Anna Schmunk

YOU need me doing YOUR #userresearch So things moved quickly after I hung up on Friday. That second stage interview? The company went with someone else after extensive internal debate. Gotta respect that, and I'm grateful for the time they gave me. I also made progress with another role, which would have been great. However, I had to withdraw from the process. Why? The hybrid offering couldn't be made to work without driving hundreds of miles a week. Is this a problem? Depends on your perspective. If you're hiring, then it's a problem. YOU nearly missed out on the chance to have me doing YOUR user research. I AM this good at what I do. Find out before someone else snaps me up. Your users will thank you for it. https://lnkd.in/eJQM5nMG #userresearcher #uxresearcher #userresearch #uxresearch #uxrunningpunk #opentowork

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The Jobs to Be Done framework is crucial for product designers, especially as the line between product managers and designers continues to blur. This article can revolutionize how we approach problem discovery and opportunity identification, offering deeper insights during the design phase. It's a must-read for anyone looking to elevate their design process and deliver exceptional results.

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A word of caution for designers thinking about a move to product management. I know, I know: design can be frustrating. Product managers seem to have more influence. It is hard to care, and have a PM dash those hopes. It feels better to "join 'em" instead of to keep struggling. The hype seems to be around product. And yes, design jobs at companies that seem to value design are in super high demand, whereas product manager jobs seem to crop up everywhere (though it is still tough). But also consider this: you have to consider where things are going. Companies are rethinking what constitutes a product meaning we may see far fewer PMs. The hype of "multi product" and "turn everything into a product" is fading. It is very hard to argue that every little pod of engineers and designers NEED a PM, when these things aren't even products. A great designer with an engineering partner can effectively run most product areas. Slowly slowly, and with fits and starts, we are seeing companies mature their approach to product, which has the net effect (in many ways) of elevating design. In many companies, PMs are becoming more of a "business role", which means you can kiss the creativity you enjoy, and the ability to "make" goodbye. Advancing in product within a company can be highly competitive (job advancement is harder). A lot of PMs realize how brutal the advancement schemes are. Yes, some companies appreciate the idea of a highly skilled individual contributor, but there is a lot of pressure to move up solely through management roles. Which is all to say that the grass may seem greener right now, but it might not stay that way. We *need* skilled and experienced designers.

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Happy Wednesday!! Here are 3 things that recently caught my eye recently: 1) Defining Job Levels If you're a manager who isn't sure how to come up with job levels, expectations, a path to progression for your team then don't want to miss this article about how Intercom redesigned its job levels for product designers. And if you're a team member trying to figure out your career path then this will be helpful for you too :)  https://lnkd.in/gz4rFeNd 2) Design Systems and AI Your design team won't be able to leverage AI unless you have a solid foundation, including a design system, in place. In this article, Brad Frost explains how his team has been able to leverage AI in product design including how they recently showed off how LLMs can generate and translate component code.  https://lnkd.in/gkT5dmZs 3) Always be Open To Work Bonnie Dilber is a recruiter lead at Zapier and I stumbled upon a great LinkedIn post she did about why you should always be open to work. Regardless of the state of the job market this is 100% a good idea. https://lnkd.in/gCqfcC87 ⭐️These were also in newsletter on Monday! So if you want to get my newsletter then just head to https://lnkd.in/ggfyb7CM #uxresearch #uxdesign #uxresearcher #productdesign #uxdesigner #contentstrategy #productmanagement #prodmgmt #techladies #techjobs #uxjobs #uxcareers #designsystem

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Product leaders, when you’ve got a strong UX partner in place, you’re able to focus on the things your business needs most from you. — Hi, I’m Erin. Follow me for user experience tips and insights from my 20 years as a UX designer and reach out to me if you have questions about how Slide UX can help you with your project. 🤓👋

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✨ It's not about the artifact, it's about the insight. ✨ Heidi Trost shares her experience with personas that made an impact. 📝 Instead of complex deliverables, she focused on capturing core insights in a few simple phrases in an infographic. These insights tied behaviors to business goals – and that’s what resonated. 📊 It wasn’t about how it looked, but how well it communicated across the team. 🌟 #UXResearch #BusinessGoals #EffectiveCommunication

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My recent analysis of UX research job descriptions uncovered some interesting findings about work location, including: 1) About 50% of UXR job postings are remote. 2) There were some hiring hotspots in areas you might not expect, like IL, TX, and MO. It will be interesting to see how these findings change over time. Each of these points is a snapshot in time, capturing hiring from late 2023-> early 2024. The full article contains detailed findings: https://lnkd.in/efiTZPDZ

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I liked this observation from Linn Vizard's latest newsletter: "At the object and artefact layers, designers have tangible outputs of their work to point to. Service designers find it much harder to point at something tangible and visible." The outcomes of service design sound a lot like the outcomes of business leadership. (CX and e2e service improvement, backstage operations, org structure, the way people think and behave). Where is the chorus of people asking business leaders to "show their value," as so many service designers are asked to do? Oh right! that chorus is called the shareholders. 🙃 So why can't service designers' value be measured against revenue growth, (as we already do for any business leader working towards the same outcomes) and be done with it? The question of measuring the impact of design is such a common topic of discussion in The Circle.. it comes up pretty much every time we meet. ( cc Marc Fonteijn ) #servicedesign #outcomesoveroutputs #metrics #okrs

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According to the International Consumer Protection and Enforcement Network (ICPEN), 76% of global sites and apps employ at least one dark pattern, with 67% utilizing multiple deceptive strategies. I understand that, at a company level, the pressure to deliver quick results can sometimes lead to the unintentional introduction of dark patterns in product design. While these tactics might achieve short-term goals, they often make technology stressful and challenging for users. This goes against the very purpose of technology, which is to simplify and enhance the user experience. https://lnkd.in/gWQAGN-9

