Career

Pros and Cons of Freelancing: A Brutally Honest Guide

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Nov 4, 2024

Pros and Cons of Freelancing: A Brutally Honest Guide

Thinking about going freelance? Here are the pros, cons, and a 10-point checklist to see if you’re ready to make the leap.

Freelancing 101: Vetting Clients & Knowing When to Walk Away

Christopher Nguyen

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Oct 21, 2024

Freelancing 101: Vetting Clients & Knowing When to Walk Away

Tired of nightmare clients? Here’s how to know when it’s time to cut ties, plus 5 direct ways to fire a client that’s holding you back.

UX Manager vs UX Leader: It’s More Than Just a Title

Christopher Nguyen

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Oct 14, 2024

UX Manager vs UX Leader: It’s More Than Just a Title

Being a UX manager isn’t just about the title. Learn how to truly lead your team by recognising contributions, fostering growth, and building trust with every decision.

Culture

Christopher Nguyen

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Oct 7, 2024

10 Ways UX Managers Lose Credibility

As a UX manager, your credibility is everything. Avoid these 10 mistakes that will make your team lose trust in you.

Culture

Grow Your Design Career With The Right Questions—Career How Might We

Christopher Nguyen

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Sep 23, 2024

Grow Your Design Career With The Right Questions—Career How Might We

Uncover the keys to real growth by asking deeper questions about your career. This step-by-step guide helps you align your goals with your values and aspirations.

Frameworks

Why Designers, Copywriters, and Tech Workers Need to Read Fiction

Christopher Nguyen

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Sep 16, 2024

Why Designers, Copywriters, and Tech Workers Need to Read Fiction

Stop limiting yourself to non-fiction. Fiction isn’t just escapism; it’s a tool for innovation, creativity, and a better state of mind. Dive into the benefits backed by science.

How to Push Back on Stakeholders and Win (Real Examples)

Christopher Nguyen

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Sep 9, 2024

How to Push Back on Stakeholders and Win (Real Examples)

Not pushing back on stakeholders can lead to failed projects and missed opportunities. Learn how to speak up, advocate for your designs, and own your expertise.

Culture

Humility in UX: The Key to Unlocking Career Growth

Christopher Nguyen

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Sep 2, 2024

Humility in UX: The Key to Unlocking Career Growth

Explore the role of humility in UX career growth. From battling ego to embracing new perspectives, find practical tips to enhance your skills and advance your UX career.

How UX Managers Can Make A Powerful Impact (Real Examples)

Christopher Nguyen

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Aug 26, 2024

How UX Managers Can Make A Powerful Impact (Real Examples)

Discover actionable design leadership tips for managers, including pushing your team, leading by example, and giving them a voice. Learn from real-life experiences to make a powerful impact.

Culture

How To Standout As A Designer: Unfair Advantage Map

Christopher Nguyen

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Aug 19, 2024

How To Standout As A Designer: Unfair Advantage Map

In a world stacked against you, your unfair advantage is your ticket to success. Find out how to harness and maximize what makes you unstoppable.

Warning Signs in Job Interviews: 7 Red Flags of a Toxic Workplace

Christopher Nguyen

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Aug 12, 2024

Warning Signs in Job Interviews: 7 Red Flags of a Toxic Workplace

Uncover the critical red flags during job interviews that indicate a toxic workplace. Find out how to recognize these signs and safeguard your well-being.

How to discuss a previous Toxic Work Environment in Job Interviews (without coming across as negative)

Christopher Nguyen

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Jul 22, 2024

How to discuss a previous Toxic Work Environment in Job Interviews (without coming across as negative)

Discover effective strategies for discussing a toxic work environment during job interviews. Find out how to stay honest while maintaining professionalism.

Everything You Need to Care About When Transitioning to UX

Christopher Nguyen

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Jul 15, 2024

Everything You Need to Care About When Transitioning to UX

Ready to become a UX designer? This guide covers everything you need, from understanding users to staying updated on industry trends.

Christopher Nguyen

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Jul 8, 2024

Are You Feeling Lonely At Work?

Discover the essential tips for employers to foster meaningful relationships at work, addressing the growing issue of workplace loneliness and enhancing employee well-being and productivity.

Building a Successful Design Team: Essential Tips for New Managers

Christopher Nguyen

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Jul 1, 2024

Building a Successful Design Team: Essential Tips for New Managers

Discover 10 helpful tips for new design managers to build a successful design team. Learn how to foster collaboration, set clear goals, and create a cohesive team culture.

Culture

5 Tough Questions to Ask Before Switching Careers to UX Design

Christopher Nguyen

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Jun 24, 2024

5 Tough Questions to Ask Before Switching Careers to UX Design

Considering a career change to UX design? Explore 5 crucial questions you must ponder, from job dissatisfaction to the realities of learning and job searching.

Design Your Life: The Helpful Self-Care Tips for UX Designers

Christopher Nguyen

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Jun 17, 2024

Design Your Life: The Helpful Self-Care Tips for UX Designers

Start designing your life today. Say goodbye to burnout and boost your mental health with these self-care tips for UX designers.

Why Designers Shouldn't Take Things Personally

Christopher Nguyen

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Jun 10, 2024

Why Designers Shouldn't Take Things Personally

Enhance your personal growth and transform your tech job hunt by learning why taking nothing personally is crucial. Discover strategies for resilience in the UX industry.

Christopher Nguyen

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Jun 3, 2024

How To Stop Getting UX Job Rejections

Discover effective strategies to break through the frustrations of the UX job search and get noticed by employers.

Christopher Nguyen

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May 27, 2024

How To Be A Better UX Manager

Struggling with management? Get tips on handling the stress and pressure of being a boss.

Culture

Hiring Manager's Insights on UX Design Interviews

Christopher Nguyen

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May 13, 2024

Hiring Manager's Insights on UX Design Interviews

Gain insights from a seasoned hiring manager on what makes UX design candidates stand out in interviews. Learn valuable tips and pitfalls to avoid to ace your next interview.

Promoted

Why You Should Stop Hiring Solely Based on Qualifications

Christopher Nguyen

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May 6, 2024

Why You Should Stop Hiring Solely Based on Qualifications

Learn why the pursuit of the perfect candidate may be holding back your hiring efforts. Explore strategies for identifying and nurturing standout talent.

Christopher Nguyen

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Apr 22, 2024

Should We Be Using The Word “User”?

Dive into the conversation on tech language and its impact on user identity, from the early days of computing to the era of AI companions.

From Ancient Wisdom to Modern Interfaces: Mastering Feng Shui-Infused UX

Christopher Nguyen

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Apr 15, 2024

From Ancient Wisdom to Modern Interfaces: Mastering Feng Shui-Infused UX

Explore the delicate balance of aesthetics and functionality in digital design through the lens of Feng Shui. Learn how to harness the principles of yin and yang to create digital environments that resonate with users.

Navigating the Maze of 'Good Enough' and Self-Worth.

Christopher Nguyen

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Apr 8, 2024

Navigating the Maze of 'Good Enough' and Self-Worth.

Explore the art of embracing imperfection in the creative industry. A UX designer’s perspective on mastering the delicate balance of 'good enough' and self-worth.

Christopher Nguyen

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Apr 1, 2024

The Ultimate Brand Refresh Checklist

Discover the essential brand refresh checklist to determine if your brand needs a makeover. Explore reasons for rebranding, key elements to consider, and real-world examples from industry leaders like Apple, Nike, and Airbnb.

From Passion to Portfolio: Exploring Diverse Paths in UX Volunteering

Christopher Nguyen

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Mar 25, 2024

From Passion to Portfolio: Exploring Diverse Paths in UX Volunteering

In the dynamic world of UX design, volunteering is a strategic investment in your career and personal growth; it's about gaining—gaining experience, skills, connections, and a sense of purpose.

When It's Time to Quit: Wake-Up Calls You Can't Ignore

Christopher Nguyen

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Mar 11, 2024

When It's Time to Quit: Wake-Up Calls You Can't Ignore

Staying in a job that breeds dissatisfaction can take a toll on your mental well-being, leading to increased anxiety, decreased motivation, and even symptoms of depression.

A Roadmap To Level Up Your Soft Skills as UX Designers

Christopher Nguyen

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Jan 29, 2024

A Roadmap To Level Up Your Soft Skills as UX Designers

Discover actionable strategies to enhance your soft skills, crucial for thriving in UX design. This guide is tailored to help UX designers at various levels develop interpersonal abilities that complement their technical skills.

How Entry-Level UX Designers can Land UX Jobs With No Experience

Christopher Nguyen

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Jan 15, 2024

How Entry-Level UX Designers can Land UX Jobs With No Experience

Learn how to kickstart your UX design career with zero experience.

Christopher Nguyen

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Jan 8, 2024

Transform Your LinkedIn Profile into a Job Magnet: A UX Designer's Ultimate Guide

A strong LinkedIn presence can unlock career opportunities, enhance industry visibility, and connect you with a global network of professionals and recruiters.

Transitioning to UX Design: 5 Crucial Lessons for Career Switchers (No Experience Needed)

Christopher Nguyen

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Jan 1, 2024

Transitioning to UX Design: 5 Crucial Lessons for Career Switchers (No Experience Needed)

Discover 5 key strategies and pitfalls to avoid for a successful shift to a UX career. Ideal for beginners, this blog provides actionable tips, from creating a story-driven portfolio to understanding user psychology. Start your UX journey with confidence!

The Ultimate Guide to Networking for UX Designers

Christopher Nguyen

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Dec 25, 2023

The Ultimate Guide to Networking for UX Designers

Learn how to network effectively as a UX designer. Find easy tips and real stories to help you make great professional connections.

UX Design Job Hunt Mastery: A Comprehensive Guide

Christopher Nguyen

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Dec 11, 2023

UX Design Job Hunt Mastery: A Comprehensive Guide

Discover the key to mastering your UX job hunt with this guide. Learn effective strategies to overcome mental barriers, boost your confidence, and navigate the competitive UX job market with ease.

Your First 90 Days in a UX Design Role: A Strategic Guide

Christopher Nguyen

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Dec 3, 2023

Your First 90 Days in a UX Design Role: A Strategic Guide

Transition from UX job search to career success with my expert 90-day onboarding guide. Learn to align with managerial goals, initiate impactful projects, and build lasting professional relationships in your new UX design role.

The UX Job Crisis: Is This the End or a New Beginning?

Christopher Nguyen

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Nov 27, 2023

The UX Job Crisis: Is This the End or a New Beginning?

Explore the future of UX Design in 2024. Delve into the challenges and opportunities in UX, including AI integration, market shifts, and cross-disciplinary collaboration. Discover actionable strategies for UX designers to thrive in a rapidly changing world.

Tech

How to Maximize Your UX Career with AI's Power: A Designer’s Guide to Rule AI

Christopher Nguyen

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Nov 20, 2023

How to Maximize Your UX Career with AI's Power: A Designer’s Guide to Rule AI

UX Designers can be replaced by AI, until you know how to rule it. Discover how UX Designers can elevate AI power to level up and maximize your UX Design career.

Tech

Christopher Nguyen

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Nov 19, 2023

F*ck Meetings

UX designers could all do with fewer meetings. Period. Striking a balance by making meetings outcome-focused and efficient provides more time to focus on what truly matters for your design team.

Culture

Christopher Nguyen

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Nov 13, 2023

7 UX Lessons from a Startup's Failure

Discover 7 transformative lessons from a startup's UX design failure. Uncover practical strategies for user feedback, testing, collaborative teamwork, and more, essential for UX and Product Designers.

Christopher Nguyen

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Nov 5, 2023

Building Your Design Tribe

Establish a design tribe to foster a professional support system where individuals understand one another implicitly, making it a hub for troubleshooting, learning, and even venting.

Culture

The Art of Building Connections Between UX Designers

Christopher Nguyen

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Oct 30, 2023

The Art of Building Connections Between UX Designers

By gaining a deeper understanding of your UX design team's motivations and values, you can forge stronger connections, boost engagement, and lead with empathy and purpose.

