UI Narrative: UX, UI, IxD, Design and Research

Episode 62 Show Notes: Typography can help make interfaces more user-friendly, informative, and visually appealing when used effectively. However, knowing which ones to use can be tricky with many different fonts available. In this episode, Thomas Girard provides tips on using type properly for digital interfaces. Some of the topics we discuss include: -Typography best practices -How to pair typefaces -How to check for accessibility and inclusivity -How to stand out and make your font choices memorable -The importance of phonetic type -Best fonts to use on your first UI project This episode is excellent for those looking to learn more about typography and improve their skillset. So take a listen and tag @uinarrativeco on Twitter with your questions or comments. Mentions: Connect with Thomas Girard! LinkedIn - Send him a message His books - Emerging Scholar book series Website Instagram YouTube Twitter TEDx Talk - How to feel at home in the airport New Directions in the Humanities Conference Common Ground Conference Design When Everyone Designs - book The Design of Everyday Things - book Google Fonts ------ Podcast Info: Transcripts available on episode web page. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Soundcloud, Stitcher, and Spotify. RSS feed: https://uinarrative.libsyn.com/rss Don't forget to subscribe and leave a review if you like what you hear. Announcements: Join the UI Narrative Email Club to be the first to hear about weekly blog posts and exclusive podcast recaps. You can sign up at uinarrative.com/emailclub. Want to become a Product Designer? Or need a portfolio review? Learn more at uinarrative.com/workwithme. Let's Connect: Have a question for me? Email me at hello@uinarrative.com. Let's connect! #uinarrative Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn @uinarrative Twitter @uinarrativeco

Episode 60 Show Notes: There are so many paths to take to get into UX, but have you considered Content Design? I know it's another term in the sea of UX terminology, but this could be the career you've been searching for, mainly if you've found that being a visual designer or researcher isn't your thing. In this episode, Aladrian and I discuss her unconventional path to becoming a Content Design Manager at Intuit. We talk about the skill sets you need to become a content designer and get started in this career. She also even gives some tips for how to improve your copywriting skills! So take a listen and tag @uinarrativeco on Twitter with your questions or comments. Mentions: Connect with Aladrian LinkedIn Twitter Instagram Intuit is hiring! Check out the job post here Content Design Recommendations // Books Content Design by Sarah Richards The Content Strategy Toolkit by Meghan Casey Writing is Designing by Michael J. Metts, Andy Welfle // Articles Daily UX Writing - Become a better UX Writer UX Writers Collective // Conferences Brain Traffic Events Confab - Content Strategy Button - Content Design Perspectives - Content Design // Job Board WorkinginContent.com // Courses UX Content Collective // Community Content + UX Slack Channel ------ Today's sponsor, Google Design, produces original content like articles and videos to show how Google's products come to life—and to inspire designers everywhere. Head over to goo.gle/UINarrative to get inspired. Podcast Info: Transcripts available on episode web page. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Soundcloud, Stitcher, and Spotify. RSS feed: https://uinarrative.libsyn.com/rss Don't forget to subscribe and leave a review if you like what you hear. Announcements: Ready to get started in UX? Sign up for the How To Get Started in UX waitlist today! Learn More Join the UI Narrative Email Club to be the first to hear about weekly blog posts and exclusive podcast recaps. You can sign up at uinarrative.com/emailclub. Want to become a Product Designer? Or need a portfolio review? Learn more at uinarrative.com/workwithme. Let's Connect: Have a question for me? Email me at hello@uinarrative.com. Let's connect! #uinarrative Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn @uinarrative Twitter @uinarrativeco