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📣 Come. Off. Mute. 📣 Speaking out loud in an online setting can be scary, but it's necessary for everyone’s growth and success. Most of all, yours. As a UX people leader, I am frequently part of many team meetings to make decisions or review work. I often know the least about what the state of the project is, or how decisions were made up to that point. I have to depend on knowledge of the people on my team. Many times after the meeting, a team mate will give me their perspective, history or insight that they didn’t share in the larger meeting that would have made all the difference in decisions that were made, and my feedback for the project. Mostly this happens for reasons based in fear and trust. The fear of being wrong, the fear of potentially getting someone else into trouble or the fear of not being supported. Those settings can be intimidating!  My feedback and coaching when this happens is always the same: “Be brave, come off mute. If you see something that you know better or can help, say something.” As a designer who champions the iterative process of making things, we should approach our communications the same way. The first one will be rough, but putting things out there is the only way to learn and be thoughtful in what we put into the world.  I’m taking my own advice to “come off mute” here on LinkedIn to share more about my experience: 📦Working in design in a global, customer-centric company like Amazon, and creative careers in general 👨🏽‍💻Being a minority working in organizations where design is also a minority 🤹🏽How to thrive as a people leader, or working with people leaders 💪🏽Lessons learned attempting to do product development

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Good reminder. What cultural & process norms do you suggest to help cultivate shared understanding?

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If I were to start a UX team at a small company (again)—now that I’ve worked at Fortune 50 companies—I’d do one thing very different. I’d match the job titles and role criteria I’ve seen large companies use. Calling a player/coach with 2 direct reports a “Director” or “VP” or an IC designer with 2-3 years experience capable of being the solo designer a project a “senior” is doing those people and the company a disservice. You might not need a Lead, Principal, Director, or VP yet. That’s ok. But being clear on what level person you need AND the criteria/experience that justifies someone at that level (and the corresponding pay) is crucial as companies scale and as individuals move on to other companies. An elevated title isn’t a “benefit”. It can actually be a major setback. To both companies and individuals. A “Director” at a Fortune 50 company shouldn’t have different experience criteria than a startup. If you are a startup that is hiring their first designer or design leader and doesn’t know how to hire for the appropriate role, reach out. I can help. Don’t make the same mistake. #Hiring #OrgDesign #UX

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📻 New podcast episode alert: Mastering Intentional Prioritization for Complex Organizations 🔊 We all say we have our priorities straight right? But if we don't prioritize at all or without intention -- how can that be true? In this episode of UX Leadership by Design, host I speak with Harry Max, author of the book "Managing Priorities: How to Create Better Plans and Make Smarter Decisions". The discussion centers around the importance of intentional prioritization, particularly in complex organizational settings. Harry explains that while many people think they are good at prioritizing, most struggle when faced with dynamic and adaptive environments. He introduces his DEGAP process model (Decide, Engage, Gather, Arrange, Prioritize), which offers a structured approach to prioritization, ensuring that decisions are made based on the best possible options. The conversation also touches on the challenges of gaining team and organizational alignment and the significance of making prioritization a deliberate and strategic activity. !20% Discount Code! Purchase Harry's book "Managing Priorities: How to Create Better Plans and Make Smarter Decisions". Use Code "UXLBD" during checkout at: https://lnkd.in/dzVjGmqH Episode Takeaways: Prioritization Needs Intentionality: Successful prioritization requires a structured approach, especially in complex organizational settings. Importance of Strategic Alignment: Aligning teams and gaining executive support are crucial for the success of any prioritization effort. Recognizing the Need to Prioritize: The first step is deciding whether prioritization is necessary in a given situation, considering the potential benefits and risks. Prioritization as a Skill: While people may be good at prioritization in simple environments, complex settings require more refined methods and tools. Avoiding Pitfalls: Without intentional prioritization, organizations risk making decisions that do not align with their strategic goals, leading to inefficiencies. Building Consensus: Engaging all relevant stakeholders in the prioritization process ensures that the outcomes are understood and supported across the organization. ____________________________________ Watch on YouTube: https://lnkd.in/d_WmUKyD UX Leadership by Design Podcast: https://lnkd.in/dEgPJpUn Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://lnkd.in/df_5Rxgv Listen on Spotify: https://lnkd.in/dydB4CTH #Prioritization, #Leadership, #TeamAlignment, #OrganizationalSuccess, #UXLeadership, #BusinessStrategy, #DecisionMaking, #ComplexEnvironments, #ExecutiveAlignment, #PrioritizationProcess,

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Here are three UX principles that I've used successfully in the past, particularly with teams that may not understand where UX fits into the process.

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It's so true that many UX teams are stretched thin, often working solo on more projects than they can handle. 💻 I really like the idea of focusing on being experience evangelists rather than just designers—it’s all about creating a bigger impact with limited resources. 💡Building a UX community within an organization is a brilliant way to spread best practices and advocate for user-centric decisions! 🙌 #UXLeadership #CustomerExperience #DesignCommunity #UX https://lnkd.in/eUNH_zfd

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When it comes to UX content, are you ever tempted to just "write your own"? You're not alone, but maybe this article by Aprill Jones, Associate Content Director at CapTech, will convince you to call on a professional. (I sure hope so.) #captech #uxwriting

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Every senior designer out there should have strong skills in all of these, with potentially #8 as the only exception. I've worked in many roles where I was a UXer of 1, so had little opportunity to lead others except in leading my design with stakeholders. A good leader can do all of the things a good designer can do AND can strategize a way forward that excites others to follow. 8 Steps to Become a Team Leader in UX Design

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