The Panda Express Tabloid - UX design, what is it all about?

As specialist Ecommerce recruiters, we can see an increase in the UX and UI skills required from Digital Designers. Marvin is our newest panda but has previous experience recruiting for UX positions. Imagine the amount of conversations from clients and candidates that can provide a detailed insight into the industry and role requirements! 

Every aspect of the user’s interaction with a product, service, or company that make up the user’s perceptions of the whole. User experience design as a discipline is concerned with all the elements that together make up that interface, including layout, visual design, text, brand, sound, and interaction.

Why is UX design important?

• Retention
• Customer loyalty
• Customers make great brand evangelists
• Helps users do things faster or help them make fewer mistakes
• E.g. e-commerce sites – the faster and simpler it is to buy a product, the more likely users will buy multiple products

What is your interest in UX design? Do you have a passion for a particular industry?

"My interest in UX is quite varied. The main factor for me is the way in which designers think and how they solve problems. It involves a lot of thinking outside the box but also not being too over the top with creativity. Everything from wireframes through to the final product is cool to me. Seeing a skeleton grow a body that is forever changing. That’s how I see it."

Since you first started recruiting for UX positions, what is the demand from clients?

"One thing that comes up with all the clients I have worked with as been a focus on portfolios. CVs can say a lot (sometimes a little too much) but they are just words with no backing. The portfolio allows a visual side to what you do / have done. Within the portfolio, process is also vital. That is something I talk about religiously with candidates because clients essentially like to see how you solved the problems, how you made decisions and the art you played in the design process."

We are seeing an increase in UX and UI skilled professionals, have you seen the same?

"I believe so. UX as a title / concept was not a thing until recent years but because there wasn’t a need for it. We had web designers and graphic designers who did those things, but the psychological aspect was missing as well as incorporating the business needs into the design process. The reason we are seeing a growth in this area is because more and more companies are using them, building teams for them and technology is ever changing so UX and UI is in demand. Because of technological advances (and some can say social changes), UX is also evolving with it and many more sections within UX are popping up."

What makes a perfect UX designer? What skills and experience do they need?

"I wouldn’t say there is a perfect UX designer. What I would say is that what makes the most user-friendly designer. That’s what you want to be. Someone who creates for the people. There are processes that are in place for you to follow to create, but without an open and inquisitive mind, you won’t showcase your full potential. You need to be able to have empathy as a foundation. How you can become someone and briefly live their life to allow you to design the best for them. That’s the beginning of a good designer."

What is the interview process for say, a UX Manager? Tasks? Multiple meetings?

"Interviews differ depending on the client / hiring manager. Some people will try and streamline the process and limit it to 2 stages that involve face to face meetings of different members of the team / company. Others will also involve tasks and presentations and multiple stages in order to find the right candidate. Also, if it is a hands-off managerial position, they won’t necessarily involve tasks as the focus will be on managing teams and designers. Typically, the types of interviews I have come across are normally 3 stages (with or without tasks)."

Marvin has recently joined cranberry panda, to speak with him and find out information about his time here then have a look at his page!