Episode 58 Show Notes: Who should use a UX Audit? Suppose you have little to no budget for user research and need a quick yet efficient way to help clients understand digital product problems affecting business goals. It also works well if you are the only UX Designer or Researcher on the team. Those on an in-house team are most likely evaluating the product and tweaking the experience continually. If you're on an in-house team and trying to convince management for a buy-in, you could use this method too. Take a listen and tag @uinarrativeco on Twitter with your questions or comments. Mentions: Course: Getting Started in UX: Design and Research Very limited spots for beta with one-time only discounts uinarrative.com/uxcareer So What? How To Do a UX Audit How To Conduct UX Audits The UX Audit: A Beginner's Guide 10 Usability Heuristics for User Experience How To Conduct a UX Audit: Step-By-Step Guide Need help organizing your usability findings? 250 best practices for usability Word template for measurable usability goals When looking for trends Try insight incubation ------ Today's sponsor, Google Design, produces original content like articles and videos to show how Google's products come to life—and to inspire designers everywhere. Head over to goo.gle/UINarrative to get inspired. Podcast Info: Transcripts available on episode web page. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Soundcloud, Stitcher, and Spotify. RSS feed: https://uinarrative.libsyn.com/rss Don't forget to subscribe and leave a review if you like what you hear. Announcements: Join the UI Narrative Email Club to be the first to hear about weekly blog posts and exclusive podcast recaps. You can sign up at uinarrative.com/emailclub. Want to become a Product Designer? Or need a portfolio review? Learn more at uinarrative.com/workwithme. Let's Connect: Have a question for me? Email me at hello@uinarrative.com. Let's connect! #uinarrative Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn @uinarrative Twitter @uinarrativeco

Episode 56 Show Notes: It's time to reflect! I spent this episode reflecting on my UX career and my journey to become a senior product designer. I'm grateful I didn't become a senior designer earlier because I wouldn't have been truly ready. There are a lot of situations I needed to experience beforehand, and I'm still learning and growing. I also go over several tips to become a senior designer or researcher. Take a listen and tag @uinarrativeco on Twitter with your questions or comments. Mentions: Cyd Harrell - Getting to Senior in UX UX Salary Talk - podcast episode T-Shaped Skills - podcast episode ------ Today's sponsor, Google Design, produces original content like articles and videos to show how Google's products come to life—and to inspire designers everywhere. Head over to goo.gle/UINarrative to get inspired. Podcast Info: Transcripts available on episode web page. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Soundcloud, Stitcher, and Spotify. RSS feed: https://uinarrative.libsyn.com/rss Don't forget to subscribe and leave a review if you like what you hear. Announcements: Join the UI Narrative Email Club to be the first to hear about weekly blog posts and exclusive podcast recaps. You can sign up at uinarrative.com/emailclub. Want to become a Product Designer? Or need a portfolio review? Learn more at uinarrative.com/workwithme. Let's Connect: Have a question for me? Email me at hello@uinarrative.com. Let's connect! #uinarrative Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn @uinarrative Twitter @uinarrativeco

Episode 54 Show Notes: A sense of delight, a satisfying experience, a sense of belonging, predictability, and a sense of hope are all feelings that people experience in their daily life. Emotion is a part of being human which can be natural or manufactured. At times, it's a challenging experience to design for, but with practice and knowledge, you can make products that make people's lives easier and better. In this episode, James Castro-Griffiths talks about his experience designing for emotion. We dissect the psychological aspects that play a massive role in human decision-making. We also share our personal stories about various products that have affected us positively and negatively. Take a listen and tag @uinarrativeco on Twitter with your questions or comments. Mentions: James Articles on Medium Why Design For Emotion How to Research Emotion How to Establish Emotion James LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-castro-griffiths-1a3b6456/ Emotional Design - Interaction Design https://www.interaction-design.org/literature/topics/emotional-design Podcast Episode: UX Salary Talk https://www.uinarrative.com/podcast-posts/episode38 ------ Today's sponsor, Google Design, produces original content like articles and videos to show how Google's products come to life—and to inspire designers everywhere. Head over to goo.gle/UINarrative to get inspired. Podcast Info: Transcripts available on episode web page. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Soundcloud, Stitcher, and Spotify. RSS feed: https://uinarrative.libsyn.com/rss Don't forget to subscribe and leave a review if you like what you hear. Announcements: Join the UI Narrative Email Club to be the first to hear about weekly blog posts and exclusive podcast recaps. You can sign up at uinarrative.com/emailclub. Want to become a Product Designer? Or need a portfolio review? Learn more at uinarrative.com/workwithme. Let's Connect: Have a question for me? Email me at hello@uinarrative.com. Let's connect! #uinarrative Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn @uinarrative Twitter @uinarrativeco

Episode 52 Show Notes: Preparing for a job interview can be one of the most stressful parts of the job search. There's a lot of pressure to make a great first impression and convey that you are the perfect fit for the job. The key to any interview is to prepare in advance by writing down your answers to questions. Are you prepared for your interview? Do you know what you're going to say? Have you even practiced? In this episode, I'm narrating a parody UX mock interview with two characters. Yemi 🇳🇬 is interviewing Ade 🤠 for a UX Designer position at Wayne Enterprises. As we progress through the interview, I call out the faults in Ade's answers to questions. This episode is much wackier than usual since I'm doing a Nigerian and Country accent. 🤣 I will probably never do this again, so enjoy this special edition podcast episode. Take a listen and tag @uinarrativeco on Twitter with your questions or comments. Mentions: The Essential UX Interview Questions https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vu3xcQm7cEo UI/UX Design Job Questions and Answers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2OzTi0iUMlE ------ Today's sponsor, Google Design, produces original content like articles and videos to show how Google's products come to life—and to inspire designers everywhere. Head over to goo.gle/UINarrative to get inspired. Podcast Info: Transcripts available on episode web page. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Soundcloud, Stitcher, and Spotify. RSS feed: https://uinarrative.libsyn.com/rss Don't forget to subscribe and leave a review if you like what you hear. Announcements: Join the UI Narrative Email Club to be the first to hear about weekly blog posts and exclusive podcast recaps. You can sign up at uinarrative.com/emailclub. Want to become a Product Designer? Or need a portfolio review? Learn more at uinarrative.com/workwithme. Let's Connect: Have a question for me? Email me at hello@uinarrative.com. Let's connect! #uinarrative Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn @uinarrative Twitter @uinarrativeco

Episode 50 Show Notes: We've made it to the 50th episode of the UI Narrative podcast!!!! 🎉 I started this out as a hobby, and now I've made it a business. I will forever be thankful for you all listening and supporting my niche podcast. It means so much... truly. The moments that have brought me the most joy on this podcast are connecting with people worldwide. From different countries, backgrounds, and hearing their stories of getting into UX is hugely inspiring. I had to do something special for the 50th episode, so I brought listeners, like you, onto the show for a Q&A episode. I had a lot of fun talking with you all and answering your questions. Take a listen and tag @uinarrativeco on Twitter with your questions or comments. Mentions: Mobbin https://mobbin.design/browse/ios/apps Land-book https://land-book.com Apple Human Interface Guidelines https://developer.apple.com/design/human-interface-guidelines/ Material Design https://material.io How To Improve Your Design and Research Portfolios https://www.uinarrative.com/podcast-posts/episode44 The UX Designer Salary Talk https://www.uinarrative.com/podcast-posts/episode38 How to Land a Product (UI/UX) Designer Job https://www.uinarrative.com/podcast-posts/episode34 ------ Today's sponsor, Google Design, produces original content like articles and videos to show how Google's products come to life—and to inspire designers everywhere. Head over to goo.gle/UINarrative to get inspired. Podcast Info: Transcripts available on episode web page. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Soundcloud, Stitcher, and Spotify. RSS feed: https://uinarrative.libsyn.com/rss Don't forget to subscribe and leave a review if you like what you hear. Announcements: Join the UI Narrative Email Club to be the first to hear about weekly blog posts and exclusive podcast recaps. You can sign up at uinarrative.com/emailclub. Want to become a Product Designer? Or need a portfolio review? Learn more at uinarrative.com/workwithme. Let's Connect: Have a question for me? Email me at hello@uinarrative.com. Let's connect! #uinarrative Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn @uinarrative Twitter @uinarrativeco

Episode 48 Show Notes: I've talked a lot on the podcast about how crucial it is to become a multitalented UXer to stand out amongst the competition. A way to do that is to have T-shaped skills. T-shaped skills mean having deep expertise in one particular area but also broad experience across the field. As an engineer turned designer, Donald Burlock shares in this episode the skills he's gained over the years that help organizations understand the value of the design process. Take a listen and tag @uinarrativeco on Twitter with your questions or comments. Mentions: Book: Superhuman by Design Website - Include a Post-it Note highlighter Superhumanbydesign.com - Amazon & Kindle @MrBurlock Instagram & Twitter @Superhumanbydesign Instagram I, X, and T-Shaped Designers: What's the Difference? UX Terms Glossary - Strings article The Different Types of UX, UI, and Product Designer Roles - Podcast ep 28 ------ Today's sponsor, Google Design, produces original content like articles and videos to show how Google's products come to life—and to inspire designers everywhere. Head over to goo.gle/UINarrative to get inspired. Podcast Info: Transcripts available on episode web page. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Soundcloud, Stitcher, and Spotify. RSS feed: https://uinarrative.libsyn.com/rss Don't forget to subscribe and leave a review if you like what you hear. Announcements: Join the UI Narrative Email Club to be the first to hear about weekly blog posts and exclusive podcast recaps. You can sign up at uinarrative.com/emailclub. Want to become a Product Designer? Or need a portfolio review? Learn more at uinarrative.com/workwithme. Let's Connect: Have a question for me? Email me at hello@uinarrative.com. Let's connect! #uinarrative Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn @uinarrative Twitter @uinarrativeco

Episode 46 Show Notes: You can indeed start your career in UX with no college degree, but how is it possible to land a job afterward? In this episode, Jeremy Gaston and I discuss his journey to becoming a UX Designer with no college degree. He stresses the importance of understanding the value you bring to your clients and finding education tailored to your learning needs. We also break down methods he used to grow and how he learned to excel with imposter syndrome. Take a listen and tag @uinarrativeco on Twitter with your questions or comments. Mentions: Jeremy Gaston's social Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jrmygstn/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/jrmygstn Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jrmygstn Uballn app: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/uballn-organize-play-earn/id1457252158 ------ Today's sponsor, Google Design, produces original content like articles and videos to show how Google's products come to life—and to inspire designers everywhere. Head over to goo.gle/UINarrative to get inspired. Podcast Info: Transcripts available on episode web page. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Soundcloud, Stitcher, and Spotify. RSS feed: https://uinarrative.libsyn.com/rss Don't forget to subscribe and leave a review if you like what you hear. Announcements: Join the UI Narrative Email Club to be the first to hear about weekly blog posts and exclusive podcast recaps. You can sign up at uinarrative.com/emailclub. Want to become a Product Designer? Or need a portfolio review? Learn more at uinarrative.com/workwithme. Let's Connect: Have a question for me? Email me at hello@uinarrative.com. Let's connect! #uinarrative Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn @uinarrative Twitter @uinarrativeco

