Fun Starters

Getting to know the human side.

Main Course

A quick deep dive into the day-to-day job.

Tell us about yourself and your job.

I am a designer passionate about creating human-centered experiences and understanding how we can utilize technology to enhance our lives. I currently work as a UX Designer, Researcher, and Design Thinking Coach at Accenture Philippines and am also a Community Volunteer with UXPH (UX Philippines). In my free time, you can find me crocheting, reading a book, or listening to a true-crime podcast.

How did you end up in your field? What do you like about it?

I learned about UX design in my second quarter at UCSD and was instantly fascinated with it because of the opportunity to intersect design and technology, two things I thought were completely separate careers until that point. Now that I know more about the field, I'm even more interested in its human-centeredness and its ability to impact how people interact with technology.

What does a typical morning look like on the job?

Each day at work can really differ, but I like to start most of my mornings preparing for the day ahead, checking emails or any late-night messages, and reviewing what tasks I need to finish for the day. Aside from that, my mornings will have Daily Stand Up meetings, client meetings, or weekly/semi-weekly team updates depending on the projects I'm on.

Cool, then what does a typical afternoon look like?

Some days my afternoons are relatively free and this is the time I get a bulk of my work done, but other days can be really packed with meetings and I'll try to squeeze in some work in between. When doing UX work, I'm in close contact with engineers and product owners, so we talk throughout the day to discuss any designs to be made. For the Research Team, I might be conducting interviews or analyzing some of the data we have. And for the Design Thinking team, I might be planning a workshop or even facilitating one.

What types of projects and meetings are you involved in?

My job at Accenture functions like a design agency, where we get assigned to different projects and have to create designs or solve problems based on the project's situation. I also get placed into projects at different points of the product development cycle, so each experience is really different. I'm involved in planning and strategizing meetings since designs have to be created before development starts.

Who do you collaborate with with in meetings and projects?

On UX projects, I often collaborate with product owners and engineers to discuss additional features and the feasibility of designs. With Design Thinking or Research projects, I'm in closer contact with the client or the team that is requesting the service to get an understanding of their needs and what kinds of outcomes they want.

Dessert

Now for some juicy insights in the tea room.

What's the most challenging thing about your job?

It's pretty cool getting to work with different teams and clients, but it's a challenge to (1) in the beginning, learn how different teams interact and where I fit in there, and (2) design for technologies or users I've never designed for in the past. It's not as easy as I thought it would be designing for TVs!

What are some characteristics that can help someone succeed in your role?

I think confidence and patience can be really helpful in the field. Oftentimes you'll interact with people who may not know much about UX as you do and you'll have to defend your design decisions and explain these to them. People will have lots of questions and you should be able to answer these questions and help them understand your choices.

Any advice on how to stand out and get hired for those just starting off?

When you're starting off, I think it helps to show initiative and make sure you've prepared for the roles you're applying to. Like knowing what's needed from you as an applicant (like a portfolio for UX or design), or by doing your research on the role/company and asking great questions.

What's something that surprised you about your job?

I'm surprised at how different each team and client I've worked with has been. I didn't realize just how much of a challenge it would be navigating these differences and adapting to them, but it's also a great chance for me to practice my flexibility as a designer. Each team really brings new experiences that I know will help me in my growth as a designer and researcher.

Any last thoughts, advice, or recommendations for someone who wants to do what you do?

Networking can really help you figure out your path when you feel lost. People are a lot nicer and more willing to help than you may think! I think that there are sooo many UX and design resources online that it can be intimidating to figure out where to start, but people who are already working in the field can guide you to a good starting point.

Drinks

Chat more over coffee or tea?