Table Of ContentGET STARTED IN UX
GET STARTED IN UX
The complete guide to launching a career in user experience design
Matthew Magain & Luke Chambers
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Get Started in UX
Published by UX Mastery, PO Box 353, Northcote, Victoria, 3070
Australia
Authors: Luke Chambers & Matthew Magain
Editor: Kimberley Magain, kimberleymagain.com
Cover design: Luke Chambers
Illustrations: Matthew Magain
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GET STARTED IN UX
Your present circumstances don't determine where you can go;
they merely determine where you start. - Nido Qubein
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Get Started in UX
CONTENTS
Introduction
Who is this Book for?
What is UX?
Self-assessment
Step 1: Get Educated
Read, watch and listen to understand how UX designers do
what they do.
Step 2: Get The Right Tools
Tools that suit your purpose, budget and skill level.
Step 3: Get Some Experience
Put some of this new-found knowledge into practice.
Step 4: Get Connected
Building trust and getting recommended.
Step 5: Get a Mentor
Stepping out of your comfort zone (in the right direction).
Step 6: Get Hired
Putting together a winning portfolio and using it in your job
interviews.
Appendix A: Interview Transcripts
Appendix B: Glossary
About UX Mastery
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CONTENTS
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Get Started in UX
Preface
More than ever, executives and managers are realising that a user's
experience of their company's products and services is crucial to the
bottom line, and that experience can be designed.User Experience
(UX) has emerged as the poster child to capture this alignment of
design and business strategy.
However, the term is also used in other ways. Ask ten different people
what User Experience means and you'll get ten different answers. For
example:
UX is an umbrella term.
UX is a movement.
UX is a process.
UX is a role.
UX is a discipline.
UX is an industry.
UX is a philosophy.
UX is a collection of techniques.
All of these statements are true to some degree, so it’s no wonder the
UX community has such a hard time defining what we do to the
outside world!
However, there's one I'd like to add to that list:
UX is a career.
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Preface
The fact you’re reading this book means you’ve probably decided that
UX is the career for you, but perhaps you’re overwhelmed by where to
start. Maybe you took a course, read a book, or have a small amount
of experience through your current role, but are unsure what to do
next.
We hope this book helps you find the answers to these questions and
more, and that you use the information on these pages to launch and
shape a successful and prosperous career.
Welcome to the world of User Experience.
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Get Started in UX
Who is this Book For?
This is a book for newcomers to the field of UX, although senior
practitioners who are looking for a new role will find much of the
content useful.
That said, "newcomers to UX" aren't always newcomers to the world of
work. In fact, most UX Designers I know began their careers in other
roles—industrial design, computer science, graphic design, even
filmmaking! If it's a career change you're looking for, this is the book
for you.
We'll help you determine:
What is required to succeed, and how to perform a self-
assessment of these skills
Which path is right for you—academia, online course, short
course, conference, or self-study
How to find valuable experience that you can then leverage
when applying for positions
How to leverage and expand your contacts within the industry,
to become aware of opportunities before they're even
advertised!
How to find and engage a mentor to supercharge your career
How to prepare for an interview, including what should go into
your portfolio
You'll also get some insights from students, instructors, recruiters and
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Who is this Book For?
important industry figures. The aim of the book is to provide a
roadmap for entering UX by aligning your intellect, communication
skills, professional contacts and enthusiasm for design—specifically
to find an employed position. We don't really touch on the topic of
freelancing—that's for a whole other book.
Sound good? Great! Let's get started.
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