Lucy Chen

I’m noticing a peculiar design related anti-pattern of sorts in the post ZIRP economic environment. It’s where companies have the budget to staff design talent, albeit in lower numbers, but the development budget is so limited that teams are unable to implement the work designers produce. This is the third economic downturn I’ve experienced and we always get pendulum swings. In this one, there seems to be a bias toward austerity and implementing the least expensive solution.

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“Asking designers to deliver work without research, testing, and iteration is like asking for a cake without the key ingredients” A nice summary of different maturity levels in the Product manager designer relationship. However, it's a two-way street. PMs can improve by seeking designer input and prioritizing user research, while designers can play their part by clearly communicating the value of their process and decisions, along with fostering an understanding of the PM's role.

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Hey Designers, Just a quick reminder: your NDA isn’t just a piece of paper—it’s a legal obligation. Sharing password-protected portfolios without permission isn’t just risky, it’s illegal. Here's a hypothetical but all-too-real scenario: what if your competitor needed some insights? They reached out to designers at rival companies under the guise of potential job opportunities. As UX designers, we work on ideas and projects that may not be implemented today but in years to come. Imagine your company’s long-term strategies being exposed, some user research data shared, and performance and accessibility KPIs revealed. Sketchy, right? For Recruiters: If a candidate says their portfolio is under NDA, respect that. It shows they value confidentiality and will protect your info too. If they’re willing to break an NDA for you, what’s stopping them from doing the same to you down the line? Remember, many designers work on projects that are never meant to be displayed publicly. Let’s keep things above board and respect each other’s legal boundaries. Remember the Golden Rule: treat others as you would want to be treated. Thanks for understanding!

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In my conversation with Sanjay Raval we discussed hiring practices for design roles in tech firms, including recent change in hiring pattern, assignments, and the issue of ghosting. If you’re interested in understanding the hiring process from a recruiters perspective, you should watch this video. https://lnkd.in/ggwSgGuw For a more efficient viewing experience, I recommend watching it at 1.5x speed.

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Since joining a few more design communities on LinkedIn, I’m seeing more and more posts from designers who present two versions of the same screen and ask folks to choose which one is better. This exercise calls into focus the primary element missing from too many calls for feedback: context. Two designs next to one another do not provide enough information to elicit serious feedback, and it’s a trap for those who choose to respond to these posts. The trap is spending energy having an opinion with no information to ground your point of view in. That is, there’s no product information. There’s no “why?” or “what problem are you trying to solve?” or “who are the people intended to use this?” Styled rectangles vs styles rectangles with a sprinkling of text is a mostly pointless exercise without first understanding and applying the lens(es) of function. What is it supposed to do? Functionality cannot effectively be applied in retrospect, or, in other words, post-rationalization is the antithesis of strategy. The quality of a solution can only be as good as the understanding of the problem. As such, the quality of the feedback can only be as good as its grounding in context. Set yourself and others up for success by properly understanding and articulating what you’re working to solve.

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🔍 Question for UX Professionals 🔍 Many job descriptions in the UX and UX Research field now require front-end development skills. What do you think about this trend? Do you find it beneficial or distracting for UX roles? How have you navigated this requirement in your career? I'm eager to hear about your experiences and opinions on this topic 🙂. #UXDesign #UXResearch #FrontEndDevelopment #CareerGrowth #UserExperience

In my 20+ year design career, I've never heard a design client say... I'm looking for someone more: • Creative • Strategic • Data-driven • Collaborative • User-centred And yet, if you open 100 design agency websites, you'll see some variation of these 5 descriptors. I noticed this discrepancy a few years ago. So, I started taking notes every time a design client complained about design and design services. The truth is, none of the above ever showed up in my notes. Instead, here are the top 5 concerns: 1. Communication Issues 2. Slow Design Cycles 3. Scope Creep 4. Disagreement on Design Decisions 5. Difficulty Measuring ROI Here's my full summary note: Communication Issues: Founders may feel that designers don't understand the technical limitations of the product or the business needs of the company. This can lead to frustration on both sides, as founders may feel like designers are designing products that can't be built, and designers may feel like founders aren't giving them the freedom they need to be creative. Slow Design Cycles: The design process can be slow, especially for founders who are used to moving quickly. This can be frustrating for founders who need to get products to market quickly. Scope Creep: SaaS products are constantly evolving, and founders may feel like designers are constantly adding new features to the product, rather than focusing on the core features that will drive user adoption. This can lead to products that are bloated and difficult to use. Disagreement on Design Decisions: Founders and designers may not always agree on the best way to design the product. This can lead to disagreements that can slow down the development process. Difficulty Measuring ROI: It can be difficult to measure the return on investment (ROI) of design decisions. This can make it hard for founders to justify the cost of hiring designers. I hope this helps you the next time you pitch your service. #design #ux #productdesign #designservice #copywriting

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Gail Swanson's Chicago Camps presentation on Design Safety: A Trauma-Informed User Research Guide is so well done - I kept rewinding sections to take more detailed notes. Based on her civic tech experiences (think FEMA disaster relief and government SNAP benefits), she offers actionable steps to facilitate research with vulnerable populations. A few of the highlights are: - Establish concrete expectations with participants of what will happen in the study, what they are expected share, and how their data will be used and protected (preferably with documentation distributed in advance). - Always double check in the moment/at the end that you have explicit consent to share direct quotes/photos, because while participants gave permission at the beginning, they may not have expected to share sensitive information that might put them at risk. - Offer a buddy system where participants can bring a friend/family member, to create a safer, more comfortable environment. - From initial contact through to follow-up, are there resources you can offer at-risk populations related to your study? For example, while conducting a study in the world of foster care, they offered additional materials that might be helpful to foster parents. The presentation is less than 45 minutes and completely free (seriously, Chicago Camps is the best), and you can watch it here:

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As designers, we often find ourselves needing to defend our design decisions—whether we’re presenting to stakeholders, working with developers, or chatting with our team. You’ve probably heard the question, "What informed this design decision?" especially if you’re in a product-led organization. We get asked this question for various reasons, depending on who's asking. But a key reason is to make sure our design choices are based on real user needs and behaviors, not just personal preferences, assumptions, or gut feelings. Picture this: you’re in a design review meeting for a new feature, and someone asks "What informed this design decision?". The best way to respond from the user's perspective is by using data from the product. Data helps set the right context for the question. This means explaining which metrics were measured, what was observed, where it was observed, any further tests conducted to confirm findings, the insights drawn, and so on—until you can clearly state the goal of the change and its impact on the product and users. Using data to back up design decisions not only strengthens your argument but also builds trust with all stakeholders. But remember, this shouldn't be done in isolation. Make sure to involve everyone on your team. Everyone needs to be on board before and after changes are made. I’d love to hear your thoughts! How has data-informed your design decisions? Share your insights in the comments below! #ProductDesign #Data #Analytics #UserExperience #DesignThinking #ProductAnalytics

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Product designers are busy people. They've got endless folks asking for endless things... endlessly. And then the design systems team is all up in their joint asking them to use components... It's not a surprise that people can get a little fatigued. It seems quite reasonable if you ask me. In our latest episode, Davy Fung and I discuss fatigue, its causes and ways to either avoid or blunt it. Listen here: https://lnkd.in/g7TZWiqv #design #designsystems #fatigue

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I notice many designers are concerned about being laid off due to the new AI feature added to Figma. If you’re worried about losing your job over a tool designed to simplify your tasks, perhaps it's time to reflect on how to distinguish yourself in your role. AI isn't here to replace you but to enable you to achieve more in less time. With this new capability and extra time, how else can you add value? What can you try that you haven’t had the chance to try before?

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Despite years of developing user-centric design methods, there's still a solution-first mentality in senior management. Senior stakeholders, typically won't come from a background in design, sociology or anthropology. They are more likely to have a business degree. Business thinking is all about KPIs, risk management, return on investment, efficiency, etc. They tend to want to deliver something tangible to shareholders, show progress and have something to measure, as their professional career is pegged to these types of achievements. Linear models give them a feeling the universe is deterministic and they are reducing risk. How can organisations become customer-centric? I worked on a couple of projects at Intuit, where they changed their 8,000-person organisation by embedding a Design-for-delight (D4D) culture. They used 'catalysts' to spread the knowledge. Intuit customers visited the office and were on first-name terms with the employees. The story is fascinating about how they changed from a product-led organisation to a customer-centric community. It's an old video, but back in 2011 they were going through a big change that included leadership training in UCD. (26 mins) https://lnkd.in/eV4dqcnn

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A designer's true seniority is not determined by their title, but by their proficiency in both execution and strategic thinking. The trait of a truly senior designer lies in their ability to seamlessly navigate between these two critical roles. 😊

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I flag brand integration as a critical skill for product designers to develop–it’s a versatile ability to add to your skill set. I’m not talking about learning how to create a brand (logo, color palette, typography, etc.). The skill I advocate designers to cultivate involves the ability to assess and understand all attributes of an existing brand–visual identity, voice/personality–and skillfully integrate those elements into the product experience. Do this, and you add tremendous marketability to yourself because you will know how to ensure that marketing's brand-led first impression will make a seamless handoff to the product experience. We’re in a state where, like Moore’s Law, there is exponential growth in the importance of branding for all businesses, not just corporations. If you know how to wield it in the design of the product experience, you will distinguish yourself.

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Design operations (aka DesignOps) is the engine that keeps the design process humming along so that designers can focus on what they do best (you know, designing). 👩‍💻 It ensures your team’s sanity, allowing them to focus on the work itself rather than reinventing the wheel or “how” to get the work done every time. This stuff is especially crucial as your design firepower grows—whether with new designers, devs, or product peeps. Wondering how to get started? Our blog post on Standardizing design through DesignOps has you covered: https://lnkd.in/gfwR2u-6 #DesignOps #UXdesign #designprocess

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Ever feel like a doormat in your UX role? Like your team is just walking all over you? If so, it’s time for a change. Christopher Nguyen, founder of UX Playbook, recently shared his strategies for self-advocacy on the show. Now, he’s joining us live to dig even deeper. We’ll explore practical tips for asserting your value, navigating team dynamics, and ensuring your voice is heard. Chris’s insights are essential for anyone in UX—from beginners to seasoned professionals—looking to step up their game. Mark your calendars for Tuesday, May 2nd @ 9 AM Eastern. Chris will be answering your questions LIVE. Don’t miss this crucial discussion if you’re ready to transform from a passive participant to a proactive advocate in your UX career. Check out the comments for a link to submit your questions early. And find links to sign up on either LinkedIn Live or YouTube. Hope to see you there! #UXdesign #LinkedinLive

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I’ve hired designers for 14 years, sifted through ~1000s of portfolios, but never read a full case study. Shocking? Maybe. But let's be real: time is a luxury, and hiring managers don't have it in abundance. Here’s what catches their eye and could seal the deal for you. 1. Speed wins: Your portfolio needs to cut to the chase. Show high quality visuals of your work above the fold on your landing page. It shows what you’ve accomplished right off the bat. 2. Make It scan-friendly: Optimize your headers, images, and image captions. A quick scan should tell everything the reader needs to know. If your design fundamentals are solid, your portfolio will reflect that. 3. Long text blocks are your enemy. Remember, hiring managers skim a lot. Ever skimmed through a long read online? Guess what? They do the same thing on your portfolio. ==== BONUS: 3 more pro-tips to really stand out: → Avoid red flags: Clunky navigation, low-res images, or a slow-loading site? That’s a hard pass. Make everything about your portfolio high quality and easy to navigate. - Tailor-made: Adapt your portfolio for the type of work you’re trying to get. Trying to get work as a product designer? Gonna be hard if your portfolio is full of web design and logos. - Be easy to find: Make sure your LinkedIn, resume, and contact info are just a click away. Don't make them hunt for you. TL;DR: Make the hiring manager’s job easy. Don’t give them easy reasons to say “NO”.

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I love talking about Design. Careers. Our industry. I am typically happy to chat with anyone, support them, and offer advice. It is the least I can do as someone who has been hugely fortunate in their career. However, the best way to reach out to someone remains a recurring question. Here are a few tips based on the many, many people contacting me: Don’t connect and immediately ask for something. It is very off-putting. Try to connect and build rapport, or at least take time to view each other’s posts or comments. The same goes for portfolios. A large attached pdf is also very off-putting. It’s like driving by someone’s house and throwing it through a window. Try to open a conversation. Create context. Then ask to send work. Links are far better. Research the person. Before reaching out, take the time to learn about the person’s background, work, and interests. This shows you appreciate their specific expertise and aren’t just sending a standard message. Leverage connections. If you have mutual connections, consider asking for an introduction. This can add a level of familiarity. Personalise your message. Tailor your message to the individual. Mention specific aspects of their work, thinking or practice that you admire or have found helpful. Be specific. Focus your request or conversation. General and broad requests require a lot of work to handle. They also mean you fall into a sea of sameness with other people. So find something specific or an angle of attack that is useful to you but also helps the person shape their response. Be smart. Consider what you are asking or needing and whether you could answer it yourself. Many requests have self-evident answers, and asking for something easy to answer elsewhere shows a lack of initiative. Pick something only that person can help with or add greater value to. Be positive. Things may be challenging, but a heavy, worry-laden request is emotionally hard to help with. Focus on the positives and what the person can help you build on rather than a list of problems or things you don’t have. You will get more out of them. Be succinct. People’s time is precious, so be wary of rambling. Be additive. Have an opinion. Bring thinking to the chat. It is far more engaging. Be inquisitive. Try to ask open-ended questions that encourage a more thoughtful response. Be patient. People may be busy and not be able to answer immediately. Do not chase people too quickly. It shows little respect or empathy for them. Be realistic. Express understanding if they are busy. Be polite. Remember, the person you are contacting, though potentially further along in their career, is still just a person with fragilities, doubts, and worries of their own. So treat others as you would like to be treated. Be fun. Engaging. Add a dash of your personality. Show appreciation. Expressing gratitude shows that you respect and value the person’s opinion. :)

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