Identifying UX Talent
How do you find and mentor user experience talent either within your design team or while interviewing candidates? What will make the next generation of UX All-Stars? Fred Beecher has some tips.
Fred believes UX professionals possess four traits that make them good at what they do. These aren’t the kind of traits you find in actual designs. These traits are reflected in the designer’s approach to work, what motivates them, and the way that they think.
Fred suggests we look for the following in UX design candidates:
- Is this person intrinsically motivated?
- Are they people-centered? A good designer always has the user in mind.
- Are they curious, specifically about technology and people?
- Do they have thick skin to handle critical feedback?
Even the most talented UX designers make mistakes, but the best of them know that mistakes can come with the territory and it’s our desire to remain curious, accept criticism, and move forward, using the methods we have at hand to improve our work.