Ben Wiedmaier

The UX job market in 2024 is a bit of a mixed bag. There are challenges due to recent economic trends, but also reasons for optimism. ✨ Job openings are down significantly from their peak in 2022, with UX being especially impacted. Competition for jobs is high, with many qualified candidates out of work. Here are some tips to help you carve your own career path in UX design given the current competitive job market: 🔹 Master foundational UX design principles 🔹 Specialize in a niche area of UX 🔹 Explore freelance and contract work 🔹 Contribute to open-source projects 🔹 Focus on transferable skills and consider roles in other industries ✨ Bonus tip: Use Lyssna to gather user feedback and validate your designs. Perfect for updating your portfolio! 🔍 #UXDesign #CareerTips #FreelanceDesign #DesignCommunity #Lyssna #usabilitytesting #userexperience #usertesting #userresearch #designthinking #ux

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As summer internships kick off, we're excited to share Thomas Stokes's latest article -- packed with practical tips for early-career UX researchers to excel in their new roles. In it, he covers 5 key areas to navigate your early internship experience, including: • Mindset: Be a learner, take initiative, and own your work! • Relationships: Build strong connections with your manager, team, and fellow interns. • Taking Notes: Develop a system to capture all that valuable info! ️• Communication: Learn to effectively explain UX research to non-UXRs. • Feedback: Actively seek and gracefully receive feedback for growth. Read the full article: https://lnkd.in/e6tNvknS

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⏰ Ready to elevate your #UX game? We’re about to drop something special for all the UX #pros, #beginners, & #enthusiasts out there. Sign up to receive the first edition on Nov 07! https://shorturl.at/UUC04 #monthlynewsletter #uxlinks #newsletter #design #uxdesign #productdesign #bestpractices #trends #interestingtopics

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When we surveyed UX professionals and hiring managers for our new State of UX Hiring 2024 report about portfolios an overwhelming majority said that they are an important part of the job application. 📊 With 90% of hiring managers and 74% of UX professionals in agreement, are portfolios a necessity when applying for jobs in UX? 🤔⁠ ⁠ You can find these insights and more in our new FREE State of UX Hiring 2024 report here: https://lnkd.in/ek2zss-V ⁠ #portfolio #uxportfolio #ux #uxjobs

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As a UX researchers, we often talk with clients about the nuanced differences and distinctions between UX research and market research, and help them determine which suits their needs best. While there are important differences in approach and outcomes between these two broad types of research, they aren't mutually exclusive. When done well, by collaborative pros, they complement each other. We explored some of nuances between UX and market research in this recent blog post. Take a look and let us know what your experiences have been with this distinction! https://buff.ly/3VWJK5Z

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Research all about UX research?!?! Oh, we're so in. Thanks to User Interviews for putting together a very cool 2024 State of User Research Report. Check out their survey data and analysis here: https://lnkd.in/e5i8pxW4 #ux #uxresearch

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Our Strategic Approaches to UX Research Intensive led by Jared Spool is this June 3 – 7, 2024! No more guessing. No more betting. Eliminate risk with the magic of Strategic UX Research. Read all about the intensive: https://cstu.io/7cdfbe

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Drive user experience improvements using design metrics. We love Jenny Chang’s article on guiding designers to establish meaningful, data-informed metrics for their work. She emphasizes using metrics to make design decisions that improve user experience and align with business goals. By setting clear, measurable design metrics, teams can track progress, identify areas for improvement, and demonstrate the impact of design on overall product success. Check out her article: https://lnkd.in/grXbnpGz Here are her big ideas: →  Set metrics that focus on real user impact, not just looks →  Use failures as lessons to improve design →  Prioritize metrics that reflect user experience and satisfaction →  Regularly update designs based on what the data shows →  Work with teams to align design metrics with business goals We’re digging the ideas. So we expanded on them and put them in a table. Helio helps teams set effective UX metrics by gathering quick user feedback and tracking user-centered data like engagement and satisfaction. It also enables iterative testing and collaborative data sharing, making refining designs and aligning them with business goals easier. #uxresearch #productdiscovery #marketresearch #productdesign

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This week, we're revisiting the model that Sean Whitney used to forecast Figma's self-serve business from <$1M to $200M+ ARR. It maps out every business driver, from top-of-funnel traffic to new licenses to retention cohorts. It highlights the sensitivities that drove beats or misses at the bottom line, helping the team steer outcomes for the whole business. Get the full breakdown, line-by-line: https://lnkd.in/grGmnKYu

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One of our most requested topics-- how do I get more interviews, and what happens when I land one! How do I get ready? What questions do I prepare for? What are technical interviews and are they intimidating? Join us for an amazing, free webinar to cover all of your questions. https://lnkd.in/e9DxFVe6

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Should User Research be integrated into a shared insights function? "There's a compelling argument for moving UX Research out of the traditional confines of the UX department and product organization, integrating it into a broader insights function," said Janelle Estes, who held the position of Chief Insights Officer at UserTesting and now serves as a lecturer at Bentley University. A broader insights function could: 👉 Enhance collaboration with other insights teams 👉 Consolidate and leverage data across functions 👉 Reduce "turf wars" between market research and User Research over responsibilities and domains 👉 Better integrate customer understanding 👉 Increase organizational engagement with customer insights 👉 Improve effective customer interactions 🎤 What do you think? Tell us below. Read more from Janelle at the link in the comments. ⬇️ #insights #insightsfunction #userresearch #uxr #uxresearch #ux #research #reseracher #researchops #reops #researchoperations

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Check out this insightful article, "Engaging Hard to Reach Populations: Three Principles Gleaned from UX Research with Rural Communities," by Ipsos UX’s Danielle G. and Jessica Arnold, MA. This piece explores the crucial role of UX research in reaching often-overlooked populations, particularly those in rural areas. Danielle and Jessica offer practical guidance, emphasizing the importance of flexibility, creativity, and community engagement in designing inclusive and accessible products and services. They use rural communities as a case study to illustrate the need for tailored approaches when working with hard-to-reach populations. A must-read for anyone looking to create products and services that truly cater to everyone. #ux #userexperience #uxresearch #userresearch #accessibility #inclusivity #ipsos

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A recent article from Greenbook highlights ways to expand on the market research process by utilizing User Experience Research (UXR). The article emphasizes how use of Contextual Inquiry, Usability Testing, and Card Sorting/Tree Testing can help market researchers uncover deeper behavioral insights and identify unmet needs. Check out the full article and let us know your thoughts on these methodologies- https://lnkd.in/gJX6AWX9 #PrecisionSample #greenbook #uxr #mrx #marketresearch #usabilitytesting #insights #dataquality

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If you're a Designer or Design Leader, you should sign up to receive the upcoming Ecosystem Leadership Report: Design 2024 from friend and colleague Diego Núñez. I had the opportunity to sit down with Diego a few weeks ago to provide insights and views on what the future holds and why it is important for Designers to live life creatively. The report delivers an in-depth exploration of the transformative trends in design leadership from top industry leaders and voices sharing actionable strategies on innovation, team dynamics, and leadership in the digital age. Link to sign up to receive this report is in the comments section below! #design #designleadership #trends #creative #ux #product #business #impact #insights #ai #ethicaldesign #collaboration #ecosystems #report

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Over the last couple years, UXR and Research Ops have been going through some tough changes. Research teams are still striving to meet internal demand while figuring out the best way to structure ReOps or program management. If you're building Re Ops and navigating internal demand, check out our new guide by Isabel Goldin. It’s got a ton of detail, which is kind of our thing 🔎 https://lnkd.in/g6szRGws

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