Table of Contents
- Introduction
- The Importance of Humility for UX Designers
- Humility to admit mistakes:
- Humility to learn from others:
- Humility to question your own work:
- Humility to seek out those better than you:
- 📌 Real-world example:
- The Significance of Curiosity for UX Designers
- Curiosity to learn new tools and technologies:
- Curiosity to listen to others:
- Curiosity to ask questions:
- Curiosity to explore new ideas:
- Curiosity to iterate repeatedly:
- Curiosity to build and test:
- 📌 Real-world example:
- The Role of Empathy in UX Design
- Empathy with your team:
- Empathy with users:
- Empathy with clients:
- Empathy with yourself:
- 📌 Real-world example:
- Additional Traits for Great UX Designers
- Adaptability:
- Communication Skills:
- Attention to Detail:
- Critical Thinking:
- Collaboration:
- The Impact of Good UX Design
- User Retention:
- Increased Conversion Rates:
- Brand Loyalty:
- Reduced Development Costs:
- Competitive Advantage:
- Final Thoughts
Do not index
Do not index
Read time: under 10 minutes
Introduction
In today's tech-savvy world, web and mobile applications are omnipresent. From the moment we wake up and check our phones to the last scroll before bed, apps designed by UX designers are woven into the fabric of our daily routine.
To foster long-term user engagement, designers must create delightful experiences and be thoughtful about their design processes.
Back in 2017, during my tenure at TINYpulse, I took some time to reflect on our hiring methodology. I set out to identify the traits I deemed crucial when interviewing potential UX and product designers.
Skills like software proficiency and the ability to communicate design decisions are fundamental, but they only scratch the surface. As the product design lead and later as the UX manager, I realized the importance of evaluating the people we bring on board and how we collectively tackle design problems.
Here are the 3 most critical traits I look for in a UX designer:
- Humility 🙏
- Curiosity 🔎
- Empathy ❤️
The Importance of Humility for UX Designers
Humility to admit mistakes:
One of the most essential traits a UX designer can possess is the humility to admit when they are wrong. The design world is ever-evolving, and no one has all the answers. A designer must be open to recognizing their errors and learning from them.
🔥 For example, if user feedback indicates that a new navigation system confuses users, a humble designer won’t take it personally but will instead see it as an opportunity to improve.
Humility to learn from others:
Another significant aspect of humility is the willingness to ask for help. Collaboration and discussions often lead to innovative solutions and can help overcome mental roadblocks. Asking questions can provide fresh insights that might not have been considered before.
A great UX designer knows that the collective intelligence of a team can yield better results than working in isolation.
Humility to question your own work:
Designers should regularly evaluate their own work.
- Why was a vertical navigation chosen over a horizontal one?
- What are the pros and cons of a hamburger menu compared to a tab bar?
Continually questioning and seeking compelling reasons behind design choices can lead to more thoughtful and effective designs. This scrutiny is essential to the user-centered design process and ensures that each decision has a solid rationale rooted in user needs and behaviors.
Humility to seek out those better than you:
There’s a Chinese proverb, "山外有山, 人外有人," which translates to "beyond mountains, there are mountains; beyond humans, there are humans." This means that no matter how skilled you are, there's always someone more knowledgeable or talented. This mindset encourages continuous learning and growth.
Great UX designers are perpetual learners, always seeking inspiration from experts and thought leaders in the field.
The proverb emphasizes that:
- There is always room for improvement, no matter how talented you are.
- Solving one problem often leads to encountering another, more complex problem.
📌 Real-world example:
Consider the case of the famed designer Dieter Rams. Despite his legendary status, Rams has always approached his work with humility, often crediting his team and collaborators for the success of his projects.
Rams' ability to continually question his work and learn from others has cemented his legacy as a design luminary.
The Significance of Curiosity for UX Designers
Curiosity to learn new tools and technologies:
Moore's Law, which states that computer processing speeds double approximately every 18 months, underlines the rapid pace of technological advancement.
As designers, staying updated with the latest tools, technologies, and trends is crucial for remaining relevant and effective. The design landscape is always in flux; new software, methods, and frameworks are constantly being developed.
A curious designer immerses themselves in this dynamic environment, attending workshops, webinars, and continuously experimenting with new tools.
Curiosity to listen to others:
Listening to feedback from mentors, colleagues, and especially users is vital. Even negative feedback can provide valuable insights that lead to improved designs. It’s important to note that user feedback isn’t always straightforward.
Often, users can’t articulate what’s wrong, but observational research and usability testing can uncover deeper insights.
Curiosity to ask questions:
Always question why things are the way they are.
Is there a better way to do something? How can we achieve it?
This continuous questioning leads to innovative design solutions that better serve users' needs.
🔥 For instance: questioning why a form requires certain information may reveal that some fields are unnecessary, thereby simplifying the user experience.
Curiosity to explore new ideas:
Exploring different ways of thinking can uncover the best solution for a given situation. Diving into various areas to gain insight and applying real-world examples to digital problems can lead to creative and effective design solutions. Cross-disciplinary curiosity can be particularly beneficial.
🔥 For example: learning about behavioral psychology can provide insights into user motivation and decision-making processes.
Curiosity to iterate repeatedly:
The iterative design process is about making continuous improvements.
How can a design be simplified, made more understandable, and easier to use?
Each iteration should improve the product incrementally. Iteration is not merely about refining aesthetics but also about enhancing functionality and usability.
Curiosity to build and test:
It's essential to not only design but also to build and test the interactions.
Something might look great on a design platform, but does it deliver a delightful user experience? Does it pass the gut test?
Rigorous testing, both in controlled and real-world settings, ensures that designs function as intended in diverse environments.
📌 Real-world example:
IDEO, one of the most influential design firms in the world, embodies the principle of curiosity. Their design process, known as Design Thinking, begins with deep empathy and curiosity — understanding users’ needs and problems before brainstorming a wide range of possible solutions.
This relentless curiosity has enabled IDEO to create groundbreaking products like Apple’s first mouse and the birth of the shopping cart.
The Role of Empathy in UX Design
Empathy with your team:
Building a rapport with team members by understanding their working styles and personality traits fosters a collaborative working environment.
🔥 For example: empathizing engineers can provide insights into technical constraints and lead to better overall product design.
A successful project often depends on how well team members communicate and understand each other’s perspectives.
Empathy with users:
Observing, listening, and learning from users is crucial. Remember that you are designing for humans, not robots.
🔥 For example: holding onto the belief, "I am not the user," helps you stay objective and focused on the users' needs rather than your assumptions or preferences.
Participant observation, usability testing, and user interviews are valuable methods to build empathy with users.
Empathy with clients:
Building long-lasting working relationships with clients involves frequent communication. Make your intentions clear from the outset and gather continuous, honest feedback through surveys and meetings. Don’t shy away from seeking negative feedback as it can lead to significant improvements.
Clients need to feel heard and valued, and their business goals must align with user-centered design strategies.
Empathy with yourself:
Balancing feedback from various sources, including data, users, and your own design intuition, is a complex but necessary part of the decision-making process.
Self-empathy involves recognizing your own limitations and mental health needs — taking breaks, seeking mentorship, and setting realistic goals.
📌 Real-world example:
Airbnb is a company that exemplifies empathy in its design process. The company’s founders famously went to stay in their customers’ homes to understand their pain points and better empathize with their experiences.
This deep understanding has allowed Airbnb to design a platform that is intuitively aligned with both hosts’ and guests’ needs.
Additional Traits for Great UX Designers
While humility, curiosity, and empathy are core traits, several other attributes can further elevate a UX designer's effectiveness and impact:
Adaptability:
The ability to quickly adapt to changing project requirements and evolving user needs is crucial.
UX designers often work in fast-paced environments where priorities can shift rapidly based on user feedback or business goals.
Communication Skills:
Effective communication is vital for UX designers. They must articulate design decisions and processes clearly to stakeholders, team members, and clients.
This includes presenting findings, rationalizing design choices, and providing constructive feedback.
Attention to Detail:
A great UX designer pays meticulous attention to detail.
This includes variables like typography, spacing, color schemes, and micro-interactions. Small elements can significantly impact the overall user experience.
Critical Thinking:
UX designers need to have strong critical thinking skills to analyze problems from multiple perspectives and devise robust solutions.
This involves not only evaluating design choices but also understanding and predicting user behavior.
Collaboration:
Designing a seamless user experience is often a team effort. Being able to collaborate effectively with other designers, developers, product managers, and stakeholders is essential.
Team players can leverage diverse skills and perspectives to create a more comprehensive design.
The Impact of Good UX Design
User Retention:
Good UX design keeps users coming back.
When users find an application intuitive and enjoyable to use, they are more likely to continue using it and recommend it to others.
Increased Conversion Rates:
Well-designed user interfaces and experiences can lead to higher conversion rates.
Streamlined processes, clear calls to action, and reduced friction points make it easier for users to complete desired actions, whether that's making a purchase, filling out a form, or signing up for a service.
Brand Loyalty:
Companies that invest in great UX design often experience increased brand loyalty.
Users appreciate the effort taken to make their interactions pleasant and efficient, fostering a positive brand association.
Reduced Development Costs:
Effective UX design can identify potential issues early in the development process, reducing costly changes later.
By focusing on user needs from the outset, designers can minimize the risk of developing features that users find irrelevant or difficult to use.
Competitive Advantage:
In a crowded marketplace, a strong UX can set a product apart from its competitors.
Exceptional UX design can be a key differentiator that attracts and retains users.
Final Thoughts
In my experience as a UX manager, I believe these traits are essential for every great UX designer. But beyond that, these characteristics shape not only great designers but also great humans. The perspective through which you view the world shapes your designs. Your attitude, mindset, willingness to learn, and attention to detail all play a significant role.
To excel in UX design is to commit to lifelong learning, personal growth, and an unwavering focus on the needs and experiences of others.
I hope this provides a clear perspective on what potential UX hiring managers look for in candidates.
Peace ✌️
️
Whenever you're ready, there are 4 ways I can help you:
1. Junior Designer Bundle: Transition into UX with my playbooks: breaking down portfolios, applications, and UX frameworks, to build a solid career foundation. Craft an unforgettable portfolio & get hired.
2. Senior Designer Bundle: Become a design leader with systems to build healthier, happier teams and grow you and others meaningfully. Join 500+ aspiring leaders.
3. UX Portfolio Critique: Get a 20-minute video of brutally honest feedback, a checklist of things to fix, in less than 48 hours. Get a personalised portfolio critique here.
4. Job Sprint Course: Stand out in an unpredictable job market by building a memorable personal brand and a killer job search strategy. Get hired in UX with Job Sprint.
