As a freelancer and consultant in the field of UX/UI design and Product Owner i develop digital services with all of my heart.
Communication Skills:
Not only does it highlight the multidisciplinary nature of UX, but it also shows that often i form the medium between other fields. Other communication-heavy tasks are presenting results, workshops, conducting interviews.
Analytical Skills
This is an essential one when dealing with data. Empathy and intuition help little when facing the raw numbers of Google Analytics. Data has an increasing say when it comes to product development and marketing, making the ability to set up proper KPIs and to extract information from data invaluable.
Visual Design Skills
I understand typographical rules, color theory, visual hierarchy, as well as being on top of the latest design trends and best practices to create WOW-effects. But i am always aware that Usability should be mostly more important than fancy designs.
Empathy
As a UXer, i am the advocate of the users and feel responsible for a product market fit. I help people improve their lives, work, or whatever else your product is doing. So empathy is one of my core“skill”. Developing the skill to think about problems from other people’s point of view is paramount. I love user interviews in an early stage and usability test along the way.
An Understanding of Coding
I deal with technology, so understanding what makes up a digital product as well as the technological constraints and possibilities provides an unbeatable advantage. I cannot code, but i understand the technological concepts and by working in close collaboration with the techies, we can create together the best possible service with the limitations of a development budget and time.
Scrum
I am a strong scrum evangelist. And i mean it;)
Business Skills and Strategic mindset
Designing the worlds best login screen might be really interesting from a design perspective, but if it doesn’t add a corresponding value to the business then you aren’t adding as much value as you could be. So at the end of the day, UX should always create a busines value.
Critical Thinking
This might seem like an odd one, but being able to differentiate between what looks good at face-value and what is actually good can be the difference between a decent product and an amazing product.
Curiosity
UX is an ever developing field, and what“worked” yesterday might not work tomorrow. What works in the US might not work in Asia, and probably won’t work in a region like Southern-Africa. So having a deep sense of curiosity is crucial for me to staying on top of the game and exploring new ways to solve problems.
Methods & Deliverables:
- User/Stakeholder Interviews
- Value Proposition
- Empathy Map
- Field Studies
- Task Analysis
- Jobs to be Done
- Competitive Audit
- Business Model Canvas
- Design Thinking
- Google Design Sprints
- Product Vision & Strategy
- Features Roadmap /Definition MVP
- Backlog
- Use Cases and Scenarios
- Consumer Journey Map
- User Flow
- Personas / Buyer Personas / Stakeholder Map
- Sitemap / Card Sorting
- Sketches / Wireframes
- Clickable Prototype
- Key Performance Indicators
- A/B Test
- Usability Tests / Guerrilla Testing
What i strongly beliebe in:
- Collaboration is the magic
- Users Feedback is always right
- Openness to discuss unpleasant topics
- Transparency for a shared understanding
- Product Market Fit
- Focus on increasing value (outcome) instead of increasing velocity (output)
NOT my strengths: