When I started out in my career as a UX designer I didn’t know how much I would use my passion for writing in my career. It wasn’t until I had put in several years of writing up executive summaries and research findings did I fully begin to appreciate the benefit of being able to clearly articulate my thoughts.
The power to write well is so important in the field of UX design that it’s almost an afterthought in most job postings these days. Some people don’t fully understand how important it is because they’re so focused on the design aspect of the work but, in my opinion, to be truly successful in this profession, you need to lean into your ability to communicate effectively — especially in writing.
“Your ability to write well, WILL set you apart.”
This should make perfect sense as so much of UX work, relies heavily on our ability to conduct research.
And what’s a part of a good research study?
The ability to articulate your findings. (In addition to turning them into solid designs.)
Some newer designers understand this and take to Medium to discuss project findings and are met with much applause from the community.
I’ve even seen some build strong followings merely on their willingness to share what they’ve learned or to provide helpful tips and insights from their research.
The world has changed
A lot has changed since the pandemic upended our world for over two years now. Designers are no longer being required to go back to the office (which in my opinion is a good option). Technology, and employers, have finally caught up with the way people prefer to work and a lot of the research is now being done from a home office — a sign of the digitally connected, but dispersed world, we live in.
An interesting side effect of this is that people are going online, more than ever, to find design patterns, validate some foundational assumptions, look for resources, tools, community, and so much more.
There is a hunger for content. Especially, well-written content. And what I’m seeing is that your ability to write well, WILL set you apart and strengthen your personal brand. The impact means more opportunities to do work you love, speaking opportunities, book deals…really the sky’s the limit.
Document your process
So get comfortable with documenting your process on every project you work on. Like a therapist does after every session with a client — jot down the details of every project in a notebook for easy reference and recall.
Here are a few prompts:
What did you do?
Who did you talk to?
What was the problem you were asked to solve?
What were the results?
Were there any artifacts? (Take photos of everything if you conducted research in person or in the field.)
What did it look like at the end and all the steps to get there?
How did it impact your users or how was it received? (This last one is great to add to your resume if you know the financial benefit to the company.)
So in closing, I say to you, lean into writing well, even when no one is looking. Spend time with it and make it a regular practice. Over time you will notice how much it will be appreciated by your employers, colleagues, and even others in the UX community.
Isn’t that what we all want from our work? That it’s impactful and helpful to others.
Franka Baly is a UX Designer & Brand Strategist based in Tomball, TX. She’s been helping companies and business owners create great digital experiences for over 25 years. This blog is her desire to share what she’s learned with others who are new or interested in a career in UX design.