As Shakespeare once said, "A rose by another other name is still a rose" and for the latest episode of the Ascend UX Podcast, we wanted to see if those words ring true in the realm of Design. There are a lot of buzzwords out there today to explain the different roles of a Designer. For our latest episode, we (virtually) travelled to Lebanon, Spain and India to understand the role of a Product Designer. Check out the advice and insights shared with us from Alaa Kabalan co-founder at...

It’s easy to get caught up learning the latest design tools or staying ahead of the newest trends. But have you considered another activity that could really help your UX journey—participating in your local professional community? Helena Levison joins us as a special guest and shares her story of starting CPHUX, Denmark’s largest UX community. We cover a bunch of topics such as the valuable services a professional community can offer its members, learning what UX is really like from current...

How much do you know about Leonardo da Vinci’s greatest invention? Even though we’re well into the 21st century, the resume still serves as an important communication tool when establishing new professional relationships. Learn how to write an effective resume and help it achieve its purpose–getting you as many design job opportunities as possible!

Have you ever felt frustration attempting to unsubscribe from a product or service? Or perhaps confusion when managing data privacy settings? Those experiences were likely intentionally designed to mislead you by so called “dark patterns.” Our special guest Jennifer Li has researched this topic and discusses different types of deceptive design and their negative impact on the user experience. We also debate the UX Designer’s responsibility to themselves, their employer, and society when...

The coronavirus pandemic has impacted the personal and professional lives of designers. It's harmed our ability to efficiently collaborate, gather user insights, keep a healthy work/life balance, or even maintain stable employment. Ayan and Evan discuss combating "Zoom fatigue," overwhelming meeting schedules, and substitutes for our beloved sticky notes and whiteboards. You'll also hear stories of hardship and hope from members of our community. Stay safe out there!

We continue our discussion with special guest Angela Schmeidel Randall on the state of UX education. Is getting a certification enough to get your first UX job? Why is it so confusing to get a decent education in user experience? How does one grow learn and grow beyond just UX design? We explore these topics and more. This is part two of a two-part episode.

Questions on design education are some of the most frequently asked questions we hear. University degrees, certifications, boot camps – there are a lot of options competing for your money and time. Which should you choose? Our special guest Angela Schmeidel Randall has years of university experience teaching students UX design. She provides helpful advice on not only evaluating UX educational paths, but also the need to evaluate yourself, too! This is part one of a two-part episode.

Looking for a UX job? Although job hunting can be a challenge, there are people who can help! Our special guest Crystal Pettibone is an Account Manager from Aquent who specializes in filling UX design roles. She explains how agency recruiters collaborate with hiring managers and coach designers to find the “perfect fit.”

Ayan and Evan introduce the Ascend UX podcast and give some background on the profession of user experience (UX) design. They share their own professional journeys into UX and reflect on overcoming “impostor syndrome” when trying new things.