We all know User Experience is an ever-evolving beast. In the last few years, the digital landscape has meant that UX has changed enormously and you have to keep up. <\/p>\n
User Experience today is already very different to UX a couple of years ago.<\/p>\n
We can see the larger corporates relying more on data and analysis to guide their interaction design. The proliferation of wearables and the Internet of Things means the skills of a UX designer has also had to change.<\/p>\n
Particularly with the Internet of Things<\/a>, where devices ranging from fridges to buildings are not only online but also communicating with each other to make our lives easier. Soon almost every appliance in the home will be talking to each other, and the fact that they may not even HAVE an interface means that as a UX Designer, more than ever, you need to keep your skills on the cutting edge to stay ahead in today’s market.<\/strong><\/p>\n Recently we completed a survey of working professionals which showed that 49% of people feel they don’t get sufficient training in the work place and 51% feared that their skills won’t be relevant in the future.<\/p>\n So what can you be doing now to stay ahead of this evolving market and keep your skills relevant?<\/b><\/p>\n Well, the good news it is all down to you!<\/p>\n From books to blogs, there is a huge amount of knowledge out there and with a bit of dedication you can keep learning and keep up to date with trends.<\/p>\n As mentioned in a previous post<\/a>, the UX community are a friendly bunch and love to share information. <\/p>\n I am sure there will be a UX or Design Innovation Meetup<\/a> in your area or get along to a General Assembly<\/a> campus if you are you are lucky enough to have one nearby. These are invaluable as they bring the community together to share ideas and network. If you aren’t too comfortable with making connections, have a read of this article<\/a> on the subject for some great tips.<\/p>\n There are also some fantastic groups on LinkedIn you can join and start asking questions.<\/p>\n Get on twitter and start following the UX thought leaders who are constantly sharing information on a range of UX topics.<\/p>\n A few who, if you are aren’t already, you really should be following include Andy Budd<\/a>, Aarron Walter<\/a>, and Jarod Spool<\/a> who often share content about new innovation and design whilst engaging in conversations about future trends.<\/p>\n1. Read, read, read<\/h3>\n
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2. Get closer to the community<\/b><\/h3>\n
3) Identify a thought leader and start following on social media<\/b><\/h3>\n