By Hannah Baker
Dear Reader,
In the ever-evolving landscape of design, one thing remains constant: the deep-seated desire for connection and growth.
Over the years, we've been on a journey to understand the needs and pain points of designers like you.
From research conducted over four years ago to conversations we had just last month, one common theme has consistently emerged: the longing to connect and learn from one another.
At all stages of our careers, we seek ways to come together in small groups, share past experiences, and collectively tackle career challenges. There are various solutions to address this need, but one that consistently stands out is the conference.
So, we posed a simple yet profound question to our community: "What do you think are the benefits of UX conferences to you?"
Here are some of the insightful responses we received:
Inspiration: Austėja Plungė aptly describes UX conferences as a source of inspiration, sparking new ideas and driving creative thinking.
Networking: Filipe Monteiro emphasizes the invaluable aspect of networking at conferences. It's an opportunity to meet fellow professionals; you never know how those connections might shape your future.
Broadening Perspectives: Diana Leveryte highlights how conferences expand our horizons, offering fresh perspectives and novel approaches that enrich our work.
Continuous Learning: Dan Hiester compares conferences to a college-like learning experience, where we can stay up-to-date with industry trends and gain new insights.
Professional Development: Dee Amana underscores the role of conferences in professional development. They provide a platform to enhance communication skills, explore new tools and technologies, and find inspiration in the experiences of industry leaders.
Conferences are not just events. They're catalysts for personal and professional growth, facilitating connections and nurturing a community of passionate designers.
It's the season for conferences!
If you can attend one in person or virtually, seize this opportunity to feel connected and grow.
After all, the shared experiences and collective wisdom make our design community thrive.
As for upcoming conferences, there's an exciting event in Berlin tomorrow – Hatch Conference.
You can still grab your tickets for the virtual experience, so don't miss out on this opportunity to be part of something extraordinary.
Plus, here's a little bonus for our community members: Use code THEFOUNTAININSTITUTE to enjoy a 15% discount on your ticket!
COURSE: Defining UX Strategy |
Source, shared by Linus Mimetz in the Guild
Until next week!
The Fountain Institute is an independent online school that teaches advanced UX & product skills.
When Hype Comes Before User Insight by Jeff Humble Dear Reader, Have you ever seen a hyped-up product that felt worthless? Today I want to tell you a tale of two companies and how they handled user demand. One took a hype-based approach, trying to create demand, while the other achieved real demand (and hype) through user insights. Hype-First Failure: Quibi (2020) On its surface, Quibi made perfect sense to investors in 2020. The idea was to create Hollywood-quality ten-minute movies and...
Are you stuck in reactive mode? by Jeff Humble Dear Reader, Some designers spend their whole careers reacting to other people's moves. As a design manager, I remember being in this position. I had to brace myself every Monday morning for some radical change in company direction. We never knew what the new agenda would be, but we knew that it would throw our work into chaos. Sometimes, all it took was for the founder to read a single article to change the company agenda. When a competitor...
Why Your Portfolio Isn’t Working (and How to Fix It) By Hannah Baker Dear Reader, Let’s talk about a harsh truth: Your UX portfolio might be the least important thing in your job search. Yep, I said it. You spent hours making sure it showcases your best work. You structured your case studies just right. You ensured your problem statements, research insights, and solutions flowed together. And yet… hiring managers are ghosting you like a bad Hinge date. Well, the problem isn’t your...