Over the past week or so, I’ve been looking over my resumé and skills. I’m noticing there’s quite a lot of crossover in what I’m interested in. I’ve just celebrated the 4-year anniversary of leaving the in-house environment for my own home office and it’s been absolutely perfect! I love working for myself! If it could stay this way forever, that’s what I’d do. But, I’m a realist. I know that the job market is changing everyday and I have to keep up with that change for my own security. While I’ll hold onto my job, as it is now, for as long as is humanly possible, I still want to develop my skills so that I’ll be able to transition smoothly to whatever necessary direction I have to take. Preparation is key.

With that, I’ve been looking at myself, my skills, all of my interests and how I’d like my career to grow. I love graphic design. I enjoy marketing and business. I also enjoy using social media. I find myself playing with code (CSS and HTML mostly) on my free time and really enjoy problem solving. Oh, how I love a good puzzle! I also enjoy the hustle and bustle of event planning – I know, an odd one to toss in there, isn’t it? But it’s one of my interests and something I’m quite good at.

So, where does that leave me? I feel like the natural progression for me at this point is one of two directions. Marketing and Design or UX/UI and Design. I think I’d enjoy UX/UI a bit more since I could really dive in and continue to solve design problems and develop the look and feel of digital media. That would be a ton of fun for me. I’m considering diving in and learning all of the language required by UX/UI design and building my skills in that arena. I’d love to bring my current design skills to the UX/UI table. I think I’d be a great asset if I were strong, not only in graphic design, but in UX/UI design/development as well.

How does one make the transition? How would I land a gig with those job requirements properly? It’s been years and I still don’t officially offer web design on my list of services on my about page, although, I’ve built a few here and there for friends that have inquired. Reason I don’t list it, is because I’m not one to falsely advertise that I know ALL there is to know about web design. It’s a completely different animal, in my opinion, than graphic design is (but that’s another post altogether). I understand graphic design like the back of my hand and am comfortable with most every project that’s been offered to me. That is how I want to feel when app or website development/design lands on the table.

Here’s where that leaves me: I want to know what skills a UX designer needs to do their job and do it well. AND I’d like to know what skills a UI developer needs to do their job and do it well. From everything I’ve read so far, I have some of the skills required to be a UX designer as well as some skills to focus on UI. I may be incorrect, but that is why I’m posting. Here’s an interesting article illustrating the differences and overlap of the two that I thought was helpful. Please let me know what you think and how I can progress into that arena – I’m incredibly interested. Especially if you are currently holding one of those positions.

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