My Journey from Webmaster to UX Designer: A Career Evolution
In the late 90s, I started my career with the best job title I ever had: webmaster. My journey began with designing and coding websites, both of which I excelled in. I landed an internship where I had the responsibility for both the design and code, setting the stage for my future career path.
Transitioning to New York and UX Design
In 1999, I moved to New York City to pursue higher education. I got a job at a dot com company in Silicon Alley during my college years. During my interview, the interviewer suggested that I could not do both design and code—it was a choice that I had to make. Fueled by my passion for design, I chose design over coding.
As I progressed in my role, I gradually realized that my strengths lay in visualizing interactions and site architecture. Although back then no one specifically talked about IA/UX/IxD, I found myself naturally moving towards roles where interaction design was paramount, often at the expense of visual aesthetics. This fascination with interaction and user experience only grew as I progressed in my career.
From UX Designer to Digital Strategist
Around 2002, the fields of Interaction Design (IxD) and User Experience (UX) began to garner significant attention as disciplines. I started to identify more as a UX Designer, marking a pivotal moment in my personal and professional growth. However, the landscape in New York was drastically different from what it is today. After the dot com bubble burst, only a handful of major financial and pharmaceutical companies were willing to invest in UX work, leading to a repetitive and somewhat dull career trajectory.
In 2006, I made a shift towards more creative projects. I observed a high demand for digital thinkers within advertising agencies, yet, I found myself in a unique situation. Most agency employees did not even know what UX meant, and even those who did viewed it as a secondary role. Frustrated by this lack of appreciation for UX, I rebranded myself as a digital strategist. Although the job roles were distinct, the skill sets required overlapped significantly, allowing me to seamlessly transition into the agency world.
Challenges and Current Role
By 2012, I became disillusioned with the way digital was implemented in advertising agencies. While the industry often talked about transformative digital products, the majority of the work involved mundane tasks such as banner ads and Facebook pages. This work, although important, was not aligning with my passion for UX design.
Additionally, I longed for the creative aspect of my role and was frustrated by the siloing of strategic and creative functions in the agency world. It felt like a step back to the days of being a webmaster. Eventually, I found myself at Little Arrows, a company that was more aligned with my passions. Here, I can build and design digital products, delve into research and strategy, and above all, create experiences that appeal to users.
Conclusion and Reflection
Reflecting on my journey, I realize that what I have experienced is not unique in a field that is evolving so rapidly. New job titles emerge, and some positions become obsolete within just a few years. In today's fast-changing world, the only way to remain successful is to continuously evolve and adapt to new technologies and trends. My experience serves as a testament to this ongoing transformation and the importance of staying flexible in one's career.