Culture

14 Best UX Portfolio Website Builders for Junior Designers in 2024

Christopher Nguyen

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Oct 23, 2023

14 Best UX Portfolio Website Builders for Junior Designers in 2024

Explore the top UX portfolio builders for junior designers. Dive into tools like Webflow, Framer, Behance, Squarespace, UXFolio, and Notion to discover why each platform stands out in the UX design world.

Tech

Bridging Borders: Cross Cultural UX Design

Christopher Nguyen

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Oct 22, 2023

Bridging Borders: Cross Cultural UX Design

Cross-cultural UX design is more than just a design approach; it's a mindset that recognizes the beauty of diversity and leverages it to create exceptional digital experiences.

Culture

The Path to Continuous Growth in Your UX Career

Christopher Nguyen

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Oct 15, 2023

The Path to Continuous Growth in Your UX Career

Navigate your UX career with a roadmap for achieving your goals. Are you a mid-level or senior UX designer looking to keep the momentum in your career?

Culture

Navigating Your UX Career: Insights from Chris, Founder of UX Playbook

Christopher Nguyen

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Hoa Nguyen

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Oct 2, 2023

Navigating Your UX Career: Insights from Chris, Founder of UX Playbook

Christopher Nguyen, founder of UX Playbook, shares insights on UX roles, skills needed at different seniority levels, and career growth. He also outlines how beginners can evaluate good courses.

Finding Your Design Team's Intrinsic Motivations

Christopher Nguyen

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Oct 1, 2023

Finding Your Design Team's Intrinsic Motivations

As a UX manager, understanding the motivations of your creative team is essential for fostering a win-win relationship. Introducing Moving Motivators.

Culture

The Ultimate Guide to Landing UX Design Jobs

Christopher Nguyen

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Sep 25, 2023

The Ultimate Guide to Landing UX Design Jobs

Unlock the power of the 'Rule of Singular Focus' in your UI/UX job search. Dive deep into how this strategic approach can elevate your UX Designer profile, making you stand out in a competitive market.

The User Council: Increasing UX Design’s ROI

Christopher Nguyen

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Sep 4, 2023

The User Council: Increasing UX Design’s ROI

Discover how the User Council revolutionizes the way businesses approach UX Design by putting users at the center of decision-making. Learn how to implement this game-changing, user-centric strategy for better ROI and happier customers.

Culture

Power of Personal Mind Maps for UX Designers & Managers

Christopher Nguyen

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Sep 3, 2023

Power of Personal Mind Maps for UX Designers & Managers

Harness the power of personal maps to bridge the gap between teammates. By uncovering both commonalities and differences, a stronger sense of security emerges, enabling smoother collaboration.

Culture

From Stress to Success: Mastering Burnout in UX Design

Christopher Nguyen

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Aug 28, 2023

From Stress to Success: Mastering Burnout in UX Design

Embracing the reality of burnout and stress in the world of UX design is the first step towards building a resilient and successful career.

Culture

How to Overcome Constraints in Small-Budget UX Projects

Christopher Nguyen

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Aug 21, 2023

How to Overcome Constraints in Small-Budget UX Projects

Unlock the secrets to successful UX design on a budget with this in-depth guide. Discover proven strategies, affordable tools, and real-world examples to maximize quality without breaking the bank.

Beyond Labels: How Personal One-Pagers Empower Design Teams

Christopher Nguyen

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Aug 20, 2023

Beyond Labels: How Personal One-Pagers Empower Design Teams

Personal one-pagers prove to be a game-changing tool for UX/UI design teams seeking to enhance collaboration, efficiency, and team spirit.

Culture

Navigating the UX Job Market in Economic Downturn

Christopher Nguyen

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Aug 14, 2023

Navigating the UX Job Market in Economic Downturn

Dive into upskilling, authentic networking, freelancing, portfolio revamping, and self-care strategies to thrive in a competitive UI/UX job market

10 Killer UX Creative Exercises for Teams

Christopher Nguyen

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Aug 13, 2023

10 Killer UX Creative Exercises for Teams

Much like regular muscles, creative muscles must be exercised in order to grow. For UX designers, creativity is the lifeblood that fuels innovative and user-centric solutions.

Culture

How a Growth Mindset Can Transform Your UX Design Career

Christopher Nguyen

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Aug 7, 2023

How a Growth Mindset Can Transform Your UX Design Career

Why does a growth mindset matter in UX design? Learn how this mindset can help you adapt, learn, and excel in your UX career.

The Secret to Overcoming Designer's Block

Christopher Nguyen

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Aug 6, 2023

The Secret to Overcoming Designer's Block

Embrace the highs and lows, and remember that designer's block is just a temporary roadblock.

Frameworks

From Designing to Leading Teams: A UX Designer's Path to Leadership

Christopher Nguyen

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Jul 31, 2023

From Designing to Leading Teams: A UX Designer's Path to Leadership

Discover how to transition from UX Design to leadership, with insights on soft skills, decision-making, mentoring, courage, and continuous learning.

Culture

Christopher Nguyen

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Jul 25, 2023

10 Must-Read UX Design Books in 2024

Ex-Head of Design curates a list of the top 10 must-read UX design books for 2024.

Making the Leap into UX: Challenges, Opportunities, and Your Guide to Starting Out

Christopher Nguyen

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Jul 24, 2023

Making the Leap into UX: Challenges, Opportunities, and Your Guide to Starting Out

Explore the journey into the world of UX Design: Overcome challenges, seize opportunities, and personalize your path with this comprehensive guide.

7 Essential UI/UX Design Fundamentals: A Comprehensive Guide for Designers

Christopher Nguyen

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Jun 26, 2023

7 Essential UI/UX Design Fundamentals: A Comprehensive Guide for Designers

Dive into the 7 fundamental UI/UX design principles every designer should know, complete with real-world examples and applications.

Mastering the Art of Presenting a UX Case Study in Job Interviews

Christopher Nguyen

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Jun 12, 2023

Mastering the Art of Presenting a UX Case Study in Job Interviews

Learn how to present a UX case study in job interviews with practical tips and insights. From understanding the purpose of the case study to showing your passion for UX design.

Crack The Code: Essential Tips For Nailing The Whiteboard Design Challenge In UX

Christopher Nguyen

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Jun 4, 2023

Crack The Code: Essential Tips For Nailing The Whiteboard Design Challenge In UX

Whiteboard challenges can be scary, but they don't have to be! With the right preparation and mindset, they can actually be fun and exciting.

8 Best UX Design Courses in 2024 for Aspiring and Practicing UX Designers

Christopher Nguyen

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May 29, 2023

8 Best UX Design Courses in 2024 for Aspiring and Practicing UX Designers

Discover the pros, cons, and unique offerings of each UX course and find the perfect fit for your UX Design journey.

UX Career Ladder: Unlock Your Full Potential

Christopher Nguyen

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May 28, 2023

UX Career Ladder: Unlock Your Full Potential

By following these simplified steps, you can ensure a clear and structured process for implementing the UX Career Ladder, enabling designers to navigate their professional growth effectively.

Frameworks

Successful UX Design Projects: Unpacking Top 5 Industry UX Design Case Studies

Christopher Nguyen

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May 15, 2023

Successful UX Design Projects: Unpacking Top 5 Industry UX Design Case Studies

Dive into successful UX design projects from leading companies like Airbnb, Spotify, Uber, and Slack. Discover challenges faced, solutions implemented, and valuable lessons in UX design.

How To Navigate UX Design Job Interviews

Christopher Nguyen

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May 14, 2023

How To Navigate UX Design Job Interviews

Get ready to dazzle and amaze those hiring wizards with your wit, charm, and exceptional design prowess!

The UX Designer's Survival Guide: 7 Daily Struggles and Solutions

Christopher Nguyen

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May 8, 2023

The UX Designer's Survival Guide: 7 Daily Struggles and Solutions

Discover the ultimate UX Designer's Survival Guide, featuring 7 daily struggles and their effective solutions, empowering you to tackle challenges head-on and thrive in your UX career.