Jadyn Aguilar

Love seeing the process and growth that people experience inside Career Strategy Lab 🎉 Advancing your career is so much more than just external stuff like redoing a resume or portfolio, reaching out to people on LinkedIn etc. Sidenote, SO much growth comes from within and that's when we see things really shift for people – they start getting more interviews, moving further along in the interview process, and finally get offers for roles they actually want! PS: Have questions about Career Strategy Lab (the UX career coaching program I run that's *not* a boot camp) ... then check out the post below or send me a DM here on LinkedIn.)

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I am always excited to see companies incorporating accessibility into their products. So I was excited to chat with Venngage CEO Eugene Woo about their accessible infographics platform. It gives designers and non-designers an easy way to create accessible infographics and short documents! Some of its features include: 1. A contrast checker that highlights whether you are using the proper color contrast. 2. The ability to insert the right tags for headings, tables, forms, etc., and adjust the reading order. 3. An AI-powered Alt-text generator for images and graphs. 4. An accessibility checker that acts like a checklist to help you understand if there are any accessibility issues. Not only that, but they are coming out with some exciting updates too. Link in the comments.

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🌍 UX communities are more than just networking opportunities—they're where we learn, grow, and inspire each other. Whether you’re joining an established group like #CapCHI, which brings together the amazing UX community in Ottawa, or starting one yourself, being part of a UX network can make a big difference. I’ve found that connecting with others in the UX field really helps us stay ahead of trends and share valuable insights. 💡 It’s amazing how much we can learn from each other and how these interactions can fuel our creativity and problem-solving. What about you? How has your UX community impacted your work? What’s your go-to group or event? Let’s share in the comments and spread the word about the incredible UX networks out there! #UX #UserExperience #UXCommunity #Networking #DesignThinking

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Tom's recent post really resonated with me, and I wanted to share my thoughts. 📣 In 2024, design shouldn't be a nice to have. Design is a crucial element in creating successful products and businesses. 📣 As a designer, my goal is simple: to add value. I focus on solving user problems while aligning with business objectives. It's about creating experiences that work for everyone - users and companies alike. 🔥 If you see design as a strategic asset, I'd love to connect. Let's explore how we can turn good design into great results. 🔥

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I'd like to share some valuable lessons that have completely transformed the way I approach communications. Plus, I've added some tips for product designers and design partners. 💡Case 1: Answer the Question I thought I knew how to answer questions until I got this feedback: "When an executive asks you a question, start with a clear 'yes' or 'no', or state 'I don't know, but I will get back to you by X date'." While variations exist, the key is to answer the question first. Too much information usually doesn't help - Answer the question, then let them ask probing questions. This advice resonated with me so much that I created a desktop wallpaper to look at it every day. 🤝 Case 2: Manage Meeting Effectively Another tip I learned is how to manage meetings. Based on tips from mentors and coworkers, here are three essential points to remember: 1. Why we are here: Ensure every meeting has a clear purpose. No one has time for irrelevant meetings. 2. What we aim to achieve: Clearly define the meeting's objectives. 3. What decisions we will make: Identify decision-makers and criteria.
 Applying this to design meetings, merely sharing in-progress designs often lacks value. Instead, structure the meeting to: 1. Clearly define the meeting's purpose and type: For example, specify if it’s a review and instruct people on the type of review you need. 2. Clarify the objectives: Are we finalizing designs to send to engineering, or aligning on problem statements with products? 3. Identify decision-makers and criteria for decisions: Then, make a decision. Of course, in both cases, summarize the outcome of the meetings and share it right away. ✨ Case 3: Clarify Expectations At workplaces, confusion and fires happen. Sometimes you're not sure what's going on. You don't want to overpromise or overstep, but you need to know what action is required. When I heard this question "What am I accountable for?" in the middle of a foggy meeting, my brain just cleared. Yes. We need clear ownership and accountability to navigate ambiguous situations. It was a sentence that resonated with me, and I still remember how we were able to move on to the next steps. To build on this, I also advise my partners to communicate their asks clearly. I hear a variety of design requests. Some people articulate their asks with intended outcomes, expectations, and timelines, while others just share desires and disappear. Clarity in your asks is key—it's almost a job requirement. Remember, others can't read your mind. If you believe in your idea, it's important to articulate it clearly. #CommunicationTips #ProductDesign #DesignPartnerships

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After interviewing many designers on ADPList, I consistently offer the same advice: Simplify and reduce the amount of text and process sketches. Focus your case studies more on the finalized designs rather than the journey to get there. This might seem counterintuitive, but your portfolio serves as a validation of your high-quality visual and interaction design skills, as well as your product thinking. Showcase these qualities by emphasizing the designs themselves rather than the process behind them. Once you reach the 1:1 interview stage, you’ll have the opportunity to dive deeper into your process and explain how you achieved these designs. For now, let the designs speak for themselves. #designportfolio #designadvice #portfolioreviewtips

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I'm considering breathing life back into wireframes—or monochromatic, super low-fidelity prototypes—as a standard artifact to use in conversations with stakeholders. I keep walking into discussions that easily shift focus to UI inconsistencies with written or visual language—elements that are obviously in play due to a designer feeling the pressure to rush and be as comprehensive as possible in their Figma prototypes. We've already instilled framing that includes task flows to illustrate conditional scenarios within the context of workflow while illustrating data shifts, such as bounces. That has helped reach alignment on conditional scenarios prior to walking through the interface. This is the last step, I guess. I'm secretly hoping we get to the point where highly annotated state diagrams return—I'll be in full flex mode. 💪 💪 💪

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