition Catalog! appeared first on Beyond UX Design.

This week, we chat with Matthew McPhail, UX principal at Home Depot, about the critical role of relationships in building great software. Discover how fostering trust, empathy, and respect can transform your work environment and propel your career forward faster.Could the secret to advancing your UX career lie in the relationships you build?This week, Matthew McPhail, a principal UX designer at Home Depot, joins the show to share his journey from Industrial Design to UX design. He highlights how relationships have been instrumental in his quick career progression to UX Principal. Matthew underscores the importance of trust, empathy, and respect in fostering a collaborative work environment that drives success.We explore the scientific basis for relationship-building and explain how it influences team dynamics and personal growth. Matthew emphasizes that while technical skills are essential, the ability to forge meaningful connections often plays a pivotal role in the effectiveness of software projects and career development. Ultimately, managing ambiguity becomes more manageable when we build strong relationships.Whether you’re an experienced UX practitioner or new to the field, you’ll gain valuable insights into the soft skills that can transform your career and your team’s success. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to learn from Matthew’s experiences!

I can't believe another year has come and gone, but here we are! Last year was a wild ride for me professionally and personally. Lots of ups and downs, but I'm excited for another year. Are you ready? The post Happy New Year! appeared first on Beyond UX Design.

Twas the night before UX-mas, when all through the page, Some things were still moving, cuz’ we’re still in the design stage. So next time you have an impromptu review meeting, Have your user research ready or you might take a beating. We wish you the best and a fantastic site, Merry UX-mas to all, and to all a good night! The post ‘Twas the Night Before UX-Mas appeared first on Beyond UX Design.

In this discussion, Henry Lam, a holistic performance ADHD coach for tech professionals, shares how ADHD can be transformed into a powerful asset. He delves into personal strategies for overcoming challenges while boosting creativity and productivity. Learn about innovative approaches like using MCT oil to enhance focus and how to create an optimal work environment. The conversation also highlights the importance of community support for those with ADHD, making it clear that recognizing and embracing these traits is key to professional success.

This week, I sit down with Lena Kul, a recruitment and job search advisor and former Recruitment Lead at Miro. She shares insights on the recruitment funnel concept, offering strategies to streamline your job search and secure your ideal UX position.Can reframing your job search as a recruitment funnel unlock new opportunities and lead you to your ideal UX role?In this episode, we’re stoked to have Lena Kul, a leading recruiter and job-search advisor for UX designers and UX Researchers, on the show. With years of experience building top-tier design teams in Europe and running a flourishing advisory practice, Lena offers invaluable insights into navigating your job search.Lena introduces the recruitment funnel concept, which might change how job seekers approach their job search. By understanding the funnel’s structure, you can strategically position yourself to stand out. Lena shares real-world examples and actionable advice to help you optimize your job search process.Whether you’re actively seeking a new role or looking to refine your career strategy, Lena’s expertise provides a fresh perspective on job hunting. Listen to learn how to leverage the recruitment funnel to improve your job hunt. Don’t miss it!

Erica Heinz reveals how mastering soft skills can accelerate your career. She emphasizes the often-overlooked importance of communication, empathy, and collaboration in creating truly impactful experiences.In a field where tools change regularly, is teaching adaptability more valuable than any specific skill?This week, we’re joined by Erica Heinz, a veteran UX designer and educator with over two decades of experience. Erica challenges traditional approaches to UX education, advocating for a paradigm shift that prioritizes teaching students how to learn rather than focusing solely on current tools and techniques.Drawing from her extensive experience teaching at institutions like the Parsons School of Design and the School of Visual Arts, Erica shares insights on cultivating a mindset of continuous learning in UX designers. She discusses strategies for developing meta-learning skills, fostering curiosity, and building resilience to thrive in a rapidly evolving field.Don’t miss Erica’s practical advice on developing a learning mindset that will serve you throughout your career, regardless of how tools and technologies may change. Whether you’re a student, educator, or practicing designer, this episode offers valuable perspectives on future-proofing your UX career through adaptability and lifelong learning.