Story: Adapt to industry standard
I’ve started a job search in April 2019. I really appreciate the current employer. Without this 1 and half year, I couldn’t prepare for a job search. Job titles which I look for are mainly UX/UI designer and products designer. I also apply for graphic designer, web designer position if the company requires a mid-senior level.
I’m a little insecure about graphic design in the advertising/marketing industry. If creator who has artistic style may be fine. I’m skilled, but not an artist type, more rational and logical. When I searched for a graphic designer, sometimes shows visual designer or digital designer. I don’t recognize many differences these job titles.
The fundamental skill, illustrator, photoshop and InDesign(sometimes) are necessary. However, these are not enough if you want to survive the United States and Canada. You need to know web design, coding and video editing. It’s preferable.
I honestly cannot provide many values if a company looks for just a graphic designer. I may possess comprehensive design skills rather than others, such as layout, typography and color. However, I cannot give a guarantee to increase a profit by graphic design.
This is a point. How can I provide value which client needs/feels? Providing products, print, digital or APP, are the same as other designers. Therefore, my products should solve the client’s problem. How do I diagnose it? Value might process, discovery session, user flow, user research, A/B test, or prototype. That’s why I want to be a UX Designer.
I use LinkedIn and Glassdoor. There are many job posting sites. Too many. You have to choose the platforms first. Social media, Facebook, Twitter or Instagram may less competition compare to LinkedIn. I sometimes see a job post on the timeline on social media.
UX/UI Designer
User experience design is the process of enhancing user satisfaction with a product by improving the usability, accessibility, and pleasure provided in the interaction with the product. – Wikipedia
UX process:
1. Understand a problem and define a goal
2. Research, analysis
3. User personas, stories
4. User flows(flowcharts)
5. Sketches
6. Moodboard
7. Mockups
8. UI
9. Uservility test
10. Development, evaluation
I don’t think it’s not completely irrelevant to graphic design. I normally ask client who the user/customer is though I don’t much user journey every time. Fasilitator, communication skills may nessesally. Tipically, designer is not good at soft skills, but I’ve practiced it at meetup and toastmasters since 2016. I don’t have much concern.
In 2019, UX is a fundamental skills and it will be more common. Near future, UX may change to CX, customer experience. I feel CX has a demand nevertheless platforms, online, e-commerce, offline or brick and mortar. It’s not skillset. Cultivate knowledge and experience.
Pentagram: The world’s largest independent design consultancy
UX researcher
User research is used to understand the user’s needs, behaviours, experience and motivations through various qualitative and quantitative methods to inform the process of solving for user’s problems. – Medium: What is user research?
I didn’t know the job title, UX researcher. I met some fleerancer on meetup. Most of them were ladies by chance. I didn’t feel I can take a initiative on the project by UX researcher. So, I don’t aim to be that.
If you want to work small-Mid size agency, designer has to take multiple roles, graphic designer, web designer(front end/back end), UX/UI designer, product designer, videographer, photographer or digital marketing. Which do you want to be, all round player or specific specialist? There is no answer. Just what do you love to do?
Product Designer
I thought product design sounds not relevant to graphic designer. However, it’s past story. The product can be tangible (something physical which we can touch) or intangible (like a service, experience, or belief), though sometimes services and other processes are distinguished from products.
New product design requires an understanding of customer needs and wants, the competitive environment, and the nature of the market. Cost, time and quality are the main variables that drive customer needs. Aiming at these three variables, innovative companies develop continuous practices and strategies to better satisfy customer requirements and to increase their own market share by a regular development of new products. – Wikipedia
Product design requirements:
1. Communication for collaboration
2. User research
3. Analytics data(hypnosis)
4. Storyboards
5. Information architecture
6. Wireframes
7. Prototypes
8. UX
9. UI, user interface design(front-end development & UI pattern toolkits)
Product designer create a product story, mockup then launch. I especially like the process which show mockup to stakeholders. This is a benefit of visual design. Very productive and meaningful. Stakeholder may feel anxiaty if they only know concept and direction. Very pasuasive. I feel this is the design sesrvice.
Medium: What is Product Design?
Keeping student mind
When I learned an advertising, there was 2 choices, copywriter or designer. I thought visual is stronger, fast communication than copywriting at that time. That’s why I became a designer. Since then, I’m still passionate about design.
Once you start work at a company, you intencely learn a lot in the first a few months. You have to learn company culture and rule as well.
The real challenge will start once you get used to work at a company, after 3 months. You have to find how you improve workflow more, productively and efficiently. If you cannot find passion and desire on the job, you should consider next destination. I feel it quite common in the North US.
Reference:
Bureau of Labor Statistics: Graphic Designers
Learn.org: What’s the Employment Outlook for Graphic Design Jobs?
JobBank.gc.ca: Illustrator And Graphic Designer