Episode 44 Show Notes: I recently reviewed over 200 portfolios for a Junior Product Designer position we needed to fill. As I was going through these portfolios, I noticed a common problem. A lot of candidates don't know what to put in their portfolio or how to keep a hiring manager on their portfolio for at least 2 minutes. This episode will be me ranting and providing guidance for anyone who is a designer or researcher with a portfolio. After reviewing these portfolios, I understood what most junior Uxers portfolios look like after finishing an online boot camp or college degree. I hate to break this to you, but they suck, and nobody's told you this. I even hate having to say it out loud because it makes me the bad guy. 😩 I'm not going to be judging you this whole episode; instead, I will be giving you clear steps on why it sucks and how you can make it better because I want you to land the interview. Take a listen and tag @uinarrativeco on Twitter with your questions or comments. Mentions: Website Building Tools: Squarespace www.squarespace.com Webflow https://webflow.com Wix https://www.wix.com Elementor for Wordpress https://elementor.com Mentor Resources: ADPList.org Designed.org Rookieup.com And of course you can always chat with me at uinarrative.com/workwithme or email me at hello@uinarrative.com ------ Today's sponsor, Google Design, produces original content like articles and videos to show how Google's products come to life—and to inspire designers everywhere. Head over to goo.gle/UINarrative to get inspired. Podcast Info: Transcripts available on episode web page. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Soundcloud, Stitcher, and Spotify. RSS feed: https://uinarrative.libsyn.com/rss Don't forget to subscribe and leave a review if you like what you hear. Announcements: Join the UI Narrative Email Club to be the first to hear about weekly blog posts and exclusive podcast recaps. You can sign up at uinarrative.com/emailclub. Want to become a Product Designer? Or need a portfolio review? Learn more at uinarrative.com/workwithme. Let's Connect: Have a question for me? Email me at hello@uinarrative.com. Let's connect! #uinarrative Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn @uinarrative Twitter @uinarrativeco

It's 2021, and Black designers only make up 3% of the workforce at major tech companies. It's disheartening to think about, but you have the power to make a difference, especially if you're a white creative leader, educator, or designer. Representation is crucial to attracting people of color to the tech industry and ensuring an inclusive environment, and retaining them as employees. In this episode, Mitzi Okou and I discuss the importance of empowering black designers in your workplace and community. Take a listen and learn how Mitzi is raising awareness for the lack of diversity in most companies. Where are the black designers (WATBD) https://www.watbd.org WATBD 2021 Conference https://www.watbd.org/2021 Mitzi Okou's Instagram @ok_mitz https://www.instagram.com/ok_mitz Mitzi Okou's LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/mitzi-okou-30918b144/ Mitzi Okou's Website https://www.mitziokou.com/ Podcast Info: Transcripts available on episode web page. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Soundcloud, Stitcher, and Spotify. RSS feed: https://uinarrative.libsyn.com/rss Don't forget to subscribe and leave a review if you like what you hear. Announcements: Join the UI Narrative Email Club to be the first to hear about weekly blog posts and exclusive podcast recaps. You can sign up at uinarrative.com/emailclub. Want to become a Product Designer? Or need a portfolio review? Learn more at uinarrative.com/workwithme. Let's Connect: Have a question for me? Email me at hello@uinarrative.com. Let's connect! #uinarrative Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn @uinarrative Twitter @uinarrativeco

Episode 40 Show Notes: Are you as human-centered as you think you are? In this episode, Vivianne challenges us to push past the status quo of what it means to be human-centered. She has an 8+ years background in psychology and user research and is passionate about helping researchers and designers build more holistically human-centered leaders through community, coaching, & courses. She brings UX professionals together who want to move beyond the jargon and cliches of our industry so that we can create an equitable, inclusive, and more humanity-centered future. Mentions: Hmnty Cntrd https://hmntycntrd.com Vivianne's Twitter https://twitter.com/vcastillo630 Vivianne's LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/vccastillo/ Podcast Info: Transcripts available on episode web page. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Soundcloud, Stitcher, and Spotify. RSS feed: https://uinarrative.libsyn.com/rss Don't forget to subscribe and leave a review if you like what you hear. Announcements: Join the UI Narrative Email Club to be the first to hear about weekly blog posts and exclusive podcast recaps. You can sign up at uinarrative.com/emailclub. Want to improve your UI design? Learn more at uinarrative.com/gradingsystem. Let's Connect: Have a question for me? Email me at hello@uinarrative.com. Let's connect! #uinarrative Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn @uinarrative Twitter @uinarrativeco