"Craft will only take you so far in this industry” - Jeremy Miller

DesignOps Aligned - Podcast Show

" Craft will only take you so far in this industry” - Act 01 - Scene 22 – Jeremy Miller

In this podcast episode, Jeremy Miller, a well-known UX industry figure, discusses common UX design themes. He discusses the importance of soft skills, communication, and technical skills. He also explores how UX design has evolved from a function of engineering to a separate partnership. Jeremy emphasizes the need for UX designers to speak the business's language and understand their work's bottom-line impact.

He also discusses the challenges of boot camps and the importance of learning the fundamentals of UX design. In this conversation, Jeremy highlights the importance of stakeholder management and building relationships to drive change in low-design-maturity organizations. He emphasizes the need for designers to understand stakeholders' perspectives and communication preferences and use that knowledge to influence how teams work together. He also underscores the role of curiosity in personal and professional growth and the importance of empathy for team members and stakeholders.

Book:
https://www.beyonduxdesign.com/book/
Youtube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/@beyonduxdesign
Takeaways
• Craft gets you so far, but soft skills and communication are crucial for success in UX design.
• UX designers need to speak the business's language and understand their work's bottom-line impact.
• Boot camps and formal education programs often focus on tools and methods, but real-world experience and apprenticeships are valuable for learning UX design.
• The aesthetic usability effect is essential, but a beautiful interface is not enough if it doesn't meet the user's needs.
• The use of personas and other artefacts should be driven by the team's and the project's specific needs, and they should be simple and easy to update.
• One-on-one conversations with stakeholders and product managers are valuable opportunities to promote using UX artefacts and understand their needs. Understanding stakeholders' perspectives and communication preferences is crucial for effective stakeholder management.
• Building relationships and trust with team members and stakeholders are essential for driving change in low-design maturity organizations.
• Curiosity is a key personal and professional growth trait and fosters a desire to continuously learn and improve.
• Empathy for team members and stakeholders is essential for understanding their needs and perspectives and for building effective relationships.
Chapters

01:14 - Introduction and Podcasting

04:37 - The Importance of Soft Skills and Communication

07:13 - Speaking the Language of the Business

09:09 - The Evolution of UX Design

13:12 - Challenges and Benefits of Boot Camps

18:42 - The Balance Between Aesthetics and Functionality

21:29 - Using Personas and Artifacts to Drive Conversations

28:16 - Stakeholder Management and Building Relationships

30:38 - Understanding Stakeholder Communication Preferences

34:21 - Driving Change in Low Design Maturity Organizations

44:09 - The Importance of Empathy for Team Members and Stakeholders